Glen Inbody

Retired farmer and beloved father and grandfather Glen Inbody, 94, died of natural causes at Teton Medical Center on June 28.



He was born to Roy and Hannah Inbody on Aug. 23, 1918 in a suburb of Spokane. A year later, his parents, older sister Lucile and adopted brother Joe moved to a farm between Choteau and Dutton. Brother Clark was born later in Montana.



When Glen was 16, his parents died in a car accident in California in 1934. He and Lucile kept their family together and the farm going.



He graduated Teton County High School in 1935 and farmed until age 80, though he was always interested in the operation. He and a hired man dug two miles of telephone poles to the farm, and he kept a phone in his garage for neighbors to use. He also owned a farm in Saskatchewan for 30 years with his brother.



Glen attended a special winter quarter for farmers at Montana State University in 1937-38. He was a lifelong learner and advocate of high education, making it possible for his grandchildren to attend college. He was very proud to attend graduations at both MSU and the University of Montana.



Glen married Mildred McKee in 1941 and they had children Roy, Carol and Betty. They were married for 56 years before she died in 1998. In 2000, he eloped with Avis Helf.



He and Millie traveled from Alaska to Mexico, Washington State to Massachusetts. With his daughter Carol, Glen went to Scotland and England. He fished and hunted in the mountains, the more challenging the terrain the better. A mountain goat was among his prizes.



Glen was a pilot with his own Piper Cub and flew until he lost his left hand in the belt of a thrasher in 1953. He was known as "Captain Hook." He gave many people their first airplane rides. He took his children skiing and finally decided it was time he take up the sport, too. He skied until age 80 across the West.



An active member of his community, Glen was part of the Skyline Lodge board, county farm program committee, Methodist Church finance committee and the airport commission. When the Choteau airport was dedicated, the former mayor said the day should be proclaimed "Glen Inbody Day" to recognize his work. He was a Noble Grand and secretary/treasurer for Odd Fellows and saw to it that when the club ended, its assets remained with the community.



His favorite questions were: How's your gizzard? Are you a skunk? He could make a convincing case that girls have gizzards and you were a skunk. He was always interested in people of all kinds from the Saudi Arabian exchange student his granddaughter brought home to the Rainbow Family camped outside Choteau to fellow farmers to outdoorsmen. A decade later, his family's French exchange student was still quoting his wisdom.



Glen is survived by his son Roy (Diane) Inbody of Choteau, daughters Carol Luraas of Albuquerque, N.M., and Betty Bennett, Missoula, grandchildren Dawn Gallagher, Pensacola, Fla., Kristen Inbody, Great Falls, Scott Inbody, Choteau, Howard Bennett, Denver, Colo., and great-granddaughters Cara and Nicki Lawrance, as well as nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his sister Lucile Waters and brother Clark Inbody, both of Choteau.



A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., Thursday, July 11, at the Choteau United Methodist Church.



Memorials may be made to the Choteau Methodist Church, the Skyline Lodge or the Glen Inbody Scholarship, which will help Choteau High School students attend college.