Louie Delbert O'Brien

| September 28, 2018 4:00 AM

Louie Delbert O’Brien, 86, of Libby passed away Sunday, Sept. 23, 2018, at his home of natural causes. He was born Jan. 30, 1932, in Eureka to Lorenzo Dow and Blanche (Baillargon) O’Brien. He attended school at Lincoln County High School until he graduated in 1951.

Louie was drafted into the United States Army in February of 1953 where he drove truck for the Service Co. 18th Infantry Regiment in Germany until February of 1955, where he was given a National Defense Service Medal/Army of Occupation Medal. He then returned to Eureka and continued his employment with the J. Neils Lumber Company there. Upon his return he met the love of his life Beverly Jean (Bernhard) O’Brien and married on Dec. 3, 1955. They had three children when they lived in camp in Rexford.

In 1962 Louie and his family decided to move to Libby, where he could have stable employment for J. Neils in the mill throughout the winter months. When they got to Libby they bought their first house, and had their fourth child. He worked in the Woods Department mostly but was a man of all trades working in various positions, from being out in the woods, plywood plant, greenchain and his biggest passion: driving trucks. He became president of the Local Lumber and Sawmill Union in the 70s until the early 90s. He got a medical retirement in 1992. Louie loved spending time and traveling with his family, going to California to visit one of his children, and being able to go out camping, hunting and fishing.

Louie loved being a husband and a parent, and loved all of his grandchildren — RJ, Cory, Kyle, Evan, Lee, Justin and Christina — and his numerous great grandchildren greatly.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lorenzo and Blanche O’Brien; his brothers Fred, Frank and Richard O’Brien; and his sister, Leona Benefield.

Survivors by his brother Leo (Shirley) O’Brien of Kalispell; wife Beverly O’Brien of Libby; his children Belinda (Ronald) Masters of Libby, Victoria O’Brien of Libby, Leslie (Tina) O’Brien of Ventura, California, and Kelly (Rhonda) O’Brien of Libby; seven grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 29, at the Baptist Church in Libby. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Veterans Administration or the VFW would be greatly appreciated. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.