Eugene Archambeau

Eugene F. Archambeau, 66, of Great Falls, a retired supervisor for the Montana Refinery and a Navel veteran, passed away on Monday, April 30, 2012 of complications from pneumonia at a local hospital.Viewing will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 3, 2012 at Schnider Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2012 at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel.Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Gene was born on November 17, 1945 to Eugene Archambeau and Meta Siegle Archambeau.He lived and worked his whole life in Great Falls and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1964.He started working at the young age of 5.He sold newspaper, worked at the fairgrounds walking horses, worked at the Twilight Drive-In Threatre, and the Burgermaster until he joined the navy in 1963.He served in the Navy from 1963 until 1966, serving three tours in Vietnam.He married Judy Ramstead on October 20, 1965.They have three children, Elmer, Eugene and Tina.His father passed away in June of 1970.His mother then remarried Lloyd Joe Price in 1972.After the navy, Gene started working at the ACM until 1972, when he went to work at the Montana Refinery, where he retired in 2005 as a shift supervisor.He also was in partnership with Jim and Sharee Yeagley as a locksmith at Central Bike and Key for a couple of years.Genes main concern his whole life was to make sure his wife and kids would always be taken care of.His last few years, he was constantly thinking of what he could do to make sure everything was in order should he pass away.As the boys grew up he became active in the Boy Scouts.He helped start a Cub Scout Pack at McKinley Grade School and a Boy Scout Troop at Sunnyside School.He was active in the Moose Lodge and after he retired from the refinery, he became an officer at the Moose Lodge, where he stayed active until his death.Genes favorite thing was to BS with anybody and everybody and was always willing to give a helping hand.He liked to keep lists and journals and was always well organized.He loved his familys antiques, and collecting anything such as stamps, coins and ACM memorabilia.One of the last things he did was to make sure his son bought lotto tickets, just in case he should win.He enjoyed fishing and camping with his friends and family at Jumping Creek and his place at Hardy.Before he retired, he and Judy bought a motor home so they could travel.But that became harder with his illnesses.His last couple of years he loved talking to his daughter, Tina, about repairs she could and should do to her house.He loved his pets, Muzzie, Susie, and Yipper.Gene is survived by his wife, Judy Archambeau of Great Falls; sons Elmer and Eugene Archambeau of Great Falls; daughter Tina Archambeau of Spokane, WA; his mother and step-father, Meta Price and Lloyd (Joe) Price of Great Falls; sisters Nancy Salisbury of Dennison, IN, Reny Archambeau of Butte, and Sandy (Don) Lankford of Great Falls; sisters-in-law, Sharee (Jim) Yeagle, Sue (Mike) Marrell, Vicki (Dennis) Ramstead, and Paula (John) Ramstead all of Great Falls; sister at heart, Pam (Ramstead) Vass; three grandchildren, Lisa, Kaleob and Kyle; and several nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Archambeau; and a sister, Wendy Pierce.In lieu of flowers, donations cam be made to an animal foundation of the donors choice.Condolences may be left for the family at www.schniderfuneralhome.com.