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Tribute To My Fallen Brothers

Dear Editor,

In the past year and a half, my two only brothers have died. Harold Zavalney succumbed to a struggle with cancer (December 2018) and George Zavalney with complications from a stroke (April 2020). We three brothers are the first generation born in the USA, as our parents came from Russia. Our grandpa on mother's side, George Wolko, lived to be 99 and mother, Christine Whittle, passed on at the age 86 and the alcoholic father, John Zavalney, somehow aged to 72. So, longevity DNA was in our cards but the deal out has not gone well.

Harold is from the Glasgow Scotties class of '59. In high school I would describe him as an academic, into school clubs, science nut and active in many sports. The wrestling program started at Glasgow High his senior year, and Harold wanted to give it a try. Because there were not many wrestlers, he ended up wrestling one or two weight classes higher than his weight. His goal mainly was not to get pinned. His lanky body would flop around a lot but not often pinned.

Summer before senior year, Harold was selected to represent Glasgow High at Boys State. These delegates from around the State got a firsthand look at government and did a mock election of offices. Harold ran for Supreme Court and won. He even used his nickname Czar, on his home-made posters.

Every year all the seniors put on a play for the public in the Spring. Now Harold is not a gifted actor. However, he has this unique grin that comes flashing out now and then that certainly is not Hollywood caliber. His part in the play was to be shot and die at the edge of the stage. He put on his signature grin and decided to make this his big moment and took about five minutes to die, using some of his "not to get pinned" wrestling moves. Some guys had to come on the stage and drag him off. I laughed so hard that I rolled out of my seat.

Harold and a few other seniors got the local KLTZ radio station to finally play rock and roll music from 7 to 9 in the evening rather than country western stuff.

Off to college, Harold went to Montana State University (MSU) and with his love of science he majored in chemistry. With his interest in organizations joining a fraternity was natural. He enjoyed the reserve officers training so much that he decided to become an officer in the Air Force after graduation. At college met his future wife Ligia, who is from Panama. They were great dancers and stole the show at my wedding.

Harold spent a bunch of years in the Air Force, including a tour in the Vietnam war. He was exposed to that horrible Agent Orange herbicide when he was in planes as a navigator.

Harold was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Because of the Agent Orange in his body, cancer spread through out his body. He fought hard to beat the cancer and even tried experimental drugs. Harold was given a military funeral honoring service.

However, Harold got a few good years in before he passed. The retirement years enjoyment beyond family was Veteran organizations both in Austin, Texas, and Panama, coaching soccer, bird watching and active in the Catholic Church. The church bit was a surprise to me considering our upbringing.

George is from the Glasgow Scotties class of '61. A quick description of George is smart, gifted athlete and a bit of a rebel. He was one of the guys that would be smoking in the boys' bathroom. In high school he did football, basketball, track, and baseball. Later in life he did racketball, softball, and golf. He got a full ride scholarship to play football at MSU.

My folks bought George a '57 chevy his junior year. Thus, he expanded his horizons to dating those farm girls in Nashua, Mont., and hanging out with Nashua guys at times.

As I mentioned the rebel in George gave the coaches quite the challenge. One time he got into big trouble and had to see the Judge. The judge was ready to send him to the State Industrial School in Miles City [Pine Hills], a place for bad boys. The coaches came to bat for him and told the judge they would keep him in line. George had 10 p.m. curfew. One-time coach Hueth called home at 10 p.m. and my mother answered the phone. Coach asked if George was home and mom said in her strong Russian accent, "Not to worry George is out with the girls tonight not the boys." Fortunately, George got home at 10:15 and all was well when coach called again.

A couple of times George was still in bed, missing the 6:30 a.m. meeting at the high school to get on the bus for an out-of-town track meet. Coach Freund had the bus come to our house and pick up George as he was always good for points earned at a track meet. Years later I asked coach Freund about this and inquired if he would have done the same favor for me he quickly replied "No, you weren't that good."

After George's first year of college, he was home where he met Peggy and they got married that summer. George worked for a utility company for several years. He moved on to the construction industry that was his career until retirement. He started out with the hard work of sheet rocking, then becoming a fine carpenter and ending up supervising projects.

George and Peggy built three houses over the years. The second one even had a 60-yard golf green setup in the backyard. By the time they finished the third home they were mortgage free.

There was a dark period in George's life when he was an alcoholic. It was in the middle of his construction years that it got really bad. Fortunately, George realized how screwed up he was and went to Galen Treatment Center. A success story in getting away from boozing days.

For a few years George and I played racketball. We created a traveling trophy made with a racketball player on top and bottom from one of our father's whiskey bottles that came the old farmhouse cellar. This was a way to remind us not to become like father, a drifting drunk.

George retired at age 65 from the construction industry. His body had taken its toll from the hard work. He also had frustration from lack of skilled carpenters coming into the construction industry, making his supervising projects difficult. Retirement days were quiet. He did lots of home improvement projects, some golfing, watching Jeopardy with correct responses and enjoyed watching sports. He took a real shine going to garage sales and having lots of interaction with people there.

Death was really sudden with George. George and Peggy were driving back to their Kalispell home from their winter retreat place in Arizona. Near Pocatello, Idaho, George had a massive stroke. After an intensive surgery George was stabilized. However, neurological complications with the tongue meant tube feeding. George passed away after a few weeks in a nursing home from complications. Sad part was, Peggy was unable to visit George in the nursing home due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Peggy plans to have a memorial sometime next year when people are safe to gather together again.

Growing up Harold and George squabbled a lot. One time they were fighting in the living room. Mother got mad at them and she came at them with a broom to do some respect learning. Harold got out the front door first and held the door closed on George. George could not open the door and he panicked. Out the living room window he crashed, breaking the glass all to hell. George ran so fast out the window that he escaped without any scratches or injuries.

With two older brothers I got plenty of hand-me-downs. I thought the old driver's license that brother George gave me which allowed me to drink in the bars about two years sooner was great. In 1968, I was drafted and had orders to go Vietnam as a medic. If you already had a brother in Vietnam, you could request a change in orders. The significance of Harold in Vietnam allowed me the greatest hand-me-down; new orders to be stationed somewhere other than Vietnam. While Harold was in Vietnam, I managed to become a lab tech at Fort Polk, La. When Harold's post was complete, I got shipped out to a reasonably safe hospital as a lab tech in Vietnam rather than medic in the combat jungles.

Here is the best moment with my brothers. The Glasgow Scotties made it to the State A basketball tournament in 1962 being played at MSU field house. I managed to start for the third place game against Great Falls Central. I had my best game ever scoring 12 points, and we won! My parents did not go to high school sports, but both my brothers were students at MSU. They were very vocal in cheering the team on in this great win. After the game they lifted me on their shoulders, and we paraded around the basketball court. Such a joyful connection in that moment with my brothers.

We came into the world like brother and brother and then another. Now we can no longer grasp hands, but touch with memories of a family gained.

Sincerely,

John Junior Zavalney

GHS Class of '63

Helena, Mont.

 

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