Vernon Emery

A funeral service for Vernon Emery, 80, of Ekalaka, MT, will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 30, 2018 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka, with Pastor Jon Champlin officiating. Burial will take place in Beaver Lodge Cemetery.

Family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, March 29, 2018 at the funeral home.

Vernon passed away Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Fallon Medical Complex in Baker, MT from a short battle with pancreatic cancer.

Vernon Leon was born on March 9, 1938 on the ranch near Buffalo Gap, SD, the son of Richard and Vera (Christensen) Emery. Growing up, he attended school in Buffalo Gap, where he also graduated from High School in 1956. He remained on the family ranch for several years, working with his parents.

On May 24, 1959, Vernon married Lola Knoedler at the Methodist Church in Buffalo Gap, South Dakota. Vernon began building powerlines with his brother Dale throughout the Black Hills by clearing trees and then setting poles and hanging the wire by climbing up the pole with the wires. Vernon moved to Presho, SD as a lineman and later became the local manager of West Central Electric Coop until 1978. Their lives were blessed with adopted daughters, Melanie and Lisa.

In March of 1978, they moved to Ekalaka where he was the manager of Southeast Electric Cooperative, managing it until his retirement in February of 2000. Vernon was active in his community, serving as President of Carter County Chamber of Commerce, President of the Geological Society, and President of the Lion's Club. He helped form and chair the State Safety Loss Committee for Rural Electric Cooperatives.

For his instrumental legislative work, fighting hard to protect Montana cooperatives' continued access to federal preference power and cooperatives' rights to operate on federal lands, Vernon was awarded a "Hog Tied Award." He also won the Life Savings Award from MECA (MT Electric Cooperatives Assoc.) formerly MAU (MT Assoc. Utilities) for saving a life by performing the Heimlich maneuver. Vernon was a member and spent time as chairman of the Upper Missouri Power Cooperative.

He enjoyed collecting antique clocks (to 'buy more time') and woodworking; making book shelves and a head board. He would also take an old electric meter and put it in the base of the lamp, so when you turned the light on, the meter would start running. Vernon was very proud of his girls and grandchildren and loved family gatherings. He often talked openly about his faith in Jesus Christ and was a member of Ekalaka Bible Church.

Vernon is survived by his wife, Lola of 58 years; daughters, Melanie (Steve) Lund of Wibaux, MT and Lisa Cross of Billings, MT; grandchildren, Angus, Cooper and Hope Lund; Tasha Rainey; and great-grandchildren, Kobe and Maddie; brother, Gary (Jean) Emery of Roseburg, OR.

He was preceded in death by parents, Richard and Vera Emery; brothers, Robert, Ronnie, Dale and Glenn Emery.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.

Stevenson Funeral Home – Ekalaka, MT