Will H. Neustrom

HAMILTON - Will Neustrom died November 2 at home surrounded by his family. Willis (Will) Harold Neustrom was born September 15, 1926 the fourth of nine children to William and Marjorie (Carr) Neustrom at Anthon, Iowa. His early years and during WW II were spent working on the family farm and various other neighboring farms until 1948 when he went to work for the Community Oil Company at Marcus, Iowa.

In January of 1950 he enlisted in the Air Force and was stationed briefly in Texas and Georgia before being sent to the Korean War in 1951. While in Korea he was in communications and placed on various mountain tops and radio relay stations to support our allied ground forces. In 1952 he returned to the US and was stationed in California. While there, on December 10, 1952 he married Rita Louise Garvin of Marcus, Iowa and they were married 57 years. Of this union five children were born and became a very close knit family, in spite of 17 different duty stations during 21 years of military service. 7 A½ of those years were spent overseas in remote areas such as Greenland, Okinawa and the Vietnam war zone with special services. He was also involved in the U.S. missile systems under Headquarters Strategic Air Command which required constant travel and inspection of those systems.

In 1970 Will retired from the Air Force and settled with his family in Hamilton, Montana.

Will was an avid outdoorsman and a staunch supporter of the NRA and 2nd Amendment. He so loved the Bitterroot Valley and felt so blessed to raise his family here. Will and Rita and their family became business people and remain so to this day.

Will is survived by his wife Rita, children Bill (Sally) Neustrom, Cindy (Bud) Hartley, Steve (Susie) Neustrom, Mary Beth Neustrom-Walker (James), and Jim Neustrom and many beloved grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Memorials in Will's name can be made to the NRA, Voice for Life, or to Marcus Daly Hospice and Haven House.