Henry "Hank" O'Shant

HAMILTON - Henry (Hank) Edwin O'Shant, 93, died Saturday, December 10, 2011, at his home in Hamilton, MT. He was born May 4, 1918, in Hays, Kansas, son of Margaret (Rea) Oshant and Fred Oshant, Sr. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jean Evelyn (Gross) O'Shant of Listowel, Ontario, Canada. He is survived by their son, Peter Michael O'Shant of Victoria, B.C., Canada and their grandson, Ryley William Henry O'Shant. Also preceding him in death were sisters Margaret Oshant Isbell (Clarence) and Hazel (Oshant) Taxacher (Jim), and brother Fred (Jim) Oshant, Jr.and wife Betty. Also surviving are siblings, John Oshant of Tucson, AZ, and Rachel (Oshant) Huffman of St. Francis, Kansas.

Henry was a pilot all of his life, flying for P.T. Air Service in Hays and instructor for the Air Cadet Program at Ft. Hays, and later instructed the glider trainer program for landing behind the lines in Europe. He joined the Air Transport Command (ATC), during World War II, flying many varied aircraft "Over the Hump" (the Himalayas) into China, Africa, India, South Pacific, and many U.S. Air Force locations worldwide. At one time he met his brother Jim aboard the U.S.S. Dobbin in the Pacific after the attack on Pearl Harbor. After the war he owned and operated his own charter service in Hays, Kansas.

Later he flew for oil industries, spending much time in the oil rich resource areas of the mid-west states of the U.S., and later transferred to the frozen North. This meant many long hour flights above the arctic circle, and landings in dirt bush strips within the Canadian tundra. He designed and, with help, built his own home in Hamilton, MT. He constructed and sold ultralight aircraft and experimental sport planes from his hangar in Hamilton. Later he and his brother John formed a business building, selling, and instructing in ultra light planes. During the Ravalli County Fair in Hamilton they simultaneously flew and landed their ultra lights within the boundary fences before the sold-out fairgrounds grandstand.

Henry loved woodwork and model building that always show a high degree of precision. He also
had a great enjoyment of team sports, gymnastics, swimming and life guarding at Hays pools,
plus body surfing off the Gold Coast of Africa. Later mid-years he and his son Peter enjoyed the sport of archery, target shooting the mountain course in Casper, Wyoming that they both helped to build, also traveled to many tournaments.

Memorials suggested for Ravalli County Head Start School in Hamilton.