Edward Clarence Fuller

Edward Clarence Fuller, age 84, passed away Monday, Jan. 17, at the Health Center Northwest, in Kalispell. He was born on April 7, 1920 in Winifred, Mont. to Frank and Helen (McLaughlin) Fuller.

People new Edward as Ed, Eddie, Fergie and a few other terms of endearment. Eddie grew up in Stanford, Mont., one of eight children during the depression era.

He won the Little All American six-man football award and is listed as one of Stanford's legendary athletes in football and basketball.

He joined the Civilian Conservation Corp (CCC) to help with the family income after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and volunteered for the Army Air Corp, where he served with distinction asa turret gunner on a B-17 flying fortress.

After several raids over Germany, his plane was shot down in June, 1943. He broke his back when his plane was hit and was captured after bailing out.

He spent 22 months as a prisoner of war. One of his most vivid and telling memories was when an American captain in a jeep, with the U.S. flag flying on it, liberated the large group of prisoners who were being marched West by their captors.

The memory of the Stars and Stripes flying on that jeep and the sacrifice of fellow airmen made "Old Glory" a symbol of country and service that he passed on to his children and extended family.

As soon as Ed returned from the war, he and his high school sweetheart, Barbara Knox, married and settled in the Flathead Valley. Ed farmed, drove road equiment for the county, worked in a shipyard in Bremerton, Wash., and returned to the Flathead as an electrician on the Hungry Horse Dam. He eventually bought Ferguson Electric and provided electrical contracting services until his retirement.

During this period, he and his brother in-law, Dick Knox, collaborated on racing horses in the fair and he was in the sheriff's posse.

In the late 1960s, he took up golf and became an avid player and good golfing companion to many golfing buddies at Buffalo Hill Golf Course. His buddies called him "Fergie" and he called them all sorts of terms of endearment (Boris, Wicherbill, Goffy, Slippery, and Turkey, to name a few).

In his retirement years, he and Barbara spent time with grandchildren, camping in favorite spots, cheering grandsons, Matt, Brian, and Rob Brekke and Dan Sparr at basesball, and other sporting events.

Michelle and David Fuller spent many wonderful summers visiting from Florida. They also followed the Jazz Festivals with their fellow music lovers. He and Barbara were regulars at the BJ Lupton's, Snappy's Tuesday Jazz Fest.

Ed enjoyed the company of friends across the generations, and was a regular at the Friday morning "Culture Society" with his dear friends.

Ed and Barbara were grateful for all the friends who continued to visit throught the years, building memories of love and friendship. The family is very grateful to the doctors, nursing staff and all medical personnel who made Ed comfortable in his later years. In his last few days, he was surrounded by his immediate family and his loving wife. He will be greatly missed, and was a hero to his family and friends for his courage, sense of humor, devotion and we will carry this with us always.

Ed is survived by his wife, best friend, and loving caregiver of 59 years of marriage, Barbara Fuller of Kalispell, Mont.; three grandchildren; Jeff Fuller of Fairfax, Virg., Kathleen Spar of Miles City, Mont., and Nancy Bredde of Kalispell, Mont., six grandchildren; Matt Brian, Rob, Dan, Michelle and David. One brother, Lee Fuller, and two sisters; Maizie and Thelma, along with many nieces and nephews and friends who will mourn his passing and celebrate his life.

Funeral services for Edward Clarence Fuller were held on Jan. 22, at the First Baptist Church of Whitefish, with Pastor Kent Morrison officiating. He is interned at the Conrad Memorial Cemetary.

The family suggests memorials be given to charities such as Hospice, Wings, or your veterans charity of choice.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.