Vincent Leo Koefelda passed away peacefully on April 28, 2018. He was born in Great Falls to Frank and Ruth Koefelda on July 16, 1927. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, serving in the South Pacific as a Navy Sea Bee. He worked for Montana Power Company until his retirement in 1988.
He married Myra “Penny” Trevararro in 1954 and had a daughter, Valarie. He later married Cleo Bummer Wirth to whom he was married for 44 years. He is survived by his wife, Cleo and children; Valarie (Ken) Bennett, Pamela (Bob Hansen) Wirth, Danny Wirth, Michael (Adrienne) Wirth, and 2 sisters; Jeane Koefelda and Bernice (Robert) Grieb. Also surviving are 8 grandchildren; Trisha, Kris, Chase, Carrie, Hazel, Michael, Matthew, Cleo, and 4 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Frank.
Vince had a very generous spirit and was an accomplished wood crafter. He and Cleo spent many summers camping along the Hungry Horse Reservoir picking huckleberries. On the first Sunday after returning home they would have an open house with huckleberries and ice cream. He mentioned that they had as many as 89 people attend. He would fill their canoe with water and the small children had their own “canoe party”.
Services will be held at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Laurel at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 4th with burial at 12:00 p.m. at the Yellowstone National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Our Savior’s Lutheran Church or to St. John’s Lutheran Ministry.
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