Verne Willard Lupton, 92

While at home and with his family at his side, Verne W. Lupton passed peacefully "into the presence of his Lord" on March 4, 2009, in Spokane.

Born in Hamilton on Feb. 27, 1917, to James P. Lupton, a freelance trucker, and Emma Hammell Lupton, a homemaker, Verne was raised in Victor as the eldest of three children. He was very close to his twin sisters, Mildred and Mabel, and enjoyed frequent hunting and fishing trips throughout the Bitterroot Valley with his father, extended family, and friends. Although sports afield activities may have been his preferred diversion, he also greatly enjoyed playing cornet in school music programs from sixth through 12th grades, as well as high school basketball.

After graduation from high school in Hamilton, in 1935, he studied forestry at the University of Montana for one year, then returned to Victor for work and college fund development, and finally enrolled in Montana State University in Bozeman. Verne graduated from MSU in May 1940 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agronomy and soils.

Employment in his field of study brought him to Kalispell. It was there while working for the Department of Agriculture, Farm Security Administration, on the second floor of the KM building that he met Clavie "Kay" Anderson, who would soon become his wife of 64 years.

With the coming of World War II, Verne enlisted in the U.S. Army. After basic training and then the Officer Candidate Program, he received his commission in the U.S. Army Air Corps on Nov. 28, 1942. On this significant day later that afternoon, he married Kay in the base chapel at Scott Field, Mo.

After Verne's release from active duty in April 1946, he and Kay first lived and worked in Polson, where he was a soil scientist for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service. In May 1947, he and his partner, Robert Engelbach, purchased retail property in Kalispell, which would soon become a firm known as Snappy ServiSenter.

Then in May 1948, they moved with their firstborn, B.J., to Kalispell, where they built their first home in the northeast section of town. In 1950, twins Scott and Shaunda joined the family, followed by Kent in 1952. Verne and Kay resided happily in Kalispell most of their adult lives, devoting their time principally to raising their four children and developing their business. They moved to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, in 1986, and then to Spokane in 2003. After Kay's passing in October 2006, Verne remained in their home near family and friends.

If one's treasure is where one spends one's time, Verne's was family. Summer days at the cabin on Little Bitterroot Lake, family vacations, fishing and pheasant hunting with his boys were some of the pleasures he brought to those closest to him.

As time would allow, Verne was a willing and sincere community participant. He was a dedicated Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader, served numerous terms on the school board of School District 5, served many years as an elder at First Presbyterian Church, Kalispell, was active in the Chamber of Commerce, was chosen by the JayCees as "Man of the Year" in 1952, and gave as much of himself as he was able to worthy charitable causes and community endeavors. He won many friends through the years, in part because of his good-humored, self-effacing charm.

Most importantly, Verne was a man of unshakable faith. His strength declining two days before his death, he was asked by one of his sons, "If he had but one word or thought to share with his family, what would that be?" He asked for his son's hand, smiled slightly and clearly said, "Just follow God's path." Indeed, his was a life well lived.

Verne was preceded in death by his mother and father; his beloved wife, Kay; his twin sisters, Mabel and Mildred; and his son-in-law, Kevin.

He is survived by his four children and their spouses, B.J. Lupton and Mary, of Kalispell; Scott Lupton and Kay Rydeen, of Rochester, Minn.; Shaunda Gaffney-Barile and Michael Barile, of Greeley, Colo.; and Kent Lupton and Cindy, of Spokane; grandchildren, Mark and Kristi, Doug and Kasey, Emily and Bryson, Korri and Dennis, Jonathan, Annie, Joel, Brecca and Brynne; and great-grandchildren, Rylee and Samuel.

Memorial services for Verne will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at Fairwood in Spokane; and at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 20, at First Presbyterian Church in Kalispell. After each memorial service, the family will be greatly blessed with your company and fellowship, as we enjoy light refreshment together. A graveside service with military honors will be held at 9 a.m. June 20 at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery, preceding the Kalispell memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army; or to Hope Ranch, P.O. Box 4841, Whitefish, MT 59937.