Albert 'Al' Uithof

Albert Uithof, 86, died on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2005 at Cooney Covalescent Home in Helena, where he had resided for the last 12 months.

Al was born Christmas day in Canada 1918 to Henry Uithof and Jelke Watzema Uithof of Alderborn Holland. He was raised by his mother on a small farm near Sandpoint, Idaho, and completed grammar school and went on to college in Lewiston Idaho.

He joined the war effort and became a pilot in the Canadian Air Force. He had wonderful stories about flying over the Eastern Canadian Coast. When the war ended Al married Harriet Bedard of Winnipeg, Manitoba, in Canada in 1945. Al and Harriet's daughter Sandra was born the following year and they moved to Libby to work with Al's brother-in-law Paul Tondevold — married to his sister Catherine — where Al bought his first service station, Al's Carter Service. A few years later his first son, Robert, was born. His second son Guy was born six years later.

Al continued his many successes with the creation of several other businesses in the Libby and Troy area such as tire dealerships, oil and gas distributorships, car dealership, SaveRite service stations and KLCB Radio Station.

He was active in the church and community of Libby for many years. He had been on the Libby School Board, Libby Area Chamber of Commerce and many other local committees in his many years of living in the Libby community.

Al was an avid hunter and fisherman. In 1965, Al and several friends from Libby went on an African Safari. In later years he took another trip to Kenya for a photographic safari with his wife Kory. He taught his sons to hunt and they enjoyed many hunting trips with friends and family.

In 1974 he met Kory Hadden, and they were married a few years later. Al and Kory traveled extensively throughout the world from Europe to Africa, Australia, Holland and all areas between. Al and Kory retired to Quartzite, Ariz., until 2000 when they moved to Helena to be near Al's son Guy, and his family.

Al enjoyed telling stories and sharing his memories with friends and family. One of his favorite places iwas his cabin on Crystal Lake. He spent many years enjoying the cabin and his travels with Kory. One of Al's final requests was to give his wife roses from him. He was a very thoughtful and loving husband, father and grandfather. His great grandson Tate was born this summer and visited him often.

Al was cared for by the staff of Cooney Convalescent Home, also Anna and Jerry of St. Peters Hospice over the past year.

He is survived by his wife Kory of Helena; his sister Catherine Tondevold of California; his son Guy and his wife Deanna of Helena and Guy's two daughters — Heidi Herbolich and her husband Bill and great grandson Tate of Helena and Tennille Uithof of New York City; his son Robert and his wife Linda of Libby as well as Robert's children Joshua and Eric Uithof, also daughter Tessa of Libby and two great grandchildren; daughter Sandra and her husband Charlie Wells, and Sandra's daughters — Therez of Grand Forks, N.D ., and three great grandchildren, and Michelle Wells of Portland, Ore.; and by Virginia Leigh, who has been Al's dear friend in recent years.

A graveside service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 25, at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Helena. Memorials are suggested to Hospice of St. Peter's 2475 E. Broadway St., Helena, Mont. 59601 or to the Cooney Convalescent Home, 2555 E. Broadway St., Helena, Mont. 59601.