Wes Rashid, 72, “went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ,” on Sept. 8, 2016.
Born in Burlington, Iowa, on Jan. 27, 1944, he was a good and kind man with a big, soft heart. He loved people and cared deeply for family and friends. He was a very accomplished man with a humble demeanor.
Wes received his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine Degree from Illinois College of Podiatric Medicine in Chicago. He started Kalispell Foot & Ankle Clinic and practiced for 45 years. He was the first podiatrist in the State of Montana to have hospital surgical privileges and has been part of the surgical staffs at St. Luke’s Hospital in Ronan, St. Joseph’s Hospital in Polson, St. John’s Hospital in Libby, North Valley Hospital in Whitefish, and Kalispell Regional Medical Center, and also served as president of International Region 7 of the American Podiatry Medical Association.
Patient care was always his top priority and often he would not charge patients for his treatment when he knew it was a hardship.
Wes was an accomplished marksman in a variety of shooting sports, from muzzleloaders to long-distance cartridge to trap shooting. He had an incredible sense of humor and could be seen riding his cruzin’ cooler, equipped with a gun rack, between stations at the trap club.
He spent many years riding horses 18 to 20 miles into the Bob Marshall Wilderness with a close circle of friends to camp and hunt. He would attend horse and mule shows, where his wife competed, to make videos. He always had a bird dog and enjoyed hunting pheasant and upland game birds.
He is survived by his wife, Laura; his sisters, Claudette (Leroy) Rashid, Donna (Tom) Ritterbusch, and Sylvia (Walter) Curry; and his brother, Claude Rashid. He is preceded in death by his mother, Lucille Rashid.
Wes attended Family Life Christian Church and “had come to have a close personal relationship with the Lord.” The day he passed away, his wife Laura asked him to show her a sign “that he was safe and sound in heaven.” When he breathed his last breath the most unique and beautiful red sunset appeared in the sky.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Sept. 24 at Family Life Christian Church, 1075 Foys Lake Rd. in Kalispell. Memorials may be made to Family Life Christian Church, P.O. Box 7965, Kalispell, Montana, 59904