Chester Shellenberger

– Chester R. Shellenberger, of Milltown, passed away at St. Patrick Hospital on Saturday, April 30, 2016, at the age of 89. He had wished to live to 104-years-old but sadly did not make it.

Chet, as he liked to be called, was born in Donnally Mills, Pennsylvania, on Jan. 24, 1927, to Chester Raymond Shellenberger and Lena May (Benner) Shellenberger.

In 1945, Chet enlisted in the U.S. Army at the age of 18 and was sent to Italy near the end of World War II. He was honorably discharged from the service on Dec. 11, 1946. He was a member of the VFW. After his time in the Army he began work with the Pennsylvania Railroad at the age of 20 before moving to Montana with his wife Louella and their three oldest children in 1959. He continued his career with the railroad by working with the Northern Pacific Railway until his retirement. His hobbies included hunting, fishing and he was an avid collector of guns. He also loved spending time with his four youngest great-grandchildren who live in Missoula, Adyson, Abigail, Bryce and Justice. They gave him much joy and smiles in his final years. He will be remembered as a humorous, patriotic and hardworking man. He felt strongly that you should always be good to one another and was always willing to help when others were in need.

He is survived by two brothers, Harry Brown of Tacoma, Washington, and Jack Brown of Missoula, as well as his five children, daughter Linda (Gary) of Missoula, son Ed (Laurie), daughter Norma (Ralph) of Missoula, daughter Elizabeth (Bernard) of Columbia, South Carolina, son Joe of Missoula; nine grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson, and many other family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his father Chester; mother Lena; four brothers, Jay, Ray, Herb Shellenberger and Wallace Brown; and five sisters, Helen Buckley, Charlotte Long, Miriam Master, Betty Orris and Grace Brown.

Cremation has already taken place. There will be no memorial service at this time.

He had an immense love of children therefore, in lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to: St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (stjude.org) or Shriner’s Children’s hospital (shrinershospitals.org/Donate)

Condolences may be sent to: The Pearsons, 2150 Hummingbird Drive, Missoula, MT 59808.