John K. McBride

John K. McBride, 90, died on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at his home in Libby of natural causes. He was born on Jan. 30, 1928 in Fort Totten, New York to John and Dorothy (nee Kenly) McBride.

John served in the U.S. Army Artillery Infantry and was honorably discharged in 1948 as a Corporal. He graduated from the University of Maine in 1952 and received a bachelor of science degree in forest management. He worked in private industry with J. Neils Lumber Company, St. Regis Paper Company and Champion International.

He moved to Libby in 1952 and built his house, with Carolyn. Together they raised children, taught hunter safety for 40 years, and worked on the family land “The Walker Tract” in Troy.

John was a devoted family man and a good friend, tree farmer, horse lover, gun collector, military historian and a consummate story teller with a great and dry sense of humor. He loved to teach forestry with the sixth graders and new teacher’s tours of the woods, as well as Civil War history classes in schools. He worked hard and had a knack of turning work into fun.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy K. McBride; his father, John McBride; his brother, James McBride; and an infant son, Jeffry Gordon.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Carolyn McBride, of Libby; daughters Dorothy McBride and Karyn Larsen of Libby and Janet Kvernvik of Petersburg, Alaska; son John S. McBride of Redmond, Oregon; grandchildren including Jeremy Bowker, Taska Larsen, Amber Larsen, Kaylee Hammond, Keegan McBride, Carolyn Kvernvik and Adanna Kvernvik; great-grandchildren including Ariana Hammond, Aidan Hammond, Kenly McBride and Kai McBride. He leaves many good friends and his beloved dog, Corky.

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. A community Celebration of Life for all who knew John will be held Friday, March 16 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Ponderosa Room at Libby City Hall. A family Celebration of Life will be held in July, 2018 in Troy at the family cabin.