Edward Hawthorne (77) passed away October 18th in a Billings hospital. Ed was born to Royal and Hertha Hawthorne on September 15, 1943, in La Crescenta, California. With the end of WWII, the family (Royal, Hertha, older sister Donna, and Ed) returned to Fairfield, Montana, where they settled on the Greenfield Bench. Ed grew up fast helping his dad milk cows twice a day, irrigate, stack hay bales and harvest grain crops. His best stories from growing up always started with, “This one time, Grandpa, Uncle Gordy, and I…” He graduated from Fairfield High School in 1961 and moved to Billings where he began working as a lineman with the Montana Power Company.
Ed met Sue Ann Schanz in Billings, and they were married in June 1964. Shortly after, Ed was drafted into the United States Army, and after boot camp was off to Vietnam. Like many soldiers who were lucky enough to return from Vietnam, Ed was always quiet about his service. Ed returned to work as a lineman until 1976 when Ed and Sue moved to their family ranch north of Ryegate, Montana, where they raised their daughters, Wende and Lori. Ed and Sue were very active in their daughters’ scholastic and extra-curricular endeavors, at both Ryegate Public School and Carroll College. He always called his girls his proudest accomplishments.
When the girls were grown and gone, Ed and Sue moved to the Billings area, where Ed resumed his career as a lineman working all over Montana as well as in Idaho, Wisconsin, and Utah. He was a proud lifetime member of the IBEW, ultimately earning his 55-year pin.
Ed was an active member of the churches they attended. He loved to golf. Ed also loved basketball, traveling for games with his daughters, and later rarely missing local college ball games. Ed and Sue often traveled to watch their grandchildren, Taylor, Alysa and Courtney, participate in their extra-curricular and academic endeavors as well. His many trips with Sue went from coast to coast, and included the Panama Canal, Mexico and Alaska. He enjoyed some golfing and fishing excursions with good friends, but his favorite trips were the ones to Ogden to see Lori and Craig and the ones to Great Falls to spend time with Wende, Taylor, Alysa and Courtney. We can all attest to his sentimental side. He consistently wrote thoughtful, handwritten cards – in the most perfect penmanship – and sent meaningful, personal gifts just because.
Ed and Sue retired on land outside of Billings. He was happy when riding his four-wheeler around the property, fixing anything in his shop, being on the golf course, and, of course, bragging about and being with his grandkids and family and friends.
Ed is preceded in death by his parents, Royal and Hertha Hawthorne; brother-in-law, Dennis Schanz; and many favorite aunts, uncles, and cousins.
He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Sue Ann; daughters Wende (Mike Ochs) Curry and Lori (Craig) Schlichting; grandchildren Taylor, Alysa, and Courtney Curry; sister Donna (Allen) Bundtrock; nephew Daryn (Kandi) Bundtrock; niece Staci (Russ) de Ment; and nephew Travis (Jean) Schanz.
Ed did not want a service to be held. In lieu of flowers to the family, please send a donation to the Curry Kids College Fund, c/o Wende Curry, 213 Glenwood Court, Great Falls, MT 59405.
