We will send an invite after you submit!
In memory of
Walter Harold Koehler
Photo
Walter's obituary
Walt was born on February 3, 1942, in Tappen, ND; the son of Otto & Eva (Zeiszler) Koehler. He attended first grade through seventh grade in Halliday, ND. He finished middle school at Quinby Country School in Kidder County, ND, and graduated from Robinson High School in 1961. He attended Eastern Montana College in Billings, MT, for a year. On February 9, 1963, he married Linda Trask in Terry, MT. Starting at a young age, he worked various jobs, including farm work and construction. He worked for Dekrey Farms & Bowerman Farms from 1963 to 1966 in North Dakota. Walt moved his family back to Montana and started working for Sirco MFG in Missoula, MT, from 1966 to 1972. After moving to Terry, Walt worked for the public schools in Terry from 1972 to 1979. Walt then worked for the State of Montana Department of Transportation from 1979 to 2001 when he retired. Walt loved to work and retirement was not his thing. Over the next several years he enjoyed working in a variety of ways, which included hauling beets, working for Cenex, and driving gas truck for the DNRC to help fight forest fires as well as doing multiple other odd jobs. He truly loved to be busy and he learned how to build houses and was quite the carpenter. He built three houses in his lifetime doing all of the plumbing, drywall, finishing, and electrical. Walt loved hunting, fishing, camping, bowling and all sports. The Miami Dolphins were his favorite football team no matter what kind of year they were having. Above all, Walt loved his family and friends—especially his grandchildren. He was a member of the Eagles and attended the Community Presbyterian Church. He taught hunter safety for over 20 years, and was a volunteer fireman and first responder.
Walt is survived by his wife of 52 years, Linda, of Verona, WI; his son Koehen (Sebrina) Koehler of Boise, Idaho; his two daughters: Karie Thorgaard (Chuck Cross) of Roswell, NM and Kimberly (Dale) Heinz of Goodyear, AZ; his siblings include: Edna Wheeler of Billings, MT; Hilda Cordell of Billings, MT; Arnold Koehler of Great Falls, MT; Leonard Koehler of Butte, MT; Shirley Brusven of Steele, ND; Jim Zeiszler (Diane) of Jamestown, ND and Mary Ann Nore (Joel) of Cleveland, MN. He is survived by nine grandchildren: John and Kristen Thorgaard; Jeremy, Bryan and Laycie Koehler; and Elizabeth, Emily, Joshua and Eva Heinz. He is also survived by two great grandchildren: Bentley and Dusty Koehler. Walt was preceded in death by his parents, his brother William, his sister Violet Schultz, a stepfather Henry Zeiszler, a grandson Thomas John (T. J.) Koehler, and a great grandson Dante Thorgaard.
A memorial service for Walt will be held on Wednesday, June 4, 2019, at 3:00 p.m. at the High Point Church in Madison, WI. Internment will follow in the Forest Hill Cemetery.
Send to someone
Share this obituary with others
Want to stay updated?
Get notified when new photos, stories and other important updates are shared.
Share this memorial website
How you can help
Share with others
Created with love by
Ann Ayala.
