Lewis Vanover

Lewis Vanover, 84, of Belgrade, a former banking official at Libby, died on May 11, 2005.

Lew was born on May 22, 1920, at Big Sandy, to William and Lutie Miller Vanover, who had come on an immigrant train to Big Sandy in 1910.

The family moved to a farm near Valier in 1926 and Lew graduated from Valier High School in 1939.

He attended Billings Polytechnic and served with the U.S. Army during World War II.

Lew married Joyce Groat at Billings in 1942 and they raised sons Ted, Larry and Rod, and were later divorced.

Banking occupied much of his life, beginning with the Conrad National Bank in Kalispell and extending to Libby where he was executive vice president of the newly chartered Lincoln Security Bank.

He was also associated with banks in Butte and Roundup.

While living in Helena, Lew was director and lending officer of the Model City Development Corporation.

After moving to Billings, Lew married Tedo Wolff

While doing some carpentry work, Lew suffered a fall that broke his body but not his spirit.

Paralyzed from the chest down for the past 30 years, his strength, endurance and fighting spirit made him an example to all who knew him. Those closest to him say they are better people through knowing Lew.

He was preceded in death by his second wife, Tedo, his parents, sisters Nina, Mildred and Ruth Vanover, Zella Trafelet, Geneva Vanden Bow Moulton; brothers Calvin, Howard and David Vanover and granddaughter Desiree Vanover.

Survivors include his first wife, Joyce Sievert, Belgrade; sons Ted and his wife Sandy, Townsend, Larry and his wife Kathie, Manhattan, and Rod and his wife Faith, Belgrade; grandsons Rick Vanover and Dustin and his wife Alana Vanover; granddaughters Cindy Vanover and her husband Matt Gorsuch, Kari and her husband Tim Kamps, Heide and her husband Kevin Born, Holly Vanover, Heather Vanover and eight great-grandcildren.

He is also survived by sister Leola Snortland, Mesa, Ariz., brother Earl Vanover, Lewiston, Idaho, sisters-in-law Mary Vanover and Suzi Vanover, Billings, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Following cremation, a memorial service is being held on Wednesday, May 18, at Belgrade Christian Missionary Alliance Church.

Memorials may be made to Bozeman Deaconess Hospice, 931 Highland Blvd, Suite 3200, Bozeman, MT 59715.