C. R. “Art” Weaver passed away May 11, 2015, at his home in Kalispell, surrounded by his family, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. Art was a loving and devoted husband, dad, and grandpa and a hardworking, happy, optimistic, outspoken, fun, fearless whirlwind, who lived his life to the fullest.
Art was born in Englevale, North Dakota, in 1933 to James and Lucile Weaver. He graduated from Lisbon High School in Lisbon, North Dakota, in 1951. As a senior in high school, Art's basketball team won the North Dakota State Championship, which was a thrill for a kid from a small town.
After high school, Art started buying farmland near Englevale, and he continued farming for many years of his life. While taking a class at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, he met the love of his life, Grace Palmer, and they married in the summer of 1960.
Art graduated from North Dakota State University in Fargo in 1966 with a degree in economics and began a career in banking through First Bank system, initially in Jamestown, North Dakota, then in Huron, South Dakota, where he later became the bank president.
Art was an entrepreneur at heart, and in 1976 he moved with his family to Great Falls, where he started an International Harvester dealership and the state's first Burger King franchise, eventually owning three Burger Kings over a 25-year period (the last being in Kalispell, where he lived for the past 30 years). He loved the thrill and challenge of launching new businesses and started numerous others throughout his life.
Art was appointed by the governor of South Dakota to the state's Board of Economic Development in the 1970s. He was also the treasurer for the South Dakota State Fair, and he served on a number of other boards, including several church boards, during his life. He was a long-time member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and a volunteer Big Brother with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County for several years.
Art loved working, dancing, traveling, and playing in a good game of poker. His passion was raising and racing horses, but mostly he treasured spending time with his family, who will miss him greatly.
He always commented on what a lucky man he was and often said, “The good Lord has taken care of this old North Dakota farm boy.” He believed in pursuing your passions and convictions full throttle because you only live once, and that it doesn't matter how many times you fail or fall down in life, what's important is that you get back up just one more time.
Art is survived by his three daughters, Elizabeth Weaver of Kalispell, Jane Weaver of Kalispell, Sara Weaver and Dan Ogborn of Seattle; two grandchildren, Hannah and Garrett Lally; a nephew, Orion Bean and Cindy of Glenrock, Wyoming, who was like a son; foreign exchange student “daughter,” Isabelle Punchard and Neal, Edina, Minnesota; numerous nephews and nieces, and his devoted friend, Coni Barnes. He was preceded in death by his wife of 47 years, Grace, his sisters Marion Cottrel and Hattie Bean, and his brothers Delno and Don Weaver.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 19, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kalispell. Lunch will be served following the service.
Memorial donations may be made to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Flathead County, Samaritan House, or Bethlehem Lutheran Church.