Shannon Alva Ostrom, 58
Shannon Ostrom, beloved son, brother, uncle and friend, passed away June 24, 2017, at North Valley Hospital from complications of pneumonia.
Shannon was born February 25, 1959, in Kalispell, to G. George and Iris Ostrom. He attended Cornelius Hedges Elementary School, Linderman (7 th grade), Kalispell Junior High and Flathead High School. His school years were filled with bike riding, bug collecting, swimming and skating at Woodland Park, sledding at the “gully” and hanging out with the neighborhood kids. He played baseball and spent many years in scouting, from Cubs to Webelos. He and his dad built at least one award-winning Pinewood Derby car.
Shan was on the high school debate team and involved in student government. He played alto saxophone in band, and was one heck of a dancer, taking top honors in a local jitterbug competition. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved and excelled at fishing, hunting, hiking, camping and mountain climbing.
After graduating with the Class of 1977, Shannon signed up for a 3-year stint in the U.S. Army. He served his tour of duty near Pisa, Italy, as a military policeman at Camp Darby. Shan made the most of his overseas deployment, saving up leave and traveling widely throughout Europe and northwest Africa. He participated in NATO maneuvers in Norway and, as an accomplished skier, represented the Army ski team during international military races in the Austrian Alps.
Upon his discharge from the service, Shannon spent the summer of 1980 as a boat captain at Many Glacier in Glacier National Park. That fall he enrolled at Montana State University in Bozeman. It was during this time that he was diagnosed with a form of adult onset, progressive muscular dystrophy. Despite the diagnosis and the beginnings of some physical limitations, Shan completed a second year at MSU before transferring to the University of Montana in Missoula.
In 1989, Shannon became a seasonal ranger in Yellowstone Park and enjoyed that job for five years. He then got on at Glacier National Park where he spent the final five years of his ranger career before retiring due to his worsening disability.
Throughout the years, Shannon climbed with the Over-the-Hill-Gang and continued to enjoy hunting and outdoor photography. He co-authored a beautiful wildlife photography book with his dad entitled, “Wondrous Wildlife”, featuring photos they had taken over their many years of outdoor adventures together.
Shan was active in Big Brothers & Sisters, sponsoring a “little brother” and teaching dozens of fourth graders how to play cribbage as part of their math studies.
He was able to take a photographic junket to Alaska, enjoyed a Hawaiian vacation with his folks, and shared an unforgettable exploration of the rainforest and jungles of Costa Rica with his dad and brother.
Living at home under the care of his parents, Shannon for years continued to be able to go on annual fishing and hunting trips with lifelong buddies who made special accommodations for him – though catching the largest fish or shooting the biggest deer was all his doing.
In 2012, Shannon moved into the Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. Family and friends continued their visits, card playing and occasional outings. The nurses and staff enjoyed Shannon’s humor, positivity and friendliness.
Shannon is survived by his parents, George and Iris, and his siblings, Heidi, Wendy and Clark and their families. He leaves behind nephews and nieces, aunts and uncles and many cousins and friends. Shannon was a gentle, kind soul. He was dearly loved and he will be as dearly missed.
Family and friends are invited to a memorial service on Thursday, July 6, at 3:00 p.m. at the Buffalo Hill Funeral Home, followed by a dessert reception.