Lloyd Thomas Eide

Lloyd Thomas Eide, 96, passed away of natural causes on Monday, June 20, 2016, at the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, Mont.

He was born Oct. 28, 1919, in Anaconda, Mont., to Norwegian immigrant parents Nels O. and Elna (Karlson) Eide. As a young boy, he, along with his parents, moved to a homestead farm in Northeast Montana in the Baylor community. He attended grade school at a country school in the Midway community and graduated from Glasgow High School in 1939. After graduation he worked on the Fort Peck Dam construction until World War II broke out in 1941.

Just one week after Pearl Harbor was attacked, he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. He spent four years with the 79th Fighter Group in the European War effort including France, Italy and North Africa. When he returned home from the war in August of 1945, he went to work on the family farm raising wheat, barley and cattle until his retirement in 1990.

In September of 1952, he married Alice Waetzigand and together they had three daughters. He was active in the Air Force Reserve and commander of the VFW. He was an active member of the First Lutheran Church, the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, the Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Toast Masters, Sons of Norway, and many other community organizations. He was very involved in the Republican Party and enjoyed public speaking. He also taught amateur boxing and sold insurance for Farm Bureau. In his retirement years, he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, helping out on the farm, and spending afternoons at the VFW reminiscing and telling war stories.

On Oct. 28, 2014, he was awarded the French Knight of Legion of Honor Award. This is the highest and most renowned distinction in France, given in appreciation for his contribution to the United States role in the liberation of France.

He was proud of his Norwegian ancestry and liked to speak Norwegian to anyone who could understand and talk with him. He was known for his exuberant personality and was a kind gentle spirit with an unconditional love for his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Nels and Elna Eide, as well as an infant grandchild.

Survivors include his wife, Alice; three daughters, Stephanie Meier and her husband, Glen, Heidi See and her husband, Larry, and Lisa Redfield and her husband, Les; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

A visitation was held on Thursday, June 23, at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow, with friends receiving family from 5-7 p.m. Services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 24, at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, with Pastor Hedegaard officiating. Burial with military honors at Highland Cemetery followed the service.

Memorials may be made to the First Lutheran Church, Shriners Children Hospital, or charity of your choice.

Bell Mortuary was in charge of arrangements and condolences may be left at bellmortuarymontana.com.