Willard M. Morin, 80
Willard M. Morin, 80, “went to grow dahlias with the Lord” on Saturday, Jan. 1, 2011, in Lewistown.
He was born on Sept. 7, 1930, at Medicine Lake, to Joseph and Isabelle (Baney) Morin.
Willard lived in Poplar, then moved to Marion, where he lived most of his life. As a young man he worked as a logger. He was a very talented man and could do anything he put his mind to. When he did things he always went big. The bigger the better.
He was a singer and guitar player in a band, he handcrafted guns and knives, he was an exceptional artist, working with wood and bronze, his artwork of cowboys, Indians and wildlife was beautiful. He was a master gardener and throughout his life, he raised fuchsias and begonias until he found his real love, dahlias. Willard created TLC Gardens, The Lupin Coulee Gardens, which he and his brother Bernard and wife Gail worked together. “Lupin” comes from the lupin that grew in Willard’s backyard, and “Coulee” was from Coulee Dam. Willard created numerous dahlias and named them all with the Lupin trademark. All of his flowers are named after a special person in Willard’s life. His garden started out at his house in the backyard then quickly spread to his entire yard, then it spread over to his sister Elenor and husband Bud's farm. He loved growing them dahlias.
Willard loved his family and especially loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He loved to attend birthday parties, Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas, so he could watch his grandchildren and great-grandchildren have some fun.
Willard will be missed by many.
Willard was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Willis "Sonny" Morin; a sister, Doris Morin Turcotte; and sister, Margaret "Peggy" Hope.
He is survived by two sons, Mick Morin of Kalispell, and Doug Morin and Sheila of Kalispell; two daughters, Lorri Moriarty and Mike of Arizona, and Kelli Covington and Ben of Kalispell; a brother, Bernard Morin, and Gail, of Washington; sister, Elenor Wilhelm, of Kalispell; grandchildren, Brandi Reiner, Chad Morin, Kevin Morin, Erin Braaten, Beau Morin, Summer Moriarty, Michael Moriarty, Britain Morin, Zachary Adkins, Tylee Covington and Christopher Covington, and 14 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Willard will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 7, in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel with Pastor Tim Bartholomew of Stillwater Free Lutheran Church officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday from noon to 5 p.m. Burial will follow the services at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. A reception will follow in the Evergreen Fire Department Community Room
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Willard’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Willard’s guest book, offer condolences and share memories.