Gene Everett Lehto

Gene Everett Lehto, 82, of Livingston, Montana passed away Monday, September 25, in the early morning hours in his sleep. A graveside remembrance will be held on Friday, September, 29, at 1:00 P.M. Please meet at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home (118 N 3rd Street, Livingston) by 12:45 to go in formal procession to Mountain View Cemetery. Veterans Honors will be conducted by the Park Post #23 American Legion and the Sergeant Tommy Ray VFW Post #2154. A reception will follow. Beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Gene was born in Minnesota April 16, 1935, to Verna and Eli (Day) Lehto, he was the oldest of their 14 children. After working in the mines of Butte, Gene joined the Air Force in 1953. He was stationed in occupied Germany; Gene had earned a National Defense Service Medal, Occupation of Germany Medal and a Good Conduct Medal. Gene married Alice McDermott in 1954. Their first son, Gene was born in 1957, followed by James in 1958, and daughter, Kem in 1959 and Keith in 1961. After serving in the Air Force Gene joined the FAA and served all over the United States from Alaska to Colorado. Gene retired as Unit Chief, managing airport operations in 1990 after 35 years. Gene and Alice moved to Livingston, Montana in 1990, where they have lived ever since. Gene is survived by his wife, Alice. Sons, Gene Jr. and his wife, Sharon; James; Keith and his wife, Nicole; daughter, Kem and her husband, Russ Dayton; his 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren and surviving siblings.