Lawrence "Pheno" Bestwina

Lawrence Pheno Bestwina, 85, of Great Falls, passed away on March 5, 2014 at a local rehab facility.A gathering of family and friends will be held at the Devonshire Clubhouse, 1200 32nd St. S., from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, 2014. Schnider Funeral Home is handling arrangements.Pheno was born on July 22, 1928 in Belt, Montana. He was an outstanding high school athlete in Belt. After serving in the United States Armed Forces, he returned to the area and was a prominent banker in Great Falls. He was employed at the Westside Bank for 25 years. He left Westside Bank to help start the Village Bank, where he worked for seven years. He refereed high school and college basketball for over 25 years.He was an avid sportsman, playing league basketball and softball. He was instrumental in starting the Great Falls Sports Complex for league softball.He is survived by his wife, Betty; son Ron; daughters Lori Bestwina and Patti (Jonathan) Bodine; brother Frank; sister Alice Knudson; four grandchildren, Joshua and Camilla Bestwina, August and Berkeley Bodine; and two great-grandchildren.Pheno was preceded in death by three brothers, Peter, George, and Carl.