Charles Owen

Charles Edward Owen, 92, of Great Falls, a retired Section Foreman for the Montana State Highway Department, passed away on Wednesday, June 13, 2012 of natural causes at a local care facility.A memorial service will be held in August, followed by burial with military honors at Whitetail Cemetery in Whitetail, Montana.Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Charles Edward (Chuck) Owen was born on December 13, 1919 to Fred and Ella (Baethke) Owen in Minot, North Dakota.He then moved to the Owen homestead in Whitetail, Montana in 1926, where Chuck remembered his mothers acre eight garden that sustained the family during the Great Depression.After graduation from Whitetail High School in 1937, Chuck moved to Chicago and then Indianapolis to work before enlisting in the Army Air Corps in January, 1941.Chuck served in North Africa, Italy, and Russia during WWII.He was a crew chief with the 325th Fighter Group (also known as the Checkertails Clan) and repaired and maintained P-40, P-51 and P-47 aircraft before his honorable discharge in 1945.Chuck also participated in the first Italy to Russia shuttle mission of WWII in June 1944 and was involved in the bombing mission.After Chucks honorable discharge from the Air Corps, he returned to Whitetail and found work with the Montana Highway Department in 1946.Chuck maintained roads and right-of-ways throughout Daniels County for 37 years.Chuck retired as Section Foreman in 1983.He married Connie Arion in 1946 and they had four sons.He owned and operated Chucks Bar in Flaxville, Montana from 1975 through 1984. He was actively involved in the American Legion, Whitetail Sports Club, Boy Scouts, Selective Service Board and many other community organizations and events.In 1985, Chuck re-located to Great Falls.In retirement, he traveled extensively, visiting his children and grandchildren and attending Checkertails Clan reunions. He was an accomplished hunter and fisherman and enjoyed the outdoors.He spent his last years living at the Golden Eagle Plaza where he enjoyed the care he received.Chuck loved sharing stories of his past, was an avid reader who kept up with current issues, and never was to be seen in "public" without his Stetson.His laughter and story-telling will be missed by all who knew him.A special thank you is given to his daughter-in-law, Colleen, for her dedication to Chucks care.Chuck is survived by his sons, Chauncey (Lorraine) Owen of Burnaby, British Columbia, David (Cynthia) Owen of Fairbanks, Alaska, Errol (Dale) Owen of Burnaby, British Columbia, and Rodney (Colleen Kornder) Owen of Great Falls; six grandchildren Kirsten, Eric, Dorian, Douglas, Steven and Kinsey; three great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Gerald Owen; sister Evelyn Southland; and grandson Charles C. Owen.Memorials in Charles name may be made to the Charles E. Owen Memorial Fund, C/O Colleen Kornder-Owen, 517 Deer Drive, Great Falls, MT 59404.Condolences may be posted online at www.schniderfuneralhome.com