Virnie Carrol Mack

Virnie Carrol Mack, 92, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 13, 2022, in Libby, Montana.

He was born on Sept. 6, 1930, to Francis (Frank) and Lucile (Fessenden) Mack in Glendive, Montana.

He attended grade school there until the family moved to Big Timber, Montana, and because of his love for ranching he left school to work on a ranch.

At the age of 16, with his parents’ permission, he joined the U.S. Army Air Force where he served in the United States and the Alaska Territory as a Sergeant in Spec Vehicle Operations.

Upon completing his enlistment, he returned to the Big Timber area where he met and married Evelyn Goakey and together had three children: Larry, Linda and Lonnie. After a few years, they went their separate ways.

Virnie became an accomplished carpenter, he was taught by his talented father and helped build cabins in Yellowstone Park.

He then met and married Margaret Lovelace and together they made their home in Big Timber where they had four children: Cindy, Patti, Keith and Doris. In 1966 they moved to Libby and had three more children: Robin, Frank and Carol. After several years, they went their separate ways.

Virnie had several occupations that he was very good at, including carpenter, rancher, farmer and logger in which he was a carpenter at the Libby Dam for 8½ years.

In 1987, Virnie met his dancing partner for life. He married LaDonna Hilliard in 1989 and they honeymooned in Alaska. Together they built their home in Libby. As a couple that did everything together, they loved to play cards, dance, travel, fish, hunt, garden, worked up cedar into shakes, post and rails, pick huckleberries and pinecones, went to Oregon and Washington several times to get fruit and vegetables to share with the family, friends and the church. One of their most memorable things they loved to do was being Santa and Mrs. Claus for 30 years.

Virnie also loved to read western books, having his small herd of Red Angus cows, his chickens and his dogs.

His other loves were family campouts and to do karaoke, where he made two CDs to share with family and friends.

Members of his family that have departed are his parents; son Larry Mack; daughter Linda Ewan; stepson Frank Hilliard; son-in-law Glen Peek; daughter-in-law Caral Hilliard; sisters Eva Reed, Fern Mack and Gloria Kowis; brothers Vern Mack and Fred Mack; grandchildren Tyler Michels and Chance Hilliard.

Survivors include: his wife LaDonna of 33 years; children: Lonnie Ewan (RoseAnn), Cindy Peek, Patti Regh (Jim), Keith Mack (Betty), Doris Langley (Mike), Robin Henderson (Alan), Frank Mack (Pam), Carol Mack; stepchildren: Jim Hilliard, Diane Morris (Mike), Bryan Egland (Sue); Sister: Verna Gray (Ron); and Brother: Rick Mack (Tammy).

Grandchildren: Coral, Lonnie, Linda, Shelly, Jennifer, Josie, Jamie, Johnny, Amanda, Gregory, Morgan, Vicki, Lesli, Staci, Scott, Mar’Kee, Alysha, Andrea, Hunter, Amy, Christopher, Shane, Tianna, Garrett, Kylee, Tanner, Brianna, Peytonn, Reggie, Justin and Kirsti. Step grandchildren: Shandi, Jason, Sean, Bryce, Jenny, Randy and Buddy; 71 great-grandchildren and six great great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 22, 2023, at the Libby Christian Church with Pastor Frank Mack and Pastor Phil Alspaw officiating, followed by a reception at the church.

Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby.

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