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(Sept. 13, 1916 - Dec. 2, 2010)Art Reichert of Billings died Dec. 2, 2010 of congestive heart failure after seven months in hospice care at his home, the Sweetwater Retirement Community. He was 94.
Art was born Sept. 13, 1916 on the Reichert family farm in Rural Dunkerton, Iowa, to Nathan M. Reichert and Bertha L. Mether. He graduated from Dunkerton High School in 1934 and continued farming with his dad. Not able to serve his country during World War II, he worked at John Deere, a Farming Implement Company in Waterloo.
He married Edna in 1947 and they made their home in LeCenter, Minn. where they purchased the Coast To Coast Hardware Store. During that time he served as president of the chamber of commerce.
In 1955, Art moved to Powell, where he operated the Coast to Coast store for 27 years, retiring in March of 1982.
He married Elsa Eimer Irwin in 1963 and their son, Joachim, was born in 1967. Art was a 50-year member of the First United Methodist Church and the Kiwanis Club. He was also a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and served as treasurer for many years; a charter member of the Powell Elks Club; the I.O.O.F., and the chamber of commerce.
During his retirement, Art and Elsa traveled extensively in the U.S. and Canada and visited many countries overseas, including Australia, China, Thailand, Japan, as well as those in Europe. Their cruises took them across the Atlantic and back, the Baltic Sea, Alaska, Panama Canal and South America.
Art was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Violet Gibson and Blossom Platz; and his baby son, Joachim.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years at their Sweetwater home, where they have resided since 2008; and stepson George W. Irwin of San Jose, Calif.
Memorials may be made to the Art Reichert Business Scholarship Fund at Northwest College, at 231 W. 6th St., Powell, WY 82435, the Riverstone Hospice of 123 So. 27th St., Billings, MT or the charity of one's choice.
Arrangements are by Cremation and Funeral Gallery of Billings. Condolences may be sent online to www.cfgbillings.com.
A memorial service will be held Thursday, Dec. 9, at 2 p.m. at the Sweetwater Retirement Center in Billings.
Cremation and Funeral Gallery of Billings handled the arrangements.
