By HDN Staff
BIG SANDY Arvid "Bill" Rutledge, 78, Big Sandy, died Thursday, May 10, 2001 at a Big Sandy medical center of natural causes.
Funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Christ Lutheran Church in Big Sandy with Pastor Tim Hauge officiating. Burial is to follow at the Big Sandy Cemetery. Fellowship following burial at the Christ Lutheran Church.
Rutledge was born Dec. 6, 1922 to Forrest B. and Anna Lohse Rutledge at Olympia, Wash. He attended Hopp School.
On Oct. 19, 1946, he married Velaura Stueck at Great Falls. They lived in Big Sandy, where he owned and operated the Rutledge farm until 1984. She died in 1984 and he retired from farming.
He married Lenore Sternberg at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho on May 29, 1985. They lived at Big Sandy and their cabin at Flathead Lake.
Rutledge was active in the Hopp-Illiad Community Club, Moose Club, Fraternal Order of Eagles, 4-H, Farmer's Union and was past director of Hill County Electric.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Velaura Rutledge.
Survivors include his wife, Lenore Sternberg Rutledge of Big Sandy; daughter, Cheryl Anderson of Havre; son, Gerald Rutledge of Big Sandy; sister, Florence Leighton of Big Arm; stepchildren, Marilyn Williamson of Chinook, Gwen Kane of Battle Mountain, Nev., Jim Stave of Big Sandy, Judy Jurenka of Rudyard, Scott Stave of Bellfouche, S.D., and Ron Sternberg of Kodiac, Alaska; 20 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to The Gift of Life, Benefis Healthcare Facility, P.O. Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59406-7008, or Big Sandy Medical Center, 2 Montana Ave., Big Sandy, MT 59520.
Services and arrangements are under the direction of the Holland and Bonine Funeral Home.
