The viewing will be held at Whitted Funeral Chapel in Cut Bank on Friday, Oct. 28, from 4-5 p.m. for the family and 5-7 p.m. for the public. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Oct. 29, at 4 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church with a reception to follow at the church.
Ernest Anton Stomsvik was born on Nov. 9, 1909 to Anton and Ellen (Clawson) Stomsvik in Ross, Minn. He was the second of seven children born to the couple. He joined an older brother Orville, and was followed by Evelyn, Alma, Milton, Donald and Bonnie.
In 1919, his family moved from Cohagen, Mont., which was north of Miles City, to Glasgow, where he attended high school and graduated in 1928. Ernie worked at many odd jobs while going to high school and after graduation. In July 1929, Ernie’s family moved and he went to work in Williams, Mont., located between Valier and Conrad.
Ernie met his wife, Kathleen, in 1930, in Shelby. Ernie proposed to her in Coutts, Alberta during the holiday season and the two were married in 1931 in Great Falls. Together he and Kathleen were parents to two children, Jerry and Andrea. In 1938, the Stomsviks moved one last time, this time to Cut Bank.
For the next several years, Ernie worked “at all kinds of jobs” in the oil field business. On Jan. 15, 1951, he was hired by Montana Power Company as a field clerk and he remained a loyal employee of the company until his retirement in Dec. 1, 1974.
Kathleen and Ernie were married nearly 71 years when she died at the age of 94 in 2002.
Ernie kept busy during his retirement. He enjoyed growing flowers and making jam–and he gave countless bouquets and jars away to his many friends around town.
He loved playing golf and bowling. Ernie made a hole-in-one at the Cut Bank Golf and Country Club. When he was 80, he shot his best round of golf–and 18-hole score of 80.
In 1990, at 81 years young, Ernie took over the job of bailiff for Glacier County’s Ninth Judicial District Court. He retired from that job just weeks shy of his 100th birthday.
Ernie was a lifetime member of the Cut Bank Elks Lodge, Masonic Blue Lodge and the Cut Bank Golf and Country Club. He was also a charter member of the Glacier County Historical Society and was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church.
Ernie was also a regular donor at the American Red Cross blood drawings. He is credited with helping save a young mom’s life with his donation of his rare Type O Negative blood. Ernie once said it was one of the “most satisfying things” he had ever done. During his lifetime he donated more than three gallons of the rare blood type.
Ernie’s favorite food was a good steak from the Cut Bank Elks. His favorite drink was Red Label Scotch. And his favorite dessert was Lemon Pie.
City officials declared Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009, Ernie Stomsvik Day in Cut Bank. It was the day Ernie turned 100.
Ernie lived at home until he was 103. In 2012 he moved into the assisted living unit at Glacier Care Center. Two years later, he moved into the facility’s long-term care wing.
Ernie is survived by his brother Donald and his sister, Bonnie; his son, Jerry (Marge) Stomsvik and daughter, Andrea Kamrath; and grandchildren, Faith Voges, Laura (George) Friez, Jennifer Millay, Kirk (Jamie) Kamrath, Brent Kamrath, Jon (Lexi) Kamrath, Helen (George) Sirogiannis, Deborah (Mike) Holland, Harold (Anne) Allen; and numerous great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren, the most recent one is two months old – baby girl, Eva; in addition to many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Kathleen; his brothers Orville and Milton and sisters, Evelyn and Alma; Jerry’s first wife, Iva; and Marge’s husband, Harold; and Andrea’s husband, Larry.
The family suggests memorials in Ernie’s name be made to the Cut Bank Elks Club Dining Room, St. Paul Lutheran Church or the Wishing Well Project.