Ernest "Ernie" Sanford Rutherford

Ernest “Ernie” Sanford Rutherford Jr., of Great Falls passed away on March 7, 2020. He was born January 20, 1927 in Great Falls, MT, the fifth child and second son to Leota (Scrivens) and Ernest Rutherford, Sr. He attended elementary and junior high school at Franklin School on the westside of Great Falls. He graduated from Great Falls High School in 1945. Ernest and Audrey Calvert were married on March 21, 1951, in Great Falls, spending their first years in Seattle, WA during the Korean War. Ernie joined the Navy in January 1945, serving in the Pacific aboard the USS Hollandia CVE97, and USS Piedmont AD-17. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and especially proud of the USS Hollandia’s role in bringing the survivors of the USS Indianapolis back to San Diego. His participation in an Honor Flight was also a highpoint in his life, in addition to many trips to the Kentucky Derby and Hollandia reunions. After his discharge in 1948, Ernie went back to work for the Post Office, later transferring to US Customs Service in 1969, where he was stationed at Black Eagle Raposal. He transferred to the Port of Raymond near Plentywood, MT, and then the Port of Roosville near Eureka, MT, retiring in 1981. Ernie was a DeMolay, 3rd Degree Mason, 33 degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of the Al Bedoo Shrine. He belonged to the Shrine Club Hospital Corps and Thunderbird Patrol of Great Falls. He and his wife, Audrey were very active in the Scottish Rite Language Clinic since its foundation in Great Falls. Ernie lost his beloved wife, Audrey on August 17, 2019. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Doug and Carl; sisters, Lurline, Phyllis, and Gwendolyn; son-in-law Kerry O’Farrell; and grandson, James R. “Jamie” Jensen. He is survived by his daughters, Diane (Rick) Anderson, Charlene O’Farrell, Nancy Rutherford (Alan Gray), and Jill (Gary) Jensen; 43 grand and great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Great Falls Scottish Rite at 3:00 p.m. An inurnment will occur prior to the memorial service at Highland cemetery. The service will befollowed by a reception at the Scottish Rite Hall. Memorials are suggested to the Scottish Rite Language Disorder Clinic and the Great Falls Shrine Club.