Kenneth Schillinger

Visitation: Sunday, January 28, 2007 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Circle starting at 4:30 p.m.

Vigil: Sunday, January 28, 2007 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church at 7 p.m.

Mass of Christian Burial: Monday, January 29, 2007 at 10 a.m. at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Vida

Interment: Vida Cemetery

From the very beginning Kenneth Leo Schillinger loved life and lived it with enthusiasm and optimism. On Friday, March 13, 1922, he simply could not wait for the midwife to arrive. From that day forward this third of four children born to Ed and Helen Schillinger at the Vida homestead, proved himself to be a good and loyal son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend. Succumbing to the effects of an earlier hemorrhagic stroke, on Thursday, January 25, 2007, in Circle, Montana, Kenneth went home to be with the Lord. He left a firm imprint upon all who knew him.

Throughout life, when Kenneth decided to do something, he did it well, whether it be his farming practices, his music, having fun, his choice of a good woman, raising his children, or telling a story. Some of the stories were so good, they actually were repeated more than one time! Earning a living in rural Eastern Montana was a challenge to Kenneth, as it was to his neighbors. On May 22, 1947, he committed to his partner for life, Anna Lucille Maves, who was up to the challenge to work with Kenneth to build a good life. With their combined work ethic and commitment to family, they were able to realize their dreams and then some. As their family grew over the years, Kenneth and Anna worked hard and worked smart to provide for their family. Even though Kenneth always said, If we had waited til we could afford to have kids, wed have never had any of you, seven children joined the Vida household: Kathleen, Joyce, Elaine, Jerry, Annette, LaVern, and Leanne.

Kenneth, along with partner and brother, Walter, worked long hours becoming good and productive farmers, adding in time at the Vida Post Office, the Vida Oil Service, selling fuel, chemicals, grain bins and augers, in order to continuously improve the familys circumstances. Kenneth rarely was too busy to pass up an opportunity to share his love of music, whether it be Sunday church, weddings and funerals, barbershop quartets, or providing vocals as his mother spun out tunes on the piano. In fact, he began his career on stage at the age of four when he sang on Montanas first radio station, KGCX in Vida. It was no secret that Kenneth and Anna loved to dance, too, though the opportunities in the years of long work days and seven children were few and far between.

Fortunately, as agriculture became more mechanized, life got a bit easier. In the early years, a vacation meant cramming kids into a station wagon on the last day of harvest and racing off to Dutton or some such exotic place for a few days of relaxation before school started. Kenneth and Anna eventually enjoyed some real vacations, among them the Fiji Islands, Hawaii, Poland, the USSR, Austria, and Germany. Kenneths sixteen years as a member of the McCone Electric Board of Directors was personally rewarding for him. He and Anna valued the memories and friendships garnered in those years. Likewise, their years involved with the Cursillo movement not only contributed greatly to their spiritual life but their bevy of friends.

Summarizing nearly 85 years of a persons life is not an easy thing to do, but Kenneth Schillinger lived life to the fullest. He was non-judgmental and forward thinking. He supported his children through their good times and their tough times. He was willing to take risks in order to improve his own life and that of his family, friends, and community. Kenneth was proud of his good looking wife and even prouder when he could soundly drub her at their hundreds of games of rummy. Attending the athletic contests, musical performances, dance revues, and other activities of his 15 grandchildren kept him busy and happy, as did reading to the grade schoolers at Bo-Beep School for many years.

Family, friends and neighbors knew they could count on Kenneth in their time of need. His own parents, Ed and Helen, received his unselfish attention in their last years, with never a word of complaint or regret on Kenneths part. In 2005 Kenneth proudly harvested the best crop of his life, as he skillfully guided the 36-foot combine. He enjoyed using GPS and operating 100-foot sprayers and the power of the John Deere while remembering the horses. It was bittersweet as he proudly watched his grandsons take over running machinery, feeling replaced.

Kenneth Schillinger did not let the grass grow under his feet, though its no secret that he enjoyed some time in the easy chair, reading and keep abreast of world events. His formal education did not extend past high school, but he made himself a well- educated man and he valued education. The advice he shared with his kids and grandkids was not always taken but it will be with them forever. Preceding him in death were Kenneth and Annas first born child, Mary Ann, as well as his parents, Ed and Helen Schillinger and his siblings, Walter Schillinger and Lucille Loendorf.

Kenneth leaves behind many family and friends who will remember always their many wonderful memories. Anna, his partner of nearly 60 years, remains at the family home in Circle. His younger sister, Evelyn (Harvey) Neufeld lives Lewistown, ID. Children, Kathleen and Jim McGowan; Joyce Schillinger; and Elaine and Perry Eidum reside in Helena. Jerry and Carol Schillinger are in Circle and Annette and Scott Pierce are in Missoula. LaVern and Anne Schillinger live in Glen Ellyn, IL., and Leanne Schillinger and fianc Dave Stewart reside near Carter, MT. Grandchildren who fondly called him Papa are Erin, Brian, and Kelly McGowan, Charlie Amundson and Margaret Kecskes, Parker and Fletcher Eidum, Brett, Alex, and Paul Schillinger, Kennedy and Cassidy Pierce, and Kate, Will, and Maggie Schillinger. Numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, inlaws and a lifetime of friends will miss him dearly.