Alvin Wetherelt, 96, of Libby

Alvin C. Wetherelt, 96, passed away at the Montana Veterans Home on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014.

Alvin was born on May 5, 1918, in Cartwright, N.D., to Georgie Maud (Hopkins) and Thomas Wetherelt. In 1922 the family moved to Broadus where his father homesteaded. They lived there until 1937, then moved to Moscow, Idaho.

Alvin met the love of his life, Virginia French; they were married June 14, 1938. That fall they moved back to his dad’s homestead where they built a house. In February of 1940 they had their first son Lawrence Alvin, and in May of 1942 their second son Leonard Henry was born.

In 1946 they bought an acre in Broadus and built another house so Lawrence could start school. In 1956 they bought his sister Nora’s ranch where they lived until 1966 when they moved to Libby. Alvin retired from Champion Lumber mill in 1980. He then had a small engine repair shop with his son Lawrence.

In 2000 they sold their property in Libby and moved to Columbia Falls. In June of 2009, He moved in with his son Lawrence and daughter-in-law Helen where he resided until 2013, when he moved to the Montana Veterans Home.

Alvin was preceded in death by his parents; wife Virginia; brothers Thomas, Norman, Fred, Howard, Glenn and Vernon; sisters Fern, Nora, Georgie and Edna; and sons Lawrence and Leonard Wetherelt.

He is survived by his sister-in-law Ruth; brother-in-law Ben; daughter-in-law and care giver Helen Wetherelt; daughter-in-law Sharon Wetherelt; grandchildren April, Rachael and Matthew; great-grandchildren Megan and her husband Jordan Adams, Drew, Ashley and her fiance Jacob Crosley, Felica and husband John Steele, Angelique, Lita and Rey; and great-great-grandson Jasper.

A memorial service took place on Sept. 13 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Burial was at Woodlawn Cemetery.