Gordon Turner

August 5, 1926 - October 23, 2018

Charles Gordon Turner, age 92, of Glendive, Montana, passed away on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at the Heritage Assisted Living in Glendive. Visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. and from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Friday, October 26, 2018 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Saturday, October 27, 2018 at the United Methodist Church in Glendive with Reverend Carol Rhan officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. Gordon was born on August 5, 1926 in Baker, Montana, a son of Charles E. and Lila M. (Barke) Turner. As an infant the family moved to Miles City, Montana until Gordon turned five, at which point the family moved to Sidney, Montana where he attended public schools. He was an outstanding athlete and was on the National Honor Society. He graduated high school in 1944 and enlisted into the U.S. Navy where he served a limited hitch. Upon his honorable discharge he then entered college at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, specializing in Diary Sciences. While there he played basketball for three years on the Bobcat Varsity team. In 1946 Gordon married Clara Brattin, and they had two children: daughter, Sherri Lee and son, Charles Kyle. This marriage later ended in a divorce in 1974. Gordon graduated from Montana State University in 1949 with a BS in Dairy Manufacturing. Thereafter he took a position with Carnation Milk Co. in Sunnyside, Washington where he stayed for two years. He then went to work for Cherry-Burrell Corp. in St. Paul, Minnesota as a sales representative. In 1952 Gordon founded the Gate City Dairy in Glendive which he managed and operated until his retirement in 1991. During this period he had been a member of the Dairymen's Association and served as president. In Glendive Gordon had been active in the Chamber of Commerce for a number of years and was on the original Board of Directors when the NP Hospital was purchased and the current Glendive Medical Center was founded. Gordon was also on the Board of the Glendive Spring Exposition and Horse Show Superintendant. He was a member of the American Quarter Horse Association and raised and showed Quarter horses for many years. He was president of the Montana and Wyoming Cutting Horse Association and showed Cutting horses for many years as well. On May 1, 1976, Gordon married the love of his life, Arlene Klucas, and the family grew by two more children, Michael Olson and Jodi Klucas. Arlene became his right hand at the Dairy, taking over duties of secretary and bookkeeper until they retired in 1991. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Lila; his wife, Arlene; daughter-in-law, Ella Turner; and a son-in-law, Dan Beeler. Gordon is survived by his son, Kyle Turner of Hamilton, Montana; daughter, Sherri Beeler of Hamilton; son, Michael (Charlotte) Olson of Glendive; daughter Jodi (Bob) Dobson; grandchildren, Michael Olson of Glendive, Jamie (Anthony) Petty of Havre, Montana, Michelle Olson of Glendive, Jody (Cass) Copper of Hamilton, Toby Warner of Corvallis, Montana, Michael Warner of Missoula, Montana, and Angela (Michael) O'Connel of Kalispell, Montana; twelve great-grandchildren; one great-great, grandchild; one brother, Bob (Carol) Turner of Glendive; and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials in Gordon's name may be made to the Heritage at: 1313 N. Merrill Ave., Glendive, Montana 59330. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.