Helmeth Christian Windy Christman, 85

Helmeth Christman, longtime resident of Columbia Falls, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the family home in the early morning hours of Nov. 29, 2010. Helmeth was born Feb. 24, 1925, on the Christman homestead in Ree, N.D. He was the last of 11 children born to German-Russian immigrant parents, Jakob and Anna Maria (Ost) Christman. He was baptized into the Evangelical Lutheran Church. When the Great Depression began, the family lost the farm and moved to Idaho, later relocating to Columbia Falls in March 1931. Times were difficult, but with the friendship of the Anton Hoerner and Clapper families, the family managed. Helmeth attended Columbia Falls public school until the eighth grade. He often spoke of his favorite teacher, Mrs. Eddie. He was musically inclined and enjoyed hunting and fishing with his friends and brothers, Fred and Walter. He inherited from his father a great admiration for horses and fondly remembered his favorite saddle horse, Bill. In the 1940s, Helmeth did not serve in World War II but did his part to help the war effort on the home front. He was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps and also worked for the Howards and Casnes on their farms in the Birch Grove area. During President Truman s visit to Columbia Falls in 1953 to dedicate the Hungry Horse Dam, Helmeth was part of the security team that guarded the president s train. He worked at Superior Lumber Company in Columbia Falls, and in 1952 began his career as an edgerman at the newly established Plum Creek sawmill in Columbia Falls, a position he held for 34 years until his retirement. His coworkers nicknamed him Windy because he told long-winded stories. On Feb. 5, 1952, Helmeth married Lorene Fraeschle. They established their home along the Flathead River, as had most of the Christmans. They lost everything in the Flood of 1964, but with determination and the kindness of several Columbia Falls businessmen that Helmeth had known as a young man, they were able to rebuild their home and life north of town. Before his health declined, Helmeth spent a lot of time tinkering around the house and ice fishing on Smith Lake. Along with Lorene, he was a member of the Northwest Montana Accordion Association and made many friends through this group. Helmeth was preceded in death by his parents; and all his siblings and their spouses, sister Emma and Joseph Walker, toddler sister Ella, brother Fred and Clara Fraeschle, sister Olga and Dorwin Dewitt, brother Julius and Gladys Matthiason, sister Elma and Fred Schaffer and Clarence Hendershott, brother Walter and Doris Nunn, infant sister Katie, sister Eva and James Lanegan, sister Elsie and Clarence Palmer; canine companion, Roscoe, and feline friend, Tommy. He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Lorene; son, Lyle Christman, and Tiffany, of Seattle; daughter, Diane, and Steve Holladay, of Kila; and daughter, Edith Christman, of Columbia Falls; grandchildren, Beth and Mike Schultz of Arnold, Calif., Katie Christman of Kalispell, Jacob Christman of Kalispell, Joshua Holladay of Great Falls, and Trevor Holladay of Kila; great-grandchildren, Dominic, Sarah, Avery, Ella, Mary, Aiden and Lisa; former daughter-in-law, Linda Whitaker, of Kalispell; and many nieces and nephews. He also leaves behing his faithful feline companion of 16 years, Kitt. Jim Coulson, Dick Downing, Rial Green, Robert Howard, Tom Oliver, and Vic Steen, Jr. have been named as honorary pallbearers. Visitation is 1 to 3 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 3, at Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Columbia Mortuary. Burial will follow immediately after at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls.