Lowell Eckelberry

Lowell “Eck” Carter Eckelberry, 67, of Columbia Falls passed away at the Montana Veterans Home on July 16, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer.  

He was born April 15, 1946, in Kalispell to Henry and Cora (Downs) Eckelberry. He attended school in Columbia Falls until he joined the Navy at 17 in 1963. He ended his service in 1967 after a tour in Vietnam.

In 1968, he married Karen Mattheisen, and in 1969 they had a son, “Skeeter.”

Lowell worked for a short time at Plum Creek and then at the Anaconda Aluminum Co. smelter in 1968. He was very active in the union and became president of Local 320 Aluminum Workers of America. He retired in 2008.

He is survived by his son Henry “Skeeter” and wife Jenny and grandchildren Brady, Mackenzie, Haley and Jaylee, of Green River, Wyo.; grandson Taylor, of Missoula; sister  Winona Burns and niece Linda Van Dyne, of Reno, Nev.; great niece Nona Smith, of Fallon, Nev.; great nephew Sean Erb, of Elko, Nev.; friends Dennis Corbett and Chuck Pond, of Columbia Falls; and numerous cousins and extended family.

A graveside service will be held at Fairview Cemetery on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2013, at 2 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the United Veterans of Flathead Valley, P.O. Box 3061 Kalispell MT 59901.