Elroy White Willard

Elroy W. Willard, 92, of Great Falls passed away Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at his home of natural causes. Funeral services will be held Saturday, July 13, at 2:00 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints with burial to follow at Highland Cemetery. O’Connor Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Elroy was born March 29, 1921 in Bottineau, ND to Roy and Viola Willard. He attended school in the area, graduating from Gardenia High School. After graduating from high school, Elroy served proudly in the United States Army during World War II. Upon returning home from the war, he attended college in Grand Forks, ND and earned a degree in business. He later moved to Great Falls and worked for Burlington Northern Railroad for over 28 years. He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He loved a good bargain and putzing around. His greatest talent was socializing and he never met a stranger. Elroy is survived by his wife, Dorothy Willard of Great Falls; daughters Debra (Ray) Maberry of Lincoln, Denise (Gary) Stepman of Ulm, Brenda (Don) Anderson of Midvale, UT, Renae (Wade) Lattin of Power, and Stacey (Bruce) Biresch of Cal City, CA; sons Brett Willard of Tacoma, WA, Darrin (Maureen) Willard of Bozeman, Gabriel (Vicki) Foster of Great Falls, and Matthew (Kathy) Foster of Malta; son-in-law Patrick MCCrea; sisters Yvonne (Dick) Begaman and Ardell (Richard) Grimm; 25 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Cheryl McCrea; sister Eileen Askelson; stepson Mark Foster; and his parents.