France, Darling, community leaders

Hungry Horse News

Two well-known Columbia Falls community leaders and personalities died over the weekend - Linc France and Vic Darling.

France was a former Columbia Falls City councilman and civic leader. He was on the Council from January 1987 to July 1991, according to city records.

He was best known for his flower garden outside his garage and his letters to the editor to the Hungry Horse News where he railed for years against the "Red Chinese" and their "takeover" of the Panama Canal.

He also railed against government waste and Congress. France, up until recently, was a regular at City Council meetings, whether he had something to say or not. He often read short, humorous speeches to the Council during the public comment portion of the meetings.

France wrote about a letter a week and was a mainstay on the editorial pages of the Horse for years until he had a stroke last year.

While France's letters were often passionate, in person he was humorous and affable. Roxy Larson, the director of the Columbia Falls Senior Center, recalled that France would open the door and throw his John Deere baseball cap into the center.

"That was his signal that he was here," she said. "He will be greatly missed."

France helped out at the Columbia Falls Senior Center and used his old pickup truck to tow its float for years. He also frequently visited Columbia Falls businesses and would just stop in and chat.

He died Sunday, Aug. 21.

Vic Darling was a dedicated community servant. He wore a trademark cowboy hat and volunteered with a host of organizations, including the North Valley Search and Rescue Association, the Columbia Falls Police Commission and the Woodlawn Cemetery Board.

Darling was also a former member of the Columbia Falls City Council and served several terms. He was also a city building inspector from 1973 to 1975.

Darling was also a founding member of Flathead Search and Rescue, when then Sheriff Dick Walsh organized it about 50 years ago.

Darling also was a founder of the Columbia Falls Booster Club and organized an effort to get the poles set for the lights for the football fields here.

He also did the day-to-day maintenance on the Woodlawn Cemetery from 1982 to 1996.

Darling was on the Columbia Falls Police Commission about 20 years, said Police Chief Dave Perry.

"He was always dedicated," Perry said of Darling. "Anytime we needed him he was always there. He'll be highly missed."

The police commission reviews both hires and termination's of police officers in the department. The other two members on the three member panel are Larry Wilson and Will Loveall.

Perry said they will likely advertise Darling's vacant spot soon.

Darling died at the Montana Veterans Home Aug. 19.

Full obituaries on both men appear in this newspaper.