Max Ulver Jr.

Max E. Ulver Jr., 69, of Whitefish, passed away peacefully on Oct. 30, 2008, at Colonial Manor after a short, but very courageous battle with cancer.

Max was born on July 18, 1939, in Butte to Beatrice (Adams) and Max E. Ulver Sr. He grew up in Missoula and was very active in sports in grade school and high school, playing basketball and football, and excelling in baseball. Although an only child, he was especially close to his cousins Ron Adams, Gary Adams and Larry Adams.

While in high school, Max got a summer job working for the Federal Highway Administration and continued to work for them while attending Montana State University. After college, he secured a permanent position and remained with the FHWA for 37 years.

He retired as a project engineer in the Western Federal Lands Highway Division. Two years ago, Max was employed by a private contractor as a construction inspector for the Going-to-the-Sun Highway repair project.

Early in his career with the FHWA, Max discovered the hobby of model railroading. Being on the road and out in the field for weeks or months provided ample time for a hobby, and model railroading proved to be a perfect fit. Max also had a passion for history and the American west, and eventually became a key figure and active member of the Great Northern Railroad Historical Society.

In 1971, in Oregon, Max met and married Juanita (Wilson), a single mother with three daughters — Teresa, Rita and Verna. His life as a bachelor engineer was dramatically changed with his new instant family, but he took to the role of father very quickly. He also shared his love of fishing and hiking with his daughters, and there were many family camping trips in the mountains.

Unfortunately, life on the road as a project engineer took its toll on their marriage, so in 1981, Max and Juanita divorced. He gave up the role of husband, but he would forever be a father and grandfather. Ultimately, he returned to his beloved Montana, the place that would always be his last best place on earth.

Over the years he continued to collect model railroad items and Great Northern Railroad memorabilia, as well as become an avid train photographer. Along the way, Max also developed many close friendships among the fellow railroaders who shared his passion for trains and history.

Many described him as a "walking history book" because of his vast knowledge about the Great Northern Railroad and Montana state history. In the last three years, he served as the vice president of the Great Northern Historical Society and also on the board of directors.

Max was an active member of the Whitefish community and served on a special committee within the Whitefish City Council. In recent years, he also volunteered to assist with a history class project at the Whitefish Middle School when the students were studying the impact of the railroad on the town of Whitefish.

Max was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Verna Ulver.

Max is survived by daughters Teresa Schott and husband Roger, and Rita Ulver; grandchildren Christopher, Athena, Nathan, Nicholas and Justin; great grandchildren Emmilee, Cale, Cole, Madison and Kamryn; and many close friends, especially his "unofficial brothers" Don McGlothlin, Joe Mock and Jack Dykstra.

A celebration of Max's life will be held at the Izaak Walton Inn, in Essex, on June 20, 2009, at 1 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Great Northern Railroad Historical Society or the Montana State University Booster Club.