August "Gus" Everaert, 75, died Wednesday evening at the Northern Montana Care Center of natural causes.
Viewing will be Friday, Sept. 19, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Home with his graveside service at 2 p.m. Friday at the Highland Cemetery with Ila McClenahan officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow. Memorial contributions in Gus's honor may be made to the Northern Montana Care Center Chapel Fund, C/O NMH, P.O. Box 1231, Havre, MT 59501. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. Gus was born July 7, 1933, in Chicago, Ill. He attended grade school in the Chicago area and then moved with his family to Havre where he graduated from Havre High School in 1952. Gus enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1952 in Butte and served during the Korean Conflict he was honorably discharged in 1956. He then entered into the United States Marine Corps in 1959 and was honorably discharged in 1963 as a corporal. After serving his country, Gus attended college and studied liberal arts. He worked various jobs around the state. In Havre he worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad and Havre Beneath the Streets. He became a resident at the Northern Montana Care Center in October 2005. Gus was an accomplished writer. He wrote poetry under the pen name of Pencil Pete. Some of his work was even published by the Havre Daily News. Gus was a simple person. He enjoyed the outdoors and was a sports enthusiast. He loved to fish ,and it was when he was surrounded by nature that he was inspired to write his poetry. Gus loved to listen to music he liked the oldies in gospel and country western music. In 2006, Gus received an “Extreme Makeover” of his room by the Blue Horizon 4-H club. He loved his time at the Northern Montana Care Center and particularly enjoyed any activity that involved music. He was appreciative of everything that was done for him. Gus was preceded in death by his parents; his sister-in-law, Cleo Everaert in 2003; and his brother, Florimond “Butch” Everaert in 2007. Gus is survived by his close friends, Perry (Jeannie) Lee and Ron Belcourt, all of Havre, and all of the residents, staff and volunteers of the Northern Montana Care Center.
