Lloyd Emmett Lamb

HELENA - Lloyd Emmett Lamb, age 93, of Helena, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 18, 2011, at St. Peter's Hospital.

The family will receive friends between 5 and 7 p.m., at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home with a Rosary to be recited at 7 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 20, 2011. Requiem Mass will be held at 10 a.m., Friday, Oct. 21, 2011, at Holy Cross Church, 449 N. Hoback, Helena, with Fr. Martin Skierka as Celebrant. A second Rosary will be recited at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel in Miles City, with the Rite of Burial following at Calvary Cemetery in Miles City.

?Lloyd Emmett Lamb was born in Helena on May 25, 1918, the son of Benjamin Earl Lamb and Helen (Leffler) Lamb. He attended grade school in Helena. Later, following his father's transfer by the NP Railroad, he finished his schooling in Butte, graduating from Butte High School in 1936. Following high school, he worked as night clerk at the Tate Hotel and later as a bookkeeper for the Metals Bank and Trust Company of Butte.

In December 1941, he enlisted in the Army Air Force. He was commissioned in 1943 and assigned to the 8th Air Force and stationed in England. He piloted 30 combat missions over Europe in the B-17 Flying Fortress. His final mission occurred on D-day. He flew 25 different airframes while on active duty. His military awards include the Distinguished Flying Cross, two Overseas Service Bars, Air Medal with three Oak Leaf clusters, the Distinguished Unit Badge, and EAME Theatre Ribbon with three Bronze Stars. In addition, he was given a personal letter of recognition from Gen.l Curtis E. LeMay for his service.

Following his tour of duty overseas, he returned to Great Falls, where he was assigned to the 557th AAF Base Unit, Gore Field (ATC). He married Katherine Ann Shields at St. Patrick's church in Butte on April 12, 1945. Lloyd was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army Air Force in October 1945. In 1946, he and Kay moved from Great Falls to Helena. Into this union were born Earl, Anthony, Kathy and Arthur.

Lloyd worked at the Ford Motor Co. until October 1946, when he joined Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co. until his retirement in 1980.

Lloyd enjoyed working on his father's ranch in Whitehall. He was an avid fisherman and loved to fly-fish on the Jefferson and Madison Rivers near the family ranch. He enjoyed woodworking all his life. He cut and milled the lumber he and Kay used to build the family home at 1231 Hauser Blvd. They lived there almost 50 years, raising all their children.

His first wife, Kay, passed away in 1992. In 1993, he married Betty Ann (Roberts) Weber. They lived in Helena and Seeley Lake. Into this union were added daughters Judy (Weber) Spiro and Joann (Weber) Naify. Betty passed away in 2009.

Lloyd was from a pioneer Montana family. His aunt and uncle, John and Maggie Gavin, homesteaded and ranched near Kinsey in the early years of Custer County. His grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Lamb, was one of the first residents of Miles City in the late 1870s. In a book Ben wrote with co-author Lucius Nutting, titled "Raw Country," he recalls the early years of Miles Town as seen through the eyes of a buffalo hunter, scout and rancher. The following excerpt from "Raw Country" seems a most fitting tribute for Lloyd's passing: "To Our Fellow Pioneers, We die not all, for our deeds remain, to crown with glory or to mar with shame. Through endless sequence of years to come, Our lives will speak when our lips are dumb."

His survivors include sister-in-law Eileen (Shields) Gaved of Pocatello, Idaho; children, Judy (Steve) Spiro of Danbury, Conn., Joann (Jack) Naify of San Mateo, Calif., Lloyd Earl (Rosemary) Lamb of Vacaville, Calif., Tony (Therese) Lamb of Helena, Kathy Lamb of Billings, and Art Lamb of Billings; four grandchildren, Veronica (Russ) Ruggiero of Vacaville, Calif., John, Daniel, and Minnie Lamb of Helena, and one great-grandchild Adriana Ruggiero of Vacaville, Calif.; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Benjamin Earl and Helen, and stepmother Mary (O'Neil) Lamb; his wives Katherine and Betty Lamb, one brother Franklin Earl Lamb; and sister-in-law Geri Lamb.

As a token of sympathy, masses are suggested to Holy Cross Catholic Church, 449 N. Hoback St., Helena, MT 59601; Hospice of St. Peter's c/o St. Peter's Hospital 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601; The Montana Military Museum, P.O. Box 125, Fort Harrison, MT 59636-0125; or the Range Riders Museum, 435 LP Anderson Rd, Miles City, MT 59301.

Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com.

Lloyd Lamb

Lloyd Lamb