Orville Reichert

Memorial services will be held Monday, June 29, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at Rugby’s First Lutheran Church for Orville John Reichert, 89, Columbia Falls, Mont., and formerly of Rugby, who died Friday, May 22 at the Montana Veterans’ Home in Columbia Falls.

Burial will be in the Persilla Watts Cemetery.

Orville was born on Dec. 31, 1919 at Venturia, N.D., the son of John G. and Pauline Wiedmann Reichert. He grew up at Anamoose and graduated from Anamoose High School in 1938. He entered the United States Army Air Corps in 1942 and was honorably discharged in April, 1945. He married Gloria Irene Hemmingson at Parshall on Aug, 18, 1946. Following his discharge from military service he started working for Charles Crawford as manager of the Rugby C&G store. In 1960 he moved to Carrington to manage a new C&G store. In 1967 he purchased the Voeller Furniture Company in Rugby and changed the name to Rugby Furniture Company, which he owned and operated until 1987. In 1997 he and Gloria moved to Great Falls, Mont., to be near their children. Gloria died on Jan. 25, 2008.

Orville was very active in the Rugby community, having been a member of the Rugby Lions Club, the Rugby Park Commission, Rugby Airport Authority, Pierce County Republican Party, Rugby Chamber of Commerce, First Lutheran Church, Masonic Lodge, Elks Lodge, Eagles Aerie, and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

He is survived by daughters, Rev. Cheryl Hoops, Harlem, Mont.; and Christie Deck, of Thompson Falls, Mont.; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and a sister, Garnet Schnase.

Rev. Philip Leer will officiate. Music will be provided by Craig Wollenburg, soloist, and Pam Anderson, organist.

Pallbearers will be Leslie Deck, Andrew Lindseth and Brian Lindseth. Honorary bearers will be Colton Blossom, Douglas Deck, John Hemmingson, Mike Hemmingson, Tim Korsmo, Tracy Korsmo, Jeffrey Larsen, Ryan Liljestrand, Shaun Rohret, Jan Stroup and Dale Van Havermaet. Military honors will be accorded by the Clarence Larson Post #23 of the American Legion.

Memorials are suggested to the Persilla Watts Cemetery and the Montana Veterans’ Home, PO Box 250, Columbia Falls, Mont., 59912.

Arrangements by Niewoehner Funeral Home, Rugby.