ELMER ZARN obituary

CHINOOK - Elmer M. Zarn, 79, died Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2003, at a Havre care center due to natural causes.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Zion Lutheran Church with burial following in the Kuper Memorial Cemetery.

Zarn was born on March 17, 1924, in Fargo, N.D., to Walter and Margit

(Thorson) Zarn. He was raised on a farm near Watford City, N.D., by his stepfather. In 1942 Elmer moved to Chinook with a friend who had relatives there.

He married Aileen Gorman on April 16, 1945, in Chinook.

He worked in the shipyards in Tacoma, Wash., worked on oil rigs, at an oil refinery and did farm work. Elmer went to work for the Great Northern Railway and retired on May 31, 1985, with more than 30 years of service. He also held second jobs over the years, working for Frank Pehrson at the service station, carrying mail for Willie Pyette, and installing house siding on his own.

Elmer loved hunting, boating and fishing. His greatest joy was helping anyone who could use a willing hand.

Survivors include his wife, Aileen (Deane) Zarn of Chinook; daughters, Ruth Ann (Larry) Cain of Kettle Falls, Wash., and Pam (Bob) Cross of Chinook; sons, Rick (Tammy) Zarn of Kalispell, Elmer Dean (Karla) Zarn and Barry Zarn, both of Chinook; sisters, Edith Vanwagner of Kent, Wash., and Myrtle Oppeboen of Colorado Springs, Colo.; 14 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, John Rogness, brother, Alvin Rogness; six stepbrothers and stepsisters; and an infant son and daughter.

Memorials may be sent to the Zion Lutheran Church.

Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.