, 52° F
(Oct. 25, 2007)
Paul Hershel Etheridge, long-time area resident and Heart Mountain homesteader and farmer, died Thursday, Oct. 25 at Sweet Water Care Center in Billings, Mont. He was 92.
He was born in Quay County, N.M., to Roy and Georgia Etheridge on March 29, 1915. He married Ruby (Eileen) Dentler in 1943. She left behind a grieving husband and family at her death in 1983. He then married Billie Gail (Tim) Randolph in 1992. She was also a former Heart Mountain homesteader, with her husband Randy, who died in 1987.
Paul was a World War II veteran, having served in the Pacific Theater including the Philippines. He started out in the enlisted ranks, went to Officer Candidate School and was commissioned an officer in the United States Army. He retired from the Army Reserve as a Major.
Paul never had an opportunity to receive much formal education, but those who knew him will recall a highly intelligent and gifted individual. Through Paul’s planning, ingenuity and hard work, and with the excellent hard work of his partner, Ken Borcher, the two converted the homestead into the thriving Etheridge Seed Farms on Heart Mountain.
He is survived by his wife, Tim; daughter Charla (Francis) Carlson of Gillette; stepson, Fred (Nina) Randolph and family of Corpus Christi, Texas; stepdaughter, Julie (Fred) Anderson and family of Dallas, Texas; grandson Cameron (Lana) Carlson of Wichita, Kans., and granddaughter Shani (Bill) Ferry of Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio; three great-grandsons, two great- granddaughters; several nieces and nephews including Donna (Bob) Lynch of Porterville, Calif., and Paul Millhorn of Buhl, Idaho; and special friends, Gene and Marla Fertig and family of Powell.
In addition to his first wife, Eileen, preceding him in death were his parents; one sister, Aleen; and two brothers, Carl (Curly) and Al.
The funeral is under the direction of Thompson Funeral Homes in Powell, with services to be conducted at the First United Methodist Church today (Tuesday), Oct. 30 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow at Crown Hill Cemetery.
