BIOGRAPHY

Lloyd Emmett Lamb



Lloyd Emmett Lamb, age 93, of Helena, passed away Tuesday, October 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, October 20, 2011. Requiem Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, October 21, 2011, at Holy Cross Church, 449 North Hoback, Helena, Montana, with Fr. Martin Skierka as Celebrant. A second Rosary will be recited at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 22 at the Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel in Miles City, Montana with the Rite of Burial following at Calvary Cemetery in Miles City, Montana.



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 book-keeper for the Metals Bank and Trust Company of Butte, Montana.



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 General Curtis E. LeMay for his service.



Following his tour of duty overseas, he returned to Great Falls, Montana where he was assigned to the 557th AAF Base Unit, Gore Field (ATC). He and Katherine Ann Shields were married by the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Michael English at St. Patrick's church in Butte, Montana on April 12, 1945. Lloyd was honorably discharged from the US 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 Company until October 1946 when he joined Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company. He retired from Mountain Bell in 1980.



Lloyd enjoyed working on his father's ranch near Whitehall, Montana. 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 the trees and milled the lumber from them which he and Kay used to build the family home at 1231 Hauser Boulevard. 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, Montana. 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, Montana in the early years of Custer County. His grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Lamb, was one of the first residents of Miles City in the late 1870's. In a book Ben wrote with co-author Lucius Nutting entitled Raw Country, he recalls the early years of Miles Town as seen through the eyes of a cowboy, 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.



Lloyd was a proud Montanan and believed in the integrity of a man's word and handshake.



His survivors include: sister-in-law Eileen (Shields) Gaved of Pocatello, Ida.; 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, Mont., Kathy Lamb of Billings, Mont., and Art Lamb of Billings, Mont.; four grandchildren; Veronica (Russ) Ruggiero of Vacaville, Calif., John, Daniel, and Minnie Lamb of Helena, Mont.,

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 step-mother 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 North Hoback St., Helena, Montana 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, Montana 59301.



ROSARY AND VIEWING

Thursday October 20, 2011, 5:00 - 7:00 at Anderson, Stevenson, Wilke Funeral Home, Helena, Mont.



Viewing from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m.



REQUIEM MASS

Friday October 21, 2011, 10:00 at Holy Cross Catholic Church, Helena, Mont.



A reception and luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Helena Elks Lodge located on Lola Street, south off of Highway 12 East.



ROSARY AND VIEWING

Saturday October 22, 2011, 9:30 - 10:30 at Bullis-Graves Memorial Chapel, Miles City, Mont.



Rosary and viewing at the funeral home with the family receiving friends beginning at 9:30 a.m. Rosary will begin at 10:00 a.m.



BURIAL WITH MILITARY HONORS

Saturday October 22, 2011, 10:30 - 11:00 at Calvary Cemetery, Miles City, Mont.



Rite of Burial with Military Honors will be held at Calvary Cemetery, Miles City Montana.