Christie Bush

Funeral Services for Christie Gentry Bush III, 85, of Ekalaka, MT will be at 11:00 a. m. Wednesday, June 27, 2007 at the Ekalaka Bible Church in Ekalaka with Pastor Wallace Fox officiating. Interment will follow in Beaver Lodge Cemetery at Ekalaka. The Ekalaka VFW Post 7885 and American Legion Post 60 will provide Military Rites. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Christie Gentry Bush III died in Ekalaka, Montana, June 22, 2007, at the age of 85, at the Dahl Memorial Nursing Home. Gentry was born in Ekalaka, Montana, to Christie Gentry II and Emma (Kortum) Bush, on February 5, 1922. He attended grade school in the Foster community, and graduated from Carter County High School in May of 1939. He enrolled in the Civilian Conservation Corp in July 1939 and spent three years at Jordan and Glasgow. He married Anna Olinger on April 17, 1942, and entered the U. S. Naval Reserves in November of that same year. After serving three years in the Navy, he was given an honorable discharge in November of 1945 and had earned five battle stars. He farmed near Ekalaka until 1948 when he and Anna moved to Glasgow. After spending two years there he moved back to Ekalaka and worked for Carter County at the assessor and then for the Southeast Electric Coop; he also managed the Farmers Union for about three years. The State of Montana hired him in 1968 as a liquor inspector and later state appraiser. He married Phyllis (Olson) Mace in 1976. He and Phyllis went on the road as salesmen for a household products company. In later years, he repaired small engines and did upholstery work in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. In 1987 he and Phyllis ran a small restaurant and U. S. Post Office in Mildred, Montana, until 1990. They then moved to Terry, Montana, and managed the Prairie Manor. Later they moved to Baker and ran an adult foster care home until Gentry moved back home to Ekalaka in 1997. Gentry had been active in the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He spent his last years enjoying life with his old war buddies and numerous friends, which he valued very much. Gentry will be missed by his son, Donald Bush (Sandra ?Sue?) of Bismarck, North Dakota, his daughters, Beverly Stoffel (Jack) of Tuscon, Arizona; Donna Miller (Patrick) of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Marjee Beach of Havre, Montana; Carol Talkington (Monte) of Bell Fourche, South Dakota; and Cheryl Cain (William) of Miles City, Montana, 15 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren, his sister, Frances Wilks and brother, Gale Bush both of Billings, Montana, four step children, numerous nieces, nephews and special friend, Irene Cline. Gentry was preceded in death by his parents, his infant twin brother, and his son, Christie Gentry IV. Memorials may be given to either the local VFW or the American Legion. Gentry’s family expresses their gratitude to the Dahl Memorial Nursing Home for their kindness and care.


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Burial Date: June 27, 2007
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

Funeral Service: Wednesday, Ekalaka Bible Church, Ekalaka, MT.