Marvin Lloyd Potter

Marvin Lloyd Potter, 71, passed away in his sleep Tuesday, March 14, 2017, at Peace Hospice in Great Falls, Mont., with his loving sister, Kelly Taylor, at his side.

A celebration of his life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 25, at the Glasgow VFW Post 3107. There will be sharing of stories and Military Honors, followed by a lunch.

He was born to Harold and Pearl (Whitish) Potter on July 22, 1945, in Glasgow. Mont. They divorced and Harold married Mary Wilson, who Marvin always considered as his mother throughout his life.

He was raised on the family farm by his grandparents, Fred and Jennie Potter, and his parents, Harold and Mary. It was in his childhood that he became close to lifelong friend Leonard Swenson, who lived on the neighboring farm. He graduated from Glasgow High School in 1963. From there, he attended a trade school in Wahpeton, N.D., to study mechanics. He was well known for his outstanding mechanical skills all of his adult life.

After trade school, he came home to Glasgow. He worked at Gallagher's IGA. It was at this time he met Kathy Fuhrman, and they started dating. Marvin was drafted into the Army in July 1966. He did his basic training at Fort Lewis, Wash. He broke his foot during basic training, but was still deployed to Vietnam. He was a helicopter mechanic.

He and Kathy continued their romance through letters while he was in Vietnam, and they were married on June 8, 1969, a year after he returned from Vietnam. They lived in Killeen, Texas (Fort Hood), until he finished his service duties. Next, they moved to Everett, Wash., where he was a mechanic for Boeing, building the 747 jets until Boeing had a massive lay off.

He and Kathy returned to Glasgow, where their three daughters, Kami, Pamela and Kyndra were born. During this time, he worked for John Deere Implement and the Etchart Ranch. They were divorced but always remained friends and kept in contact.

He moved to Chinook to work at a John Deere dealership owned by Kathy's brother, Bob Fuhrman. Bob sold the dealership and Marvin moved to Harlem to work at Northern Supply. He worked there until he retired.

During the 70s, he became very involved with stock car racing and it became a lifelong passion. His car number was 17. It was during this time that he grew his beard and mustache and became known as Whiskers. During his time in Texas, he enjoyed attending drag races. In 2007, he started going to drag races in Malta and Lewistown. He made many great friends (his racing buddies). He never missed another race until his death. His last race car was a 1985 Chevy Corvette and he was overjoyed to take this for his last race.

He was also very creative with many artistic skills using paper and pencil, markers, paint, and metal working, creating sculpture items and his last work was The Lord's Supper tooled on copper. It was done freehanded and is outstandingly detailed. He was most proud of this, his final work. He was also an avid reader with Zane Grey as his most favorite author.

He was very proud of being a veteran and displayed American flags on any and all of his vehicles. He was a life member of V.F.W. Post 3107. He was also a lifetime member of the Phillips County Motor Sports (Hi-Line Drag Strip) of Malta.

He was preceded in death by his dad, Harold Potter; his grandparents, Fred and Jennie Potter; one sister, Marilyn Potter Carson; one uncle, Bud Potter; and a granddaughter, Charley SeRae Hieb.

Survivors include his three daughters, Kami Brady and her husband, Charlie, Pamela Hieb and her husband, Devin, and Kyndra Hall and her husband, Winston; six grandchildren, Grayson Brady, Zach and Kash Hieb, Aitana and Ellycia Moore, and Gacin Hall; and Kathy Fuhrman, his ex-wife and friend; his very loving and caring sister, Kelly Taylor and her husband, Dale; his mother, Mary Potter; four siblings, Tim Potter and his wife, Ann, Lloyd Potter, Joy See and her husband, Tom, and Jennie Potter McMichael; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and -nephews and cousins.

Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.