Wes Habeck

Longtime Libby resident Wesley Owen Habeck, 72, died Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006, of lung cancer.

He was born March 21, 1934, in Crookston, Minn., to Rudolph Emil and Emma Loraine Habeck. He grew up in Lisbon, N.D.

Wes served in the Navy from 1953 to 1956 and graduated from barber school in 1956.

He married Jean Boerner on May 1, 1954. He later married Georgia Ross on May 29, 1981.

Wes lived in Libby from 1956 to 2001, when he and his wife Georgia moved to Yelm, Wash., to be closer to Georgia's family.

Wes was a barber in Libby for 40 years and co-owned the Western Auto store for 10 years.

He enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and riding all-terrain vehicles. He and his family had a cabin at the Thompson Chain of Lakes, and he spent most of his free weekends there.

Wes retired from Libby Volunteer Fire Department after 20 years of service. He was a member of the Elks, the American Legion and Christ Lutheran Church. He was a past member and president of the Libby Jaycees and a past member of the Grizzly Bowmen.

He is survived by his wife Georgia of Yelm; his son Bruce Habeck and wife Ian of Monument, Colo.; daughters Kathy Sauby and husband Kemo of Libby and Kim Janicke and husband Rory of Rainier, Wash.; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 30, at Christ Lutheran Church in Libby.

Memorial donations may be made to Assured Hospice, 2102 Carriage Dr. S.W., Building D, Olympia, WA 98502.