George E. Collins
George E. Collins, 81, passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2009, peacefully in his home, after a courageous battle with cancer.
George was born on November 29, 1927, in Placentia, Newfoundland, to Mary Bridget and Francis Collins. He was the second youngest of ten children, all who have preceded him in death.
George was only fourteen, when he managed to get a job on the United States Naval Base in Placentia the 1940s. He worked on the floating dock under Chief Petty Officer Orville Sather of Havre, Montana, who encouraged George to come to the United States in l948. George traveled five days and five nights by Greyhound bus to Havre. He applied for citizenship and was immediately drafted and sent to Japan with the occupation forces. When he returned he was in the army reserves. While waiting to leave for Korea, he was transferred to the Air National Guard. After the Korean War, he started his career working for the Great Northern Railroad as an apprentice in the old roundhouse in Havre. He retired 35 years later from the Burlington Northern Railroad. He was proud to have achieved the job of general foreman of the Great Northern Shops in Havre, where he supervised 250 staff members. He felt it was quite an achievement for an immigrant from the British Colony of Newfoundland.
George met Elinor Cass at a dance at Northern Montana College, where she was going to school. When he returned from his tour of duty during the Korean War in l953, he and Elinor were married. They had four children, Mike, Patti, Debbie, and Lori.
George was committed to the community and the church. He was always busy working at projects, fixing items and was dedicated to helping others. George had a wonderful sense of humor and loved the people with whom he shared his life. He was known for the “gleam” in his eye and his “spark” for life. His nickname on the railroad was “Scooter.” Along with always having a positive attitude, he was a friend to all, and enjoyed each day.
George is survived by his wife, Elinor, son Michael (Kari Klehm) of Kalispell; Patti (Keith) Woo, Ames, Iowa; Debbie (Scott) Stuart, Polson; Lori (Robert) Malcolm, Littleton, CO; grandchildren Sarah (Sam) Allred, Polson; Ben (Shalyea Walhood) Stuart, Polson; Patrick and Douglas Malcolm, and two great grandchildren, Aislinn and Carter, as well as sister-in-law Ardell Hern and her family and brother-in-law Elmore Cass and his family and many wonderful friends and family.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, October 1, at the Grogan Funeral Home from 9-5 p.m., followed by a vigil at 7 p.m. at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Funeral services are scheduled for Friday, October 2, 2009, at 10:00 a.m at Immaculate Conception Church. Memorials may be given to Cheerful Heart, PO Box 688, Polson, MT 59860. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com Grogan Funeral Home, Polson is assisting the family.
The wife of the late Edward Collins of South East Placentia, Edward was a first cousin of George. My prayers & thoughts are with you & your family at this time.
I am sad to hear of your loss, I have many fond memories of George growing up and visiting the farm. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time. George was such a great man.
Elinor and family,
So sorry to hear about George’s passing. I know he and my mom are in heaven now pain-free and smiling down upon us. You are in my thoughts and prayers. God Bless
Chip
I have known the Collins family for most of my lfe and think that Debbie was the best thing that ever happened to my brother Scott. Our thoughts and prayer are with you all. We will always remember George for who he was and the joy that he gave everyone he met. He will be missed.
Sam and Ann
Our Beloved Uncle George, you will be missed! Please accept all of our sincerest heartfelt condolences to Elinor and the rest of the family. We are here for you, and you are in our hearts and prayers. With all our love, Barbara, James, Florence, Patricia, Edward and Pamela… and many, many others.
Mr. and Mrs. John Clark
my prayers to uncle george and his family i have alot of great memories of our times together you will be missed .
I work with Patti on the Iowa Turfgrass Institute Board of Directors. Out of respect for her, I wish to extend my deepest sympathy to Patti and the rest of the family. My thoughts and prayers go out to the entire family.
Dear Aunt Elinor & Family:
Please accept my sincere sympathy in the passing of your beloved husband and father. I wish I could be there with you all. I am so glad to have been able to spend time with Patti, Keith, & Michael when we all visited NFLD, and to visit the old Homeplace and other Collins family members.
We all have many fond memories of George & Elinor coming to visit us in RI. He will be missed; but I know my Mom & Theresa must be happy to see him. Many Blessings to you all.
