George E. Waggoner
George E. Waggoner died Sept. 20, 2004, of cancer, peacefully at home with his family.
He was born Sept. 20, 1926, to Alexander "Al" and Gertrude "Gertie" Waggoner at Sunburst, Mont. George attended grade school in Ferdig, Oilmont and Kevin, Mont., high school in Oilmont and Cut Bank, and later attended Pacific Coast Banking School in Seattle. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946 as a Signalman First Class, aboard the USS Braxton APA. He was in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrendered.
After discharge from the Navy, George worked briefly in the Cut Bank oilfields. He then began an apprentice program under the G.I. Bill at Bank of Glacier County in Cut Bank, where he started as bookkeeper. He became executive vice president of the bank in January 1959 and was elected president in Oct. 1959. He served in that capacity and as chairman of the Board of Directors of First Interstate Bank until his retirement Jan. 1, 1990.
He married Helen Marie Kraut on Oct. 15, 1947. They raised their four children in Cut Bank. Their home has been in Whitefish for the last 12 yrs.
George was a Cut Bank City Councilman for two years. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Cut Bank, serving as Deacon and Elder, choir member and director, building committee co-chair, finance committee and Mariners Club. He was also a member of the Elks Club, Masonic Lodge, and Scottish Rite. He served on the Board of Directors of Memorial Hospital Association for 20 years, during which time a new hospital and clinic were built and the old hospital was converted to the nursing home. He and Helen Marie were always active in the Cut Bank Country Club and the Whitefish Country Club.
George was devoted to his family, his community, and his country. Music and dancing were a part of him. His beautiful tenor voice graced many a wedding and funeral. He had a fine sense of humor coupled with great compassion and love for his fellow man.
He was preceded in death by siblings Mildred Gertzen, Albert (A.P.) Waggoner, Art Waggoner, Paul Waggoner, and Marie Dahlen, and a grandson, Gary Johansen.
He is survived by his wife, Helen, children, Linda Vidanage and husband Sarath of Saratoga, Calif., Fred Waggoner of Whitefish, Susan Beyer of Missoula, and Sheri Glaspey and husband, Gregg, of Whitefish; seven grandchildren: Heidi, Cory, Evan, Sarah, Myles, Sean and Dustin; a great-grandson, Phoenix O'Neill; sisters Orva Cochran of Shelby and Ila Larson of Spokane.
A celebration of his life will be at First Presbyterian Church in Whitefish on Thursday (today) at 3:30 p.m. A reception immediately after is at Whitefish Country Club. Austin Funeral Home is handling the cremation.