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| July 27, 2016 1:53 PM

Benny Hoerner

Benny Hoerner, 63, passed away on July 22 at his home in Columbia Falls with his family by his side. He lost his 34-month battle with stage IV brain cancer and entered into the arms of Jesus. Benny never lost faith and said he was going out with the Lord.

Benny was born in Whitefish on Dec. 30, 1952 and lived his entire life in Columbia Falls, graduating from Columbia Falls High School in 1971. He worked at various mills, then Royal Logging until they shut down. He went to work as an independent contractor, building and remodeling homes until his diagnosis prevented him from working,

Benny was an avid outdoorsman. The seasons of the year were not winter, spring, summer and fall, but were measured by what outdoor activity was available at the time.

Benny is survived at home by his wife Carol and his great-grandson and little buddy Karson; his daughter Joy Kuntz of Seattle; son Ray (Jenny) Hoerner of Columbia Falls; grandsons Nyklaus Kuntz and Joshua Kuntz, granddaughters Kyndra Russell, Kaitlyn Hoerner, Raychel Hoerner and Courtney Hoerner; brothers Virgil “Ed” (Linda) Hoerner and Gary Hoerner; sisters Marge Gordon, Mary (Nick) Morstad, Theresa Jackson and JoAnn (Terry) Haverkorn; his best friend and cousin Larry (Debbie) Hoerner; double cousins Shirley (Jim) Harvey and Doug (EJ) Hoerner; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Benny was blessed with the most amazing and supporting family who were always there for him.

He was preceded in death by his parents Vincent and Dorothy Hoerner; paternal and maternal grandparents, and brother Raymond Hoerner.

There will be a vigil with rosary held at Columbia Mortuary at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28, 2016 with Services to be held at St Richard Catholic Church in Columbia Falls at 10 a.m. Friday July 29, 2016. A reception in the church will follow burial in the Catholic Cemetery. Please dress casually.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to University of Washington for research of Glioblastoma multiform (GBM) brain tumors at 1959 NE Pacific Street, Seattle, WA, 98195-6165. Columbia Mortuary is caring for the Hoerner family.