Marvin Richard Calahan, 91, died Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007, at the Village Health Care Center in Missoula.
Funeral services will be held Thursday at 1 p.m. at the Faith Free Lutheran Church at 405 Liberty St. in Kalispell with Pastor Steve Snipstead officiating. Visitation will be on Wednesday from 3 to 6 p.m. and on Thursday from 8 to 10 a.m. at Johnson Mortuary Chapel. Graveside services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. at the Highland Cemetery on Highland Drive in Havre. He was born in Roundup on Aug. 8, 1916, to William and Amanda Calahan. Marvin attended school in Roundup and graduated from Roundup High School in 1935, where he excelled at football and basketball. After high school, Marvin moved to Havre where he met and married Mildred Johnson. There they raised their family until Mildred’s death in 1982. Marvin married Betty Johnson of Harlem and they were married for 24 years. He often commented on how God had so richly blessed him with two wives who loved the Lord. When Marvin moved to Havre, after high school, he worked as a meat cutter for Buttrey Foods. In 1942, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he proudly served on the aircraft carrier USS Lexington. In 1945, he opened his own meat market, Calahan Meats in the Anderson Grocery Store in Havre. He operated this business for 20 years before becoming a Lutheran Brotherhood insurance agent in 1964. He was very successful and was a top agent for them for over 25 years. He enjoyed helping people plan for the future. Marvin and Betty retired to Kalispell and then to Missoula. Marvin was an example of how to have a strong faith in Jesus Christ, while being a progressive community and church leader. Years ago he helped start the Blue Pony Booster Club at Havre High School. He was an active member at First Lutheran Church in Havre for over 50 years; he served on the boards of the Lutheran Home of the Good Shepherd for 18 years, and the Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp. He was instrumental in organizing and starting the Christian radio station KXEI, and the Bear Paw ski hill. He also served on the board of First Security Bank of Havre. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Calahan; sons, Jon Robert; infant son, Michael Robert; sisters, Hazel Brown, Blanch Miklich and Delva Embry. He is survived by his wife, Betty Calahan; son, David (Judi) Calahan of Missoula; daughters, Lori (Bill) Martindale of Belgrade and Julie (Ken) Bauer of Missoula; stepchildren, Randy (Sara) Johnson of Bozeman, Les (Bonnie) Johnson of Great Falls, Kathy (Edwin) Zellmer of Hogeland and Brenda (Ed) DuBray of Babb; and numerous grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Memorials can be made to the KXEI Christian Radio Station, P.O. Box 2426 Havre, MT 59501 in Havre, or the Faith Free Lutheran Church in Kalispell. Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Marvin’s family. Friends and family are invited to visit www. Johnsonmortuary.com to view and sign Marvin’s guest book.
