By HDN staff
WARD GREGORY
TOWNSEND Ward D. Gregory, 82, died Tuesday, Oct. 5, 1999, at his residence of cancer.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services were held this morning at the Townsend United Methodist Church with burial following at Deep Creek Cemetery.
Gregory was born May 16, 1917, in Barnesville, Minn., to Geda and Mayer Gregory. The family moved to St. Cloud, Minn., where he graduated from high school in 1936. He attended college before beginning employment with the Great Northern Railroad in 1937, as a machinist.
On Oct. 25, 1941, he married Elaine Bracken in St. Cloud, Minn.
He served with the U.S. Navy in WWII from March of 1942 to December of 1945. After the service he returned to work for the railroad and was transferred to Havre in 1953. He retired in 1977. After his retirement the couple spent the winters in Casa Grande, Ariz. They moved to Townsend in 1994.
Gregory was a member of the Machinist Union, Eagles, Van Orsdel Methodist Church and was Governor of the Moose Lodge before moving to Townsend where he belonged to the Townsend United Methodist Church. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, hunting, golfing, reading, dancing and playing cards, and spending time with his family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and a brother.
Survivors include his wife, Elaine; sons, Douglas of Great Falls, Lee of Kent, Wash., Robert of Dillon and Thomas of Belgrade; daughters, Mary Jo of Billings and Lorna Larson of Butte; brothers, Charles of Apache Junction, Ariz., and Kenneth of St. Cloud, Minn.; 13 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.
Memorials are suggested to Westmont Hospice or to the donors choice.
Retz Funeral Home of Helena is in charge of arrangements.
