By HDN staff
Gary Gene Faulkner, 63, died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2000 at his home in Helena.
Services were held at St. John's Lutheran Church in Helena this morning with Pastor Doug Vold presiding. Interment followed at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison.
Faulkner was born May, 17, 1936 on his grandfather's homestead in Calhoun County, Iowa to Thomas and Beulah Faulkner. He was raised on the family farm near Pomeroy, Iowa and attended school there.
Faulkner enlisted in the Navy in December 1954. He served aboard the aircraft carriers USS Bon Homme Richard and USS Bennington, and received the American Spirits Award. After being discharged, he attended Iowa Central College and the University of Iowa.
On March 28, 1959 he married Lynda Lee Meyer of Rockwell City, Iowa, in Yankton, S.D.
Faulkner worked for AVCO Corporation for 17 years and for Industrial Engineer in Fort Dodge, Iowa for 13 years. He then transferred to Glasgow Air Force Base and worked as plant manager from 1971 until 1974. Faulkner moved his family back to Iowa where he operated his own business for five years.
In 1979, the family returned to Montana where Faulkner worked for the office of commerce attached to the governor's office. He later worked as a finance officer with the department of commerce until 1986.
He worked for the governor of Arizona in Phoenix for a year and returned to his job with the Montana commerce department. He retired in November 1998.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, traveling, backyard barbecues and playing with his grandchildren.
Faulkner was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Donald Ray and a sister Patricia Faye.
Survivors include his wife, Lynda; son, Michael Faulkner; daughter, Dawn Valle, two grandchildren, two nieces and a nephew.
Memorials are suggested to St. John's Lutheran Church and St. Peter's Cancer Center.
Retz Funeral Home of Helena is in charge of arrangements.
