Obituary - Edward Leo Hybner

Edward Leo Hybner was born Oct. 24, 1924 in Portland, Oregon. He was the second of four children born to Antonia "Margaret" Mejstrik and Frank Hybner. Ed's father had homesteaded north of Rudyard in 1912.

The Hybners had gone to Oregon to work in the sawmills to raise additional funds to develop the land on their Montana farm. Edward was raised on the family farm and attended the nearby Oreana country school for eight years, then finished his secondary education in Rudyard, where he graduated from high school in 1943. He continued his schooling at Oregon State College and majored in economics. Soon after, he returned to the family farm to work with his father and brother.

In 1944, Edward enlisted in the U. S. Army to serve during World War II. He was initially stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, then served nine months in Japan as the war ended. He attained the rank of Tec-4 at the time of his honorable discharge in 1946. Ed returned to farming in Montana.

In 1968 Edward moved back to Oregon where he lived in Oregon City and Portland. He enjoyed working as a punch-press operator for Omark Industries until he retired in 1993. Two years later Ed moved to Billings to enjoy his retirement. When his health began to fail in 2010, he transferred to the care center in Chester to be closer to his Hi-Line family.

Ed died peacefully at the Liberty Medical Center early Friday evening, Feb. 19, 2016. He was 91 years old.

Edward was baptized in the Catholic faith and was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus. He was an avid reader who especially enjoyed magazines and newspapers. A favorite hobby was attending yard sales. Ed was a quiet and reserved gentleman who never married. He was also a proud man - proud of his military service and proud that he reached the age of 90!

He was preceded in death by his parents, his older brother (George, who died as a child), and a niece (Linda).

Edward is survived by his brother, Jerry (Mary Lois) Hybner of Rudyard; his sister, Martha (Virgil) Jurenka of Rudyard; and 12 nephews and nieces, including the Hybners (Daniel, Roger, Terry, Joan Marie, and Amy) and the Jurenkas (Tom, Ted, Russell, Doug, Frank, Carol and Paul).

Vigil Prayers will be 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, at Our Lady of Ransom Catholic Church in Hingham. The funeral Mass will be 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 26, at the church. Burial will follow at the Hingham Cemetery.

Memorials may be offered to the Hi-Line Health Foundation in Chester.

Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester.