Vinton A. Stermitz

VINTON A. STERMITZ Vinton A. Stermitz, 89, of Livingston, passed away Tuesday afternoon, Tuesday, January 8, 2013 at Livingston Health and Rehabilitation Center following a long fight with Parkinson's disease. Cremation has taken place at Franzen-Davis Crematory. Graveside Committal Services and burial with military honors will be 2:00 p.m. Friday, January 18 at Mountain View Cemetery. Family and friends will gather at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home, 118 N. 3rd St. to proceed to the cemetery at 1:45 p.m. Vinton was born in Columbus, Mont., Aug. 24, 193, the son of Joseph and Esther (Walker) Stermitz. He grew up in Cinnabar Basin and came to Livingston to attend high school and graduated from Park County High School in 1941. While attending school he worked for Clive Gilbareth as well as Little and Jondrow Jewelers. That Fall he attended the School of Mines in Butte, working a shift in the mines on weekends to help pay for schooling. Uncle Sam then said "join the Service". Following boot camp in San Diego, Vinton was assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown which was engaged in serveral sea battles during WW II. Following his honorable discharge in 1945, he returned to the states and resumed his studies at Montana Tech. With the help of the GI Bill, he graduated from Tech in 1948. Vinton then went to work for Montana Power Co. in the natural gas fields near Shelby, Mont. After retiring form Montana Power Co. he lived in Belgrade, Mont. For a few years, before moving to Livingston in 1990. Vinton enjoyed fishing, hunting game, rock hunting, especially agates, and bowling. Survivors include a brother, Earl Stermitz of Livingston and four nieces, Vione Standish of Pray, Mont., Edie Tuttle of Bonners Ferry, Idaho, Mary Ann Scanland of Corvallis, Mont., and Leona Helvey of Bozeman. If so desired, memorials may be directed to Rocky Mountain Hospice, 301 Edelweiss Dr., Suites 5 & 6, Bozeman, MT 59718.