Rev. Eugene Hruska

Rev. Eugene P. Hruska, 81, a Catholic priest of the Diocese of Great Falls-Billings, died of natural causes in Great Falls on Monday, December 24, 2012.The Funeral Vigil will be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Church (1301 5th Ave. So.) in Great Falls on Friday, December 28, at 7:00 p.m.The Mass of Christian Burial will take place Saturday, December 29, at 11:00 a.m., also at Our Lady of Lourdes Church.The burial will follow immediately at Mount Olivet Cemetery.Schnider Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.Father Hruska was born on May 20, 1931.He was raised in Lewistown, one of ten children born of James and Caroline (Simacek) Hruska.After completing his junior high school education at St. Leos, he attended St. Edward Seminary in Kenmore, Washington, where he received his high school, college and graduate education.He was ordained a priest May 24, 1958, at St. Leos Church in Lewistown.His first assignment was at Holy Rosary Church in Billings, as an assistant pastor and a teacher at Billings Central Catholic High School.In 1966, he was transferred to Black Eagle, where he was assistant at Most Blessed Sacrament Church while teaching at Great Falls Central Catholic High School.In 1967 he was named principal of the high school.He asked for an experience in a more rural parish, and in 1968 he was assigned as pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Forsyth for two years.In 1970 he was appointed rector of St. Ann Cathedral in Great Falls.In 1972 he received a foreign missionary post in Guatemala, returning to Great Falls as pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Great Falls in 1975.In 1983 he took a six-month educational sabbatical.In 1987 his brother priests elected him to serve as temporary administrator of the Diocese after Bishop Murphy was transferred to Seattle, and before Bishop Milone was named Bishop of Great Falls-Billings in 1988.In 1989, Bishop Milone gave Father Hruska the chancery roles of Moderator of the Curia and Vicar General, and at the same time assigned him to serve as pastor of St. Ann Church in Fort Shaw and Sacred Heart Church in Cascade.He resigned his chancery positions in 1997, and retired from ministry in 2006 for health reasons.Father Hruska was a Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus and he was their State Chaplain for many years.He was active in the Great Falls Ministerial Association, and served on numerous advisory boards of the Diocese, including the Priests Council, the College of Consultors, the Clergy Personnel Board, and the Clerical Benefit Association.For many years he was Chaplain to the Catholic Daughters of the Americas.He also served as editor of the diocesan newspaper, The Harvest.He oversaw the expansion and renovation of Our Lady of Lourdes Church.He was instrumental in bringing the Poor Clare Sisters to Great Falls.He was respected as an advisor to bishops, and as a dedicated pastor to many people in eastern Montana and Central America. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Anna Marie Berry; brothers Robert, Edward, Thomas and James.He is survived by brothers, Albert Hap Hruska of Santa Maria, CA, Roy Hruska of San Francisco, CA, Joe Hruska of Idaho Springs, CO, and Tony of New York; and by many cousins, nieces and nephews.Condolences may be sent to Joe Hruska, P O Box 1134, Idaho Springs, CO, 80452.Memorials may be given to The Poor Clare Monastery, 3020 18th Ave S, Great Falls, MT, 59405, or Great Falls Central Catholic High School, 2800 18th Ave S., Great Falls, 59405.Condolences for the family may be left at www.schniderfuneralhome.com