Lyle Eugene Westgard

HAMILTON - Lyle Eugene Westgard passed away on June 9, 2019, just four days before his 90th birthday, at Discovery Care Assisted Living in Hamilton.  Lyle was born on June 13, 1929 in Rugby, North Dakota to John Oscar Westgard and Ethel Kari Christenson.

His early childhood years were spent in Rugby, North Dakota during the Depression years, where many aunts, uncles and cousins lived also.  In the early 1940’s he and his sister Jean, moved to Lolo with their Aunt Sigrid and Uncle Norman Larson and their seven children.

Lyle married Lucille Wilkerson on August 29, 1952 in Missoula at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.  Lyle and Lucille were the parents of three daughters; Rhonda, Bettina and Jody.

Lyle worked as a logger as a young adult and served in the National Guard for several years, before being honorably discharged, as he was now a husband and father.  He also worked for White Pine Lumber Mill in Missoula, after giving up logging and in 1959 began work at the University of Montana, when the school colors were still copper, silver and gold!  He was part of the Physical Plant at the U of M.   He worked for the U of M for 30 years, retiring in 1989.

Retirement brought on many adventures and misadventures; including the purchase of a small motor home that allowed Lyle to wander to his hearts content, which he and Lucille did for a couple of years, before settling in Arizona, where they lived for almost 15 years, summer and winter!  They relocated to Rathdrum, Idaho where they lived for 10 years, and returned to Montana in 2014.

He was a loyal, hardworking man to his wife, family and employers.  Lyle is survived by his wife of 66 years, Lucille; and his daughters, Rhonda Johnson and husband Doug of Hamilton, Bettina Westgard of Tampa, FL and Jody Newlon and husband Brian of Stevensville; his sister, Jean Tucker of Missoua; 7 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and his Larson cousins.  Lyle was preceded in death by 2 of his cousins, Dave and Joanne Larson. 

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 15, 2019 at 11:00 am at the Daly-Leach Chapel with burial to follow at Riverview Cemetery.  There will be a reception following in the funeral home’s community room.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.dalyleachchapel.com.   

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