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Louis Wilson Menk
CAREFREE, Ariz. - Louis Wilson Menk, retired Chairman and CEO of Burlington Northern, Inc., died Nov. 23, 1999, at his home in Carefree, Ariz., following a short illness associated with cancer. Mr. Menk enjoyed many years of his life living and vacationing in Montana.
He was born April 8, 1918, in Englewood, Colo., the oldest child of Louis A. and Daisy D. (Frantz) Menk. Following in his father's footsteps, he worked for the Union Pacific Railroad as a messenger and telegrapher from 1937 to 1940.
He joined the St. Louis-San Francisco Railways in 1940 as a telegrapher and rose through the ranks to become President of the Frisco in 1962, the then-youngest president in American railroading history.
He was subsequently named Chairman and CEO.
In 1965, Mr. Menk accepted an invitation to lead the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co.
He then became President of the Northern Pacific Railway Co., a parent of the Burlington.
For the next four years, he not only ran the Northern Pacific but also par
ticipated in the executive group working on a merger of the Northern Pacific and Great Northern and their affiliated railways.
In 1970 the merger took place, resulting in creation of Burlington Northern, Inc. with Lou Menk as President and Chief Operating Officer.
He was Chairman and CEO of Burlington Northern from 1971 to 1978 and then Chairman until his retirement in 1981.
He devoted a substantial portion of his time to focus public attention on the problems of his industry and he emerged as a leading spokesman for the entire railroad industry.
Many of his views are contained in the book he authored: "A Railroad Man Looks at America."
Lou Menk also contributed his considerable experience and wisdom to the governance of several other business corporations and organizations.
He was Chairman and CEO of International Harvester in 1982, then Chairman during 1982-1983, and Director of International Harvester/Navistar from 1974-1990.
Mr. Menk served as Chairman and Director of Black Mountain Gas Company from 1992 to 1999.
He was Director-ASARCO, 1973-1990; Director-General Mills, 1967-1986; Director - Stephens, Inc., 1978-1986; Director, Beverly Enterprises, 1989-1997; and Director-Amtrak, 1971-1974.
He was also a Director of First Chicago Corporation, Minnesota Mutual Life Insurance, and the Phoenix Symphony.
He was a graduate of the Harvard Business School Advanced Management Program (1953) and The Transportation Center at Northwestern University (1959).
Lou Menk was a generous benefactor to many causes and organizations that improve society and the quality of living.
Among the groups that benefited from his generosity were Boy Scouts of America, Mayo Clinic, University of Arizona Heart Center, Heard Museum, Yellowstone Art Museum, Crisis Nursery of Phoenix, and Phoenix Symphony.
He also freely gave his time and skills to organizations that serve industry and society.
He was Life Trustee of the Heard Museum; Director Emeritus of Denver University; member of the Council of Emeritus Advisors, College of Business, University of Arizona; and member of The Business Council.
Lou Menk's achievements and generosity have long been recognized.
He received honorary LL.D. degrees from Drury College (1965), Denver University (1966), and Monmouth College (1967).
He received the Horatio Alger Award in 1976.
The Boy Scouts of America gave him the Silver Buffalo Award.
He was recipient of the Seley Award as the outstanding man in transportation in 1975.
In 1987 Burlington Northern endowed the Louis W. Menk Chair in Economics at Northwestern University in his honor.
He is listed in Who's Who in America.
The game of golf was a passion with Lou and he was a proud member of Augusta National Golf Club and several other prestigious golf clubs.
He supported the Evan's Scholarship for caddies.
Lou Menk was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Jane Swan Menk; a daughter, Martha Jane Menk; and a sister, Margaret Menk Ladd.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Louise Menk, Carefree, Ariz.; two brothers, Donald Menk and Robert Menk; one son, David Menk; one daughter, Barbara Menk; two stepdaughters, Patti Townsend, and Peggy Irwin; four grandchildren, Victoria Menk, John Townsend, Sara Townsend, and Jennifer Costello.
A memorial service was held at the Desert Hills Presbyterian Church, Carefree, Ariz., on Monday, Nov. 29, 1999.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to a charity of your choice or the American Cancer Society, Boy Scouts of America, Evans Scholars through the Western Golf Assoc., University of Arizona, Sarver Heart Center, Yellowstone Art Museum, Crisis Nursery (Phoenix) or Mayo Clinic Foundation Scottsdale.
Elizabeth Anne Johnson
Elizabeth Anne Johnson passed away Dec. 4, 1999 at St. John's Nursing Home after an extended illness.
Elizabeth was born in Ryegate, Mont., on July 30, 1924, the first daughter of C. Verne and Gladys Henton Johnson.
She attended Ryegate schools and MSU in Bozeman where she studied drafting.
World War II was raging at this time so she used her skills in Seattle at the Boeing Plant to do her part in the war effort.
She was always proud of the job she had building the B-17 bomber.
After the war, she worked for Pacific Bell Telephone Company in Salem Ore., and later in Los Angeles, where she retired from the phone company after 30 years of employment.
In 1988 she moved to Billings to be near her sisters.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Margaret (Carl) Redding, and is survived by two sisters, Eva (Harvey) Peterson of Billings and Joan Krause of Lavina and numerous nephews and nieces.
Elizabeth had a keen mind and took an interest in a variety of subjects as well as her family and coworkers.
