Orville E. Verlanic Sr

Orville Earl Verlanic, Sr., passed away on Wed., July 31, 2013, of a heart attack at his home. He was 84.

Orville was born Feb. 24, 1929 to Nick and Ina Forsman Verlanic in Anaconda, MT.
He attended schools in Anaconda and graduated from Anaconda High in 1948.

Orville married Elizabeth "Betty" Anderson on June 24, 1950.

After high school he worked at the smelter and then the Butte, Anaconda and Pacific Railway. For 36 years, he worked for the Northern Pacific and then later the Burlington Northern Railway. He retired in 1984 and made many friends in Anaconda, Livingston, Missoula and Laurel.

A sports fan all his life, Orville started as a center for the Anaconda Copperheads and played in the East-West Shrine game his Senior year. He always rooted for Notre Dame, the Grizzlies, the Bobcats, and for any team where he knew a child, or relative was playing, especially Hellgate, Laurel, Butte, Anaconda and Dummond. One year he saw a "Verlanic" relative play on both sides of the Grizzly-Bobcat game.
He was also an avid fan of the Montana Lady Griz basketball team for many years and never missed a game either in person or on the radio.

For Betty and Orville's 50th Wedding Anniversary, their children sent them on a trip to Notre Dame to see his beloved "Fightin' Irish" beat Stanford in South Bend in 2000.

Over the years, Betty and Orville attended Anaconda class reunions every summer keeping in close touch with classmates. Anaconda just celebrated their 65th class reunion.

Orville was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Geraldine Hansen, two brothers, Elmo and Harold, and their spouses, Oscar, Evie and Alice.

Orville is survived by his wife Betty. They were married for 63 years and raised 7 children, 8 grandchildren, and one great grandchild.

His children and their families live mostly in the Missoula area; daughter Joanne Verlanic-Scherger and her husband George Scherger; son Orville Jr. "Butch" Verlanic and his wife Lynn, of Thomson Falls, with Butch's daughter Adriene (Suzanne) of Helena; Mary and Mike Hamlin, and children Mike (Arwyn), Cassie (Zack), and Markie (Gdansk); son James Verlanic of Lolo; daughter Gail Verlanic and Dave Severson with their daughter Kelsie (Boe); son Paul Verlanic and his daughter Jenna; son Mark Verlanic and Beth with sons Jon and Nick; Cassie's daughter, their first great-grandchild, Addie Nault, who always liked to take care of "Pops," while Betty was in baking something special in the kitchen; brother Joe Verlanic of Dummond and his wife Sheila; brother-in-law Tommy Anderson of Puyallup, Washington; special nephew Harold and his wife Mary Lou; half-sister Carolyn Bossard; and many other nephews, nieces; cousins, relatives and friends throughout Montana.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be held for Orville at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, 217 Tremont, at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 5, 2013 with Father Gary Reller officiating. After mass there will be a reception and luncheon in the parish hall.

A visitation and viewing will be held at the Garden City Funeral Home, 1705 W. Broadway, starting at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013. A Catholic Rosary will take place at 7 p.m. with a reception following. Interment will take place at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Missoula.

Please dedicate memorials to the St. Mary's Cemetery Care Fund, or the Poverello Center, or a charity of choice.

Go Irish!

Read Orville Verlanic Sr's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.