Albert Joseph Fournier

MISSOULA — Albert Joseph Fournier (born Urbain Albert Fournier), 86, died on June 30, 2006, at Village Health Care in Missoula.

"AJ" was born in June 1920 in Dayton, Minn., to George and Marie Fournier. He grew up on the family farm in the Elk River area and played football for Elk River High School. After graduating, AJ entered the Civilian Conservation Corps where he spent the next two years in the North woods of Minnesota. At the outset of WWII, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and was sent overseas where he was stationed in the 89th Burma and India for the next four years.

Upon returning to the States, he jumped on his Indian Scout motorcycle and headed West to settle in Los Angeles. It was there that he met his wife of 58 years, Marjorie, and started a family and a career in office supplies. In the ensuing years they lived in St. Petersburg, Fla., Minneapolis, and most recently retiring to Western Montana.

AJ was a loving husband and a great father. He was a lifelong salesman who enjoyed his career and especially the relationships he established with his customers. He will always be remembered for his wide smile, hearty contagious laughter, high energy, kind words and thoughtfulness.

He is survived by his wife Marjorie; a son Ken and his wife Janice; a daughter Nancy and her husband Garr of St. Ignatius; six beloved grandchildren; two brothers, Richard and Douglas; three sisters, Lorraine Clarke, Leone Freed and Marlene Zachman and their dear families; and beloved cousins Gene and Blanche DeChene.

Albert was buried at the Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius, on July 5. Services were held at the LDS chapel in St. Ignatius on that same date. The family wishes to express their gratitude to Village Health Care, Millpond Assisted Living and Shrider-Thompson Mortuary.