Much love,
Rick & Florence Donald
My thoughts and concern go out to my friend Patti. She often shared with me her love for her father, her concerns about his health, and also her concerns for mother’s well being over the years as George fought his cancer. And though I have never met George and Elinor, I know Patti and how well and good she represents her parents in her deeds and thoughtfulness. I hope for your sorrows to quickly dissipate as your love and memories fill your heart.
Dearest Elinor and family,
We are so sorry to hear of George’s passing. He was a wonderful man and we feel blessed to have known him. We hope you are able to take comfort in knowing that he is in a better place now.
Fondly,
Myrle and Suzanne
This is your is your niece and nephew from placentia newfoundland.
Our condolescences to your family is extended.Our thoughts and prayers are with you every step of the way.Ealinor phone us any time. He will be missed by all.
sincerly,
your niece and nephew
Elizabeth and curtis collins.
Our hearts are with you during this time,we wish we were there.
I am a long time friend of Lori’s and sister in Beta Sigma Phi. Out of love and respect, we extend our condolences to the family. Lori spoke often of her father’s strength and courage as he battled cancer and of her mother’s strength and devotion while caring for her father. We want you to know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Beta Love,
Marilyn and Bob
With warm hugs, blessed prayers and Beta Sigma Phi love to Lori Malcolm’s entire family.
To Lori and her family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Take comfort in knowing that, in time, your sadness will fill with memories to comfort you.
You have my sincere condolences on the loss of your father.
In sympathy,
Peg Mason
I am very sorry for your loss and my prayers go out to Lori Malcolm and her family.
Take Care
Christine Whyte – Beta Sigma Phi
My sincere condolences to all of the family. George was a wonderful and kind person and will always be remembered fondly.
We are sorry for your loss Patty. We are praying for you and your family during this difficult time.
I met Lori through Beta Sigma Phi and Bob, Lori and the boys have been dear friends for many years. Bob and Lori are devoted to their families and as a daughter, I relate to Lori’s closeness to her family. Our condolences go out to Lori, her family and your extended family. May happy memories carry you through this sorrowful time.
All our Love,
Robert & Jani Bielenberg
Aunt Elinor & family,
We are so sorry for your loss. May God’s love comfort you during this difficult time. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Love to All,
Silky & Eileen
Elinor our friendship with you and George goes back to your courting days. We hadn’t met you yet but do remember George talking of his bride to be and how great you were. We met and then had so many good times together. I know some of these memories will sustain you through your grieving and will bring a smile to your lips. We love you and the family. He will be missed by many!!!!God Bless You All,
Marilyn and Fred
Sharing your pain in the loss of a wonderful son, husband, father, uncle and citizen extraordinaire.
Dear Lori & the Collins family:
I was sadden to here of your father’s passing. I read his obituary and was amazed at his storied life, as I never had the pleasure to meet him. I’m sure your entire community will miss him, greatly. Again, I am sorry for your loss.
(As a FYI, I work with Lori (Collins) Malcolm in her position with the Colo. Auto Theft Prevention Authority (CATPA) as a Grant’s Manager, in the Denver metro area.)
Dear Elinor and family,
Are Prayers are with you at this time.
Wish we could be there to surport you during this sad time.
Love,
Theresa(neice of George),Husband Dan and Son Jordan.
Elinor and Family
We are sorry for your loss and know that family and friends are of great comfort at this time. George sounds like he must have been a wonderful partner and friend for many years. Sometimes knowing that the loss is felt so deeply is only because love shared was even deeper.
Gene and Shirley Herreid Rieben
I was so sorry to hear the news. Debbie and I went through Havre High together. My sympathy and prayers are with the family.
I always enjoyed George when I saw him during my High School years. He always treated me nicely. The family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Mary and I were recalling the many times in Polson when we had time to visit George & Elinor. Always welcomed and were treated to introductions to others in the family; often with stories from the past. Since I had visited a paper mill in Newfoundland on a service call about 1960, I was familiar with the ‘Newfy’ humor and had been introduced to one of their favorite libations “Screech”. Never having seen a bottle, I’m not sure of the spelling but it’s behavior in the tummy is spellbinding. I regret never having acquired a full unopened bottle to present to George, a Gem of a Gentleman with no peer I’ve ever met. His stories need telling again and again