Merton Mader

Merton D. Mader, 82, of Great Falls, a retired US Postal employee died Thursday, January 14, 2016, from complications of a stroke.A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 30, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial Chapel. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.Survivors include his three sons, Allan (Lori) Mader, Brian(Nancy)Mader, Clark (Lindsay) Mader; sisters Myrtle Terry and Rose Offerdall, both of Great Falls; brother Pat Mader of Dickinson, ND; six grandkids, Brandon Mader and Forrest Mader of Great Falls; Justin (Liz) Mader, Jessica (Matt) Chartier of Sequim, WA, and Kayla and Julia Mader of Billings; and seven great grandkids, Lyric, Leif, Jake, Jessi, Levi, Bradly and Austin.Merton was born August 3, 1933 in Larson, North Dakota, the youngest of 14 kids. After settling in Great Falls in 1941, he attended school and at 17 he and three buddies enlisted in the Navy. After returning to Great Falls, he started his long successful career at the U.S.P.S. In 1958, he married Colleen Deal and had three wonderful sons. He retired in 1989 from the U.S.P.S and Merton kept busy helping and volunteering to many.Merton was preceded in death by seven sisters, Grace Kjos, Emma Lemoine, Edna Casteel, Kathryn Ward, Marie Crapo, Margaret and Lillian Mader; three brothers, Richard, Edward and Leo Mader; and loving wife, Colleen Mader in 1978.