Paul Melvin English, 77, passed away April 13, 2008, at the Sweet Memorial Nursing Home in Chinook due to natural causes.
A celebration of life will be 2 p.m. Thursday, April 17, 2008, at the Edwards Memorial Chapel, 500 Indiana, in Chinook with burial to follow at the Calvary Cemetery in Havre. A dinner will be held in the Vineyard Room of the Duck Inn in Havre following the graveside service. Services are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home in Chinook. Paul was born Nov. 2, 1930, in Kenosha, Wis., to Anthony and Leona (Armitage) English. He grew up and attended schools in Havre and was employed by the Great Northern Railroad as a time keeper before enlisting in the U. S. Army. He married Armida Santoni in Chicago and they had one son, Louis. They later divorced; Paul returned to Havre and worked for the state Highway Department as a laboratory technician until retiring. During this time he met and married Mildred “Skip” Turner Aug. 23, 1968, the couple later divorced. He also met and married Bess Morin in 1981. Paul enjoyed camping, playing his guitar and loved the Bear Paws. He had a great interest in geology and archeology and encouraged young people to take interest as well, often taking them on field trips and teaching them what he knew. He loved Native American culture and enjoyed attending sun dances and powwows where he developed relationships with many lifelong friends and associates. He served on the H. Earl Clack Museum board for many years and often gave talks and presented slide shows within the community on his various interests. He also took a great interest in the Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump. He was a founding member of the Milk River Archeological Society and the Montana Archeological Society. Paul was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Leona; brother, Roger English; wife, Bess English, and uncle, Emilio English. He is survived by his son, Louie English; sister Mary Ellen (Pete) Carrera of Union Mills, Ind.; sister-in-law Joanne English of Stevensville; aunt, Bea English of Chinook; former wife and good friend, Mildred “Skip” English and her children Linda (Larry) Nitz, Ben (Mary) Turner, Gloria Leeds, Velda Nicholls, and Donna (Vaughn Deleeuw) Wood, and their families; his nephews, Roger English of Butte, Chris (Michelle) Carrera of Goshen, Ind., Paul (Maurene) Carrera of Walkertown, Ind.; nieces, Paula Carney of Hamilton, Lori (Tom) Young of Manhattan, and Julie (Chuck) Panarella, of Bellevue, Wash., and their families; cousins, Frank (Diane) English of Rapid City, S. D., Cookie (Bob) Brendgard of Bozeman, Betty Quinn of Portland, Ore., Tony (Dixie) English of Chinook, David (Dana) English and Ed (Sue) English of Spokane, Wash., and their families; and many wonderful friends. Paul will be fondly remembered as the English family historian. He passed on wonderful family stories and local history and lore for generations to come. He always made himself available to take youngsters on field trips to discover the remnants from the past in our local area.
