Max A. Enseleit

Max A. Enseleit, 86, died of natural causes on Friday, March 1, 2013, in Lolo, Mont., at a local care facility. He was lucid and aware right up to his final moments, when his body failed him.

He was born in Hinsdale on Aug. 18, 1926, the only son of Ada and August Enseleit.

In his younger years, he was in the Navy and received his honorable discharge. He received a degree in electrical engineering from the University of New Mexico, where he was on the diving team and subsequently completed requirements for becoming a professional registered engineer and was instrumental in the development of several hydroelectric generating plants.

Later in his career, he worked for the Corps of Engineers on the Minuteman and Safeguard missile projects, and finally started his own engineering consulting business late in his career.

He and LaVonne resided mainly in eastern Montana up until 1979, when they moved to Lolo to retire. He was a member of the Atonement Lutheran Church in Missoula.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, LaVonne (Peterson) Enseleit of Lolo; children, Roger Enseleit of Valier, Judy Alexander of Billings, Don Enseleit of Grand Forks, N.D., Betty Rizzo and her husband, Joe, of Oceanside, Calif., and Bryan Enseleit and his wife, Karen, of Great Falls; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were held Wednesday, June 26, at 11 a.m. at the Hillview Cemetery in Hinsdale, followed by interment at the Hillview Cemetery.

Bell Mortuary of Glasgow was in charge of arrangements.