Melvin Joseph Gauthier

Melvin Joseph Gauthier, age 93, passed away peacefully at Valley View Home in Glasgow, Mont., on Thursday, Sept, 26, 2019.

Family will receive friends Thursday, Oct. 3, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Bell Mortuary in Glasgow. Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, Oct. 4, 11 a.m. at St. Raphael's Parish with Father Jose presiding. Burial with Military Honors will be at Highland Cemetery with a reception following at the Glasgow VFW Post #3107.

He was born March 20, 1926, to Edmund and Agnes (Stater) Gauthier in Lake Leelanau, Mich. Melvin married the love of his life, Verna McCastle, in 1948. They had three children together, Victor, Timothy and Lisa.

Melvin had a long military career. The military took him to Colorado for basic training, Florida, Alaska, Aleutian Islands, Iceland and ended at the Glasgow Air Force Base, Glasgow. Mel was trained as a ball turret gunner (aka suicide mission) on a B-17 known as the Flying Fortress. Lucky for his family, WWII ended before he had to fly on a mission. Melvin retired after 20 years in the military. He and Verna stayed in Glasgow and purchased Trails West Trailer Court and a few other businesses such as the Clansman Café, Fabric Square and the Country Cafe. His wife, Verna, passed away August 1998, just two months short of their 50th wedding anniversary.

Mel enjoyed carpentry from building houses to building model boats and planes. He was very skilled and could not only do all the carpentry but also the plumbing and wiring.

When not working Mel loved to travel, hunt, fish and camp. He enjoyed his yearly leave "home to Michigan" in his van to see his brothers and sister.

Mel loved to plant trees and shrubs, he was fondly called Johnny Appleseed by his family, friends and neighbors.

Charlie Pride was Mel's favorite singer and all his vehicles had Charlie Pride music in them.

Mel was preceded in death by his parents Edmund and Agnes; one son, Victor; wife Verna; two brothers, Dean and Linus and one sister, Emily Walter.

He is survived by two brothers, John (Ruth) and Jim (Phyllis) Gauthier; significant other Ethel 'Jan' Buchheit; one son, Timothy (Karen Omdahl); one daughter, Lisa (Matt) Baxter; three grandsons, Tyler (Casey) Edwards, Michael Gauthier and Jeremy Gauthier; three granddaughters, Erica (Joshua) Ames, Candice Gauthier (Daniel Shawler) and Bailee Baxter; two great-grandsons, Michael Ames and Owen Shawler; and many nieces and nephews.

Melvin wrote, "Six honorable discharges and not too bad a life all the way."

Memorials can be made to St. Raphael's Parish in Glasgow. Condolences may be left at [email protected].