No headline

John M. C. Tedrick

John M. C. Tedrick of Columbia Falls passed away in Missoula Monday, Nov. 18.

John was born in his grandparent’s (Mike and Lillian Oakley Garr) home on M Street in Livingston on Sept. 17, 1941. He was the firstborn of John D. and Emalyn Garr Tedrick. He was raised on a ranch 17 miles out on Livingston on the West Boulder. After graduating from Park County High School in 1959, he soon joined the Air Force. He was stationed in various places in the United States, but favored Anchorage, Alaska. After being discharged in Florida, John returned to Anchorage to work for the Alaska State Highway Department in the soils division. As a hobby, he taught and called square dancing. It was there in October that he met his future wife, Juanita Goodwin.

They were married in Kashwinta on Sept. 14, 1968. In Sept. 1969, their first child, Delwinna, was born. John went to work for Western Airlines. In August of 1970, they decided to move back to Montana and joined the Tedricks in Creston. There, their second child, Dwayne, was born. John quickly found a job with Plum Creek Timber Co. and remained there for a little over 30 years. Their last child, Derek, was born while the family was living in the Halfmoon area. In the 1980s, John joined the U.S. Army Reserve and finished out his 21 years in the military. John was a hard-working, salt-of-the Earth man. He always put his family first and they were his first priority. He read his Bible daily and was finishing his fifth reading of his Bible when he died.

He is survived by his wife, Juanita, daughter, Delwinna Leonhardt (Brian) of Columbia Falls; sons Dwayne (Dianna) of Big Sandy and Derek (Elisa) of Billings. He has two sisters, Emalyn (Pete) Walters of Moise and Mary (Larry) of Moccasin and a brother, Jerry, of Ronan. He was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers, Robert, Albert, Harry and Elmer; and niece, Emalyn Jo. He is also survived by his seven grandchildren, who he loved dearly: Sean Tedrick, Arianna Miller, Gabrielle Leonhardt, Pacev Tedrick, Mia Tedrick, Joseph Leonhard and Delena Tedrick. He and his sense of humor will be missed.

Graveside services will be held Thursday, Dec. 5 at 1 p.m. in Glacier Memorial Gardens outside Kalispell.