Charles R. Laird

May 23, 1925 - December 12, 2018

Charles Roy Laird, age 93, of Glendive, Montana passed away on Wednesday, December 12, 2018 at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home in Glendive. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Funeral services with military honors will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Tuesday, December 18, 2018 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive with Reverend Carol Rhan officiating. Interment will be in the Wibaux Cemetery in Wibaux, Montana. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. Charlie was born on May 23, 1925 in Glendive, a son of Seward and Annie (Anderson) Laird. He had a younger brother, Stanley, and together they were raised on the family ranch at Hodges, Montana where he learned to ride, rope, and tie. At eighteen years old after graduating high school from Dawson County High School in Glendive, Charlie left for the Flying D Ranch (now owned by Ted Turner) in Bozeman. While there he helped work thousands of head of cattle. In October of 1950, Charlie was called to duty during the Korean War. He was enlisted with the Heavy Mortar Co, 45th Division, 180th Infantry Regiment. During that time a mortar exploded and he carried a severally burned man to the medics, and later he himself was injured by a large mortar landing on and crushing his foot. Charlie was honorably discharged from military service in May of 1952 and received the Bronze Star, Soldier's Medal, Purple Heart, and the Combat Infantry Badge. Following his service in the military, Charlie returned to Montana and worked as a guide at Yellowstone Park, and while there he met his future wife, Marianne Bernhardt. On the same day that he met her he asked her to marry him. They were united in marriage on September 19, 1953, and were married for forty-nine years when Marianne passed away on August 6, 2002. The couple then moved to Chicago where he took a two year course in drafting and precision machine work. They then moved to Beloit, Wisconsin where he worked for Beloit Corp & Harnischfeger Industries. Charlie retired on June 30, 1986 after more than thirty-two years with the company. Charlie and Marianne loved to travel, and they enjoyed several trips to Germany visiting her family. During one trip they had to hide under luggage to get through the Berlin Wall. His most memorable trip was to Russia and Mongolia. After Marianne's death Charlie moved back to Montana where they had a house in Big Timber. From there Charlie finally came home to Glendive where he liked to tell of the "7 Hats" he had worn. Charlie was a member of the Methodist Church, a lifetime member of the 45th Infantry Division, D.A.V. member, lifetime member of the V.F.W. and the American Legion, Eagles Lodge, and the Masonic Lodge. He was preceded in death by his parents, Seward and Annie; his wife, Marianne; and his younger brother, Stanley. Charlie is survived by two cousins, Roger (Carlin) Anderson of Hodges, and Ava Anderson of Glendive; two nieces, Margarete of Germany, and Friederike of Germany; and one nephew, George of Germany. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.