Harold Gordon Gunlock

POLSON — Harold Gordon Gunlock, 89, of Polson entered the Kingdom of Heaven on Monday, March 6, 2006, after a courageous year's battle with multiple health complications. He spent the last few months of his life at the St. Joseph Retirement Community and later at Evergreen Care Center in Polson. He had been a Mission Valley resident for over 50 years.

Born May 21, 1916, in Columbus, N.D., he was the son of Shell and Magdalena (Lena Schumann) Gunlock. The family resided in Columbus, Portal area for a number of years. After the premature death of his father in 1926, Harold and his older brother Kenneth (now deceased) quit school to help their mother manage the family farm and raise the younger siblings.

He hopped trains to California at age 15 in an attempt to earn money for the family. He returned to the Columbus area and on July 1, 1936, married his lifetime friend and schoolmate, Lillie O. Arneson. They would have celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary this year. The newlyweds moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, to seek work on the Chisholm Ranch as there was no work during the depression in North Dakota.

They returned to North Dakota and later purchased the old Soderquist place north and west of Columbus where they raised dairy cows and dryland farmed. They made the big move to Montana in 1954, settling in the Post Creek area near St. Ignatius, and ran a dairy farm there for 40 years, dryland farmed, and later raised beef cattle before selling the home place and moving to Polson.

Harold was fiercely devoted to his family and work, and instilled his work ethics and values in all his children. Known for his million dollar smile, honesty, hard work, and love of horses, he never really did "retire." Until last year he still had his Percheron horse hobby. His 32-year-old horse pal, Pat, is still living. Harold took many ribbons for his Percherons and Belgians.

They participated in many shows, parades and wagon trail rides together. One of his fondest memories was the Bison Trail Covered Wagon Excursions. Harold was well-respected in the ranching community, and shall be missed by all who had the privilege of his touching their lives in his own special way.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents, brother Kenneth (previously of St. Ignatius) and many distant relatives and friends.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Lillie, at St. Joseph Retirement Community, Polson; sons Eugene Gunlock (Esther Anne) and Daren Gunlock (Debbie), all of Polson; daughter Sandra Gunlock Baker (Robin) of Lehi, Utah; eight grandchildren, Dan Gunlock (Jamie) of Missoula, Shelly Buhr (Jamie) of Ronan, Sheri Kennedy (Rob) of Salt Lake City, Troy Gunlock (Cortnee) of Kalispell, Trevor Gunlock and Brook Gunlock, both of Salt Lake City; Shane and Courtney Baker of Lehi; seven great-grandchildren, Allyson Buhr, Alexandra Baker, Aubrey, Jordan, Dalan and Madison Kenneth, and Wyatt Gunlock; brothers Wayne Gunlock of St. Ignatius, Merle Gunlock of Williston, N.D., Leland Anderson of Burbank, Calif., Clarence Anderson of Anchorage, Alaska; sister, Phyllis Holtz of Hayden Lake, Idaho; cousin Elsie Nygaard of Ronan, and other out-of-state cousins and many nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to acknowledge the devoted care of the doctors and staff at St. Patrick Hospital, St. Luke Community Hospital, St. Joseph Hospital, St. Joseph Retirement Community Evergreen Care Center, and Dr. Paul Gochis and Dr. Craig Panos. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.

A memorial service to honor and celebrate Harold's life will take place on Sunday, April 15, 2006, at the Senior Citizens Center of Ronan at 11 a.m. The family requests memorials be made to St. Joseph Retirement Community, 11 17th Ave. E., Polson, MT 59860.

Shrider's Mortuary of Ronan has assisted with arrangements and cremation.