Lloyd Thomas Eide, 96, passed away of natural causes on Monday, June 20, 2016 at the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, MT.
Lloyd was born October 28, 1919, in Anaconda, MT to Norwegian immigrant parents Nels O. and Elna (Karlson) Eide. As a young boy he, along with his parents, moved to a homestead farm in North East MT in the Baylor Community. He attended grade school at a country school in the Midway Community and graduated from Glasgow High School in 1939. After graduation he worked on the Fort Peck Dam construction until World War II broke out in 1941. Just one week after Pearl Harbor was attacked Lloyd joined the U.S. Army Air Corp. He spent four years with the 79th Fighter Group in the European war effort including France, Italy, and North Africa. When Lloyd returned home from the war in August of 1945 he went to work on the family farm raising wheat, barley, and cattle until his retirement in 1990.
In September of 1952 he married Alice Watzig and together they had three daughters. Lloyd was active in the Air Force Reserve and commander of the VFW. He was an active member of the First Lutheran Church, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, Masonic Lodge, Shriners, Toast Masters, Sons of Norway, and many other community organizations. He was very involved in the Republican Party and enjoyed public speaking. He also taught amateur boxing and sold insurance for Farm Bureau. In his retirement years he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, helping out on the farm, and spending afternoons at the VFW reminiscing and telling war stories. On October 28, 2014 Lloyd was awarded the French Knight of Legion of Honor Award. This is the highest and most renowned distinction in France, given in appreciation for his contribution to the United States role in the liberation of France.
Lloyd was preceded in death by his parents Nels and Elna Eide, as well as an infant grandchild. Lloyd is survived by his wife Alice, daughters Stephanie (Glen) Meier, Heidi (Larry) See, and Lisa (Les) Redfield; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. He was proud of his Norwegian ancestry and liked to speak Norwegian to anyone who could understand and talk with him. Lloyd was known for his exuberant personality and was a kind gentle spirit with an unconditional love for his family.