Ernest C. Porter

Ernest “Ernie” Porter, 87, passed away from complications of dementia on August 19,2021, at Logan Healthcare Cut Bank. He was born on September 4,1933 at home in Dunkirk, the son of Raymond and Della (Marcum) Porter.

He attended grade school and high school in Shelby getting his GED in 1954. He joined the Marine Corp in 1954 and was stationed in Twenty Nine Palms, CA, Japan, and Hawaii. While in Japan he became a judo instructor. He was then stationed in Hawaii where he was selected to be in the Honor Guard for the SEATO (SouthEast Asia Treaty Organization) conference. He was a very proud Marine and even though the dementia had taken its toll he could still tell you the company he was in.

After discharge from the Marines he returned to Shelby, where he met Carol Hegdahl and they were married July 14, 1956.

Ernie was a life member of Shelby VFW Post #73.

He was an avid bowler and went to many National Tournaments and Montana State Tournaments. He loved golf and golfed every chance he got. He also really liked to hunt and fish, in his younger years.

He worked as a Deputy Sheriff for Toole County, and a Police Officer for the City of Shelby. In 1965 he went to work for Marias River Electric and retired from there in 1996. Twenty-one winters were spent in Parker AZ, enjoying golf, card games, traveling, the company of many new and old friends, and family.

In addition to his parents, Raymond and Della Porter, he was preceded in death by his brother, Floyd; sister, Darlene Beach; nephew, Brian Hughes; niece, Francine Beach; brother-in-law, Wayne Hegdahl; and son-in-law, Denis Kuntz.

Survivors include his wife, Carol; daughters, Joni (Denis) Kuntz and Kathryn (Kraig) Holdren; son, Tim (Heidi) Porter; sister, Fran Jacoby; brother, Jim Porter; brothers-in-law, Jerry (Bobbi Jo) Hegdahl and Donley Beach; grandchildren, Stacey, Cori, Kraig”Bud”, Austin, Neil, Aaron, Caitlin and Hayden; great grandchildren, Connor, Tanner, Hunter, River and Summer; nieces, Miki (Mark) Suta, Debbie (Mike) Pedersen, Patty (Kent) Rudolph, and Heidi (Bob Bleeker) Beach; and nephews, Raymond Hughes, Richard Hughes, Lester (Anna) Beach, and James Beach.

A service of remembrance will be held Saturday, September 18, at 2:00pm at Whitted Funeral Chapel Shelby.