Villes E Emmel

Villes Everett Emmel, 93, passed away, Saturday, January 16, 2016 at Peace Hospice with his loving family at his side. Visitation will be held on Tuesday January 19, 2016 at O’Connor Funeral Home, 2425 8th Ave N, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 11:00 a.m at Hillcrest Lawn Chapel, 1410 13th St S. with visitation taking place one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Manchester Cemetery. As many of you know Villes loved to write letters. One of the hardest things for him to accept was the loss of ability to write the last couple of years of his life. He started to write his thoughts for an obituary and we would love to share them with you. This first part is his thoughts: “Born on a cold blustery day in Renville County, ND on the farmstead, about 25 miles from the nearest doctor or hospital. The second child of Harvey and Elsie Emmel. School Education began at age 5. I met my wife to be 73 years ago while in Bible training. We were married June 18, 1945. Our ministry began in central MN as pastor at a small rural Baptist church. This was followed by 3 years with American Sunday School Union in the southwestern part of ND. During these years two community churches came into being. We resigned our position with the American Sunday School union and became the pastor of the little church in Manning ND. Next we applied for a ministry with Baptist Mid-Missions. Being approved by BMM for a ministry to the Blackfeet Indian people, we moved to Browning, Montana. We saw a church established in the Starr Community near Browning. All totaled we were privileged to serve the Lord among the Blackfeet about twenty years.” This part is written by the family: From Browning they moved to Dupuyer Montana and then Choteau where they ministered to both churches for 5 years. Starr Baptist, Choteau Baptist Church and Manning Community churches are all self-supporting today. After 5 years Baptist Mid Missions asked Villes to do a survey on the Indian reservations in the Northwest US and Canada. They moved to Kalispell in 1967 and for the next 3 ½ years Villes was away from home much of the time. When he was done they moved to Spokane, Washington for about 1 year. Starr Baptist needed a pastor so July of 1971 they moved back to Browning, Montana. They ministered there until April of 1978. In May of 1978 they went to Sterling, Alaska for a couple of years. They enjoyed their time there but Villes had a lot of trouble with a sore throat and at one point about all he could do was write notes. One lady said he could write some powerful notes!!! Villes loved preaching the word and had a love for those that sat under his ministry. In October of 1983 they moved to Great Falls. They retired from Baptist Mid-Missions but continued to serve as pulpit supply for several Baptist Mid Missions Ministries. Villes always enjoyed working with his horses and mules. His love of horses began at an early age. One time when he was quite young he was riding in a single seated buggy with his Mother and 3 other siblings. They were on a narrow road with a fence on both sides. They were approaching a rock pile when he jumped up and took the reins saying: “you had better let a man take over here”. Elsie was not amused and did not appreciate his help at the time! He had a “Red Velvet Buggy” business for about 4 years. Villes helped Gail with her interior Decorating business until he was 75. After that he continued helping GailGwen with several other projects around the house until he was 92. He also enjoyed backpacking in the mountains, fishing and hunting with his many friends. Villes is survived by his wife, Vivian of 70 years, 3 daughters, Barb (JR) Sorenson of Kalispell, Gail Emmel and Gwen Bush of Great Falls. Grandchildren; Cherie (Mark) Gunderson of Kalispell, Phillip Bush of Missoula, Tonya (Adam) Romkema of Sheridan, MT and Alisha (Ryan) Wells of Seaside, CA. Great Grandchildren; ColeLogan Gunderson of Kalispell and NathanielIsabel Romkema of Sheridan, MT, brother Birdell and 2 sisters, Lola and LaVonne. He was preceded in death by his MomDad, brother Arvid Emmel, sister Shirley McMahon and son-in-law David Dodge.