John D Athas

July 15, 1929 - June 17, 2020

John Dean Athas, age 90, of Glendive, Montana, passed away on Wednesday, June 17, 2020 at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home in Glendive. Visitation will be Sunday, June 21, 2020 from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. at Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Funeral services will be Monday, June 22, 2020 at 10:00 A.M. at the Evangelical Church of North America in Glendive, with Pastor David Steinbron and Pastor Robert Canen officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with arrangements. John was born on July 15, 1929, to Sam and Helen (Hamilton) Athas in Wheatland, Wyoming. He was raised and educated in Wheatland. Following school, he worked various jobs including parts manager at an auto parts store in Newcastle, Wyoming, until he enlisted in the United States Air Force where he served for three years as an Aircraft Mechanic until his honorable discharge in 1950. After his service, John returned to Wheatland and worked for area farmers for a while before moving to Billings, Montana to be near his brother. He worked at an auto parts store for a couple of years before moving his new family to Jardine, Montana where he worked as a hunting guide during the season and slid power poles in the park for Montana Power during the offseason. In 1958, they moved to Glendive where he started his career at Hedahls Auto Parts. He continued working there and managing the business until his retirement in 1991. John was united in marriage to Sally Brumley in 1952 in Elko, Nevada, and to this union two children were born. This marriage ended when Sally passed away in 1987. John later married Myrna Lee on January 28, 1990 in Las Vegas, Nevada. John enjoyed horse racing and golfing. He was very skilled at wood working and was an excellent finish carpenter and was instrumental in building the new addition to the Evangelical Church. John always liked a good joke and was known to tease kids and give the adults a hard time. He loved spending time with family and friends. John was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Sally, two sister, Louise Rorobrough and Margaret Lunde; two brothers, George and David. John is survived by his wife, Myrna Athas; children, Yvonda (Mike) Haggerty and Dave (Linda) Athas; stepchildren Tony (Glenna) Lee and Shana (Doug) Kaufman all of Glendive; ten grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.