Memorials may be sent to a charity of your choice.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 8, at Dahl Chapel in Billings.
A luncheon will follow.
Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Dahl Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
James E. Campbell
James E. Campbell, 72, of Billings, died Saturday Dec. 4, 1999, at St. Vincent Hospital.
Cremation has taken place.
A private family memorial will be held.
Cremation or Funeral Gallery was in charge.
Anthony T. S. Bryce
LIVINGSTON - Anthony Bryce, 75, died Friday, Dec. 3, 1999 at Livingston Memorial Hospital.
Vigil will be 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 6, and Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7, at St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Graveside committal and burial will follow in Calvary cemetery.
Franzen-Davis Funeral Home in Livingston is in charge.
Monte W. Chadbourne
LIVINGSTON - Monte W. Chadbourne, 84, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999, at Frontier Personal Care Home.
Cremation has taken place. A gathering will begin at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be at 1:30 p.m. at Mountain View cemetery.
Wilson F. Clark
Wilson F. Clark, age 78, was lifted into the arms of his heavenly Father on Nov. 30, 1999.
He joined his beloved wife, Betty, who preceded him by two years.
Born Feb. 25, 1921, in Schenectady, N.Y., he spent his first two years in Japan; then, at the age of five, when his father died, he and his mother and two brothers returned to Boston. He graduated in chemistry and mathematics from Middlebury College in Vermont, and obtained his doctoral degree at Cornell University in New York in Conservation Education.
On Sept. 16, 1945, he married
Elizabeth Kneeland and began teaching at Cornell.
Then, in 1954, in the spirit of adventure, he and his wife moved to Billings and Will joined the faculty of Eastern Montana College.
Eventually, after retiring from Eastern, Will spent 1981 to 1993 on the staff of Custer National Forest.
Throughout his almost 50 years of teaching, his major focus and joy was conservation and true environmental education, along with chemistry, physics and math.
His goal was to have his students understand and appreciate this intricate and marvelous creation of God and to teach them how to care for it and keep it productive.
His love of God's creation led him on many memorable camping and rafting trips with his family.
Over the years, Will had experience with a number of Resource Boards and agencies dealing with planning and economic development, natural resource use, land management, and most recently, as an urban representative on the Yellowstone Conservation District Board of Supervisors.
At the age of 52, Will examined the logic of God's unconditional love for him and found no fault with God's claims about his life.
Behind the scenes, both with his family and with many unknowing recipients, Will gave of himself.
For 15 years, up to a week before he died, he spent hours preparing and mailing notes of love and encouragement for participants in Walk to Emmaus programs.
His messages reached all over the world.
He is remembered by his family and friends for his faithfulness, generosity, helpfulness, and deep, rich singing voice.
All of his family have innumerable items he made.
Survivors include his son, Daniel Clark of Seattle, Wash.; his three daughters, Linda and her husband, Michael Graham, of Boise, Idaho, Nancy and her husband John Fowler, of Billings and Josie and her husband, King Lun Wong of Las Cruces, N.M.; his foster daughter, Denise and her husband, Dan Lubken of Gillette, Wyo.; his older brother, Admont Clark of Orleans, Mass., and his younger brother, Carl Clark of Baltimore, Md. He also had 15 grandchildren who brought much joy to his life.
Funeral services will be held at Evangelical United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, 1999, with a private interment following.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to the Missionary Fund of the Evangelical United Methodist Church, 345 Broadwater Ave., Billings, MT, 59101.
William W. Cooper
SHERIDAN, Wyo. - William W. Cooper, 60, died Tuesday, Nov. 30, 1999, in the Sheridan VA Medical Center.
Private family services will be later in Casper.
Ferries Funeral Home is in charge.
Johanna Jacobson
SIDNEY - Johanna Jacobson, 53, died Dec. 2, 1999, at the Extended Care Facility.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church with burial in the Four Mile cemetery.
Fulkerson Funeral Home is in charge.
Ann Marie Kenney
Ann Marie Kenney, 85, of Billings, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999, at St. Vincent Hospital following a short illness.
One of six children born to early Montana pioneers, she was born Oct. 1, 1914, in Vida, Mont.
The family moved to North Dakota when she was in third grade and homesteaded on an area farm.
Ann obtained a degree in teaching at Dickenson State Teachers College and taught grade school for two years before moving to Billings in 1937.
She met her husband, John C. Kenney in 1937 and had lived in Billings since.
Ann was a longtime member of St. Patrick's Church.
She loved reading the paper and working crossword puzzles.
A favorite of her past times was to attend the homebound parties at St. Patrick's Church.
Every spring she enjoyed planting flowers and a garden and working outside.
She is survived by her three children, Joni, John Jr., and Dan; her five grandchildren and one great-grandson; her brother, Steve; and her sister, Pauline.
We love you, Mom.
Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist.
A Vigil Service will be held at 5 p.m. Sunday at Michelotti, Sawyers & Nordquist.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12 p.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral with Rite of Committal in Holy Cross cemetery.
Memorials may be sent to St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral, 215 N. 31st St., Billings, MT 59101.
Arnold Knutson
ROUNDUP - Arnold Knutson, 77, died Wednesday, Dec. 1, 1999.
Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 3, at Wier Funeral Chapel.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, at the chapel with burial in the Lavina City cemetery.
