Edgar Wayne Hempleman

Edgar Wayne Hempleman, of Helena, passed away with family at his side in the early evening of Nov. 19, 2014 — one day after his 93rd birthday, and one month and one day after the passing of the love of his life, Mary Ellen Tysver Hempleman. Maybe Dad figured that after 64 years of marriage, a month apart was too long. Dad enjoyed a rich and well-lived life, with dear, lifelong friends and was treasured by those who knew him.

Wayne was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Nov. 18, 1921, the second son of Glen and Gladys (Masters) Hempleman. His brother, Roger, and sisters Ardith and Nadine preceded him in passing. Wayne is survived by daughter Beverly of Tumwater, Washington; sons Steven (Char) of McKinney, Texas, Dave (Amy) of Shawnee, Kansas, and Tim of Vista, California; 10 beautiful grandchildren — one grandson and nine granddaughters; nieces Suzanne of Spokane, Washington, Christine of Olympia, Washington, and Lori of Anchorage, Alaska; niece Carol (Rick) of Appleton, Wisconsin, nephews Alan (Cara) Colpitts of Maple Grove, Minnesota, and Donny (Sarah) Colpitts of Plymouth, Minnesota; nephew Michael and niece Karen; and dear grandnieces and grandnephews — many of whom came from Minnesota through Helena this summer for a root beer float party with Uncle Wayne and Aunt Mary.

Dad and his family moved to Spokane in 1929. Following his graduation from North Central High School in 1939, he worked at Sperry Flour Mills in Spokane as a laboratory technician. He began taking chemistry classes at Whitworth College as well as flying lessons — including 15 minutes of a solo flight in a Fairchild 80HP.

In August 1942, Dad “won the lottery” and was drafted. His basic training in Fort Douglas, Utah, afforded him weekends in Salt Lake City, where he went to record shops downtown, because the shops let people check out records and sit in a booth and play them for an afternoon of free entertainment. One of the fellows in his section introduced him to “La Traviata,” beginning his lifelong