Walter E. Fields Jr.

Walter Ernest "Ernie" Fields Jr. was born to Walter Ernest Sr. and Ruby Fields on Dec. 15, 1935, in Conifer, Colo. He passed away on Saturday, March 22, 2014, at Hillside Health Care Center. Ernie was the fourth of ten children. In 1942 the family moved to Milliken, Colo., where Ernie attended school and worked on the family farm. The farm life gave him a soft spot for animals of all kinds and he always had a pet in his life including cats, dogs, a fox, and even a raccoon. He graduated from Johnstown High School in 1953.

Walt joined the Air Force in the fall of 1953 and served honorably until 1958. He was stationed in Michigan, Greenland and finally at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls. During his time in Great Falls he owned and flew a small plane with his best friend John "Butch" Cassidy. Also avid motorcycle enthusiasts, Ernie and Butch had numerous adventures on their Harleys and traveled thousands of miles together. Thus began Ernie's love for Montana.

In 1963 Ernie met Irene Esther Ozdan of Minitonas, Manitoba, Canada, and after a brief courtship they were wed on Nov. 9, 1963, in Calgary, Alberta. They settled in Lafayette, Colo., until Ernie built their home in Berthoud, Colo. They had three children, Hiedi Lin, Sandra Dawn and Scott Alan.

Walt began a career with IBM in 1966 in Boulder, Colo., where he eventually was trained as a copier and typewriter repairman. After Irene passed away in 1972, Walt began his journey back to Montana. Midvale, Utah, was home for two years until he moved his family to the Helena valley on Jan. 1, 1977. Walt retired from IBM in Helena in 1992 and began his second career as a school bus driver for Treasure State Transit. During his tenure with TST, he worked diligently with Helena area schools to ensure the general safety of children on buses and rallied specifically for seat belts on buses.

Walt was preceded in death by his parents Walter E. Fields Sr. and Ruby Fields; his wife Irene Fields; granddaughter Heaven Wilkinson; brother Howard Fields and sister Mary York.

Walt is survived by daughter Hiedi Handford of East Helena; daughter Sandy (Troy) Smith of Florence and son Scott (Jen) Fields of Albuquerque, N.M. Grandchildren include Heather (Tom) Brooks, Hannah Fields, Grace Handford, Ryan Smith, Jacob Smith, Brendan Fields, Darian Fields, Paige Bryant and Madi Bryant. Walt is also survived by very close friends and adopted family DJ and Vicki Wong of Helena. Walt's surviving siblings include Shirley (Clyde) Hardesty of Greeley, Colo., Robert (Doris) Fields of Milliken, Joann (Delbert) Schmidt of Fort Morgan, Colo., Linda (Louis) Fabrizio of Milliken, Helen (Stanley) Ford of Fort Collins, Colo., Kathy (Steve) Wenger of Eaton, Colo., and Tom Fields of Cut Bank. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins and his favorite dog, Pickles Fields.

The family wishes to thank the hard working CNAs and nursing staff at Hillside for caring for Walter these past four months. Walter had an incredible sense of humor and we wish you could have seen more of that side of him.

Services for Walter will be held Friday, April 4, at the Fort Harrison Chapel located on the Fort Harrison National Guard base in Helena at 2 p.m. Interment to immediately follow at the Fort Harrison Veterans Cemetery. A reception will be held afterward at the American Legion on Custer Avenue
Read Walter Fields Jr.'s Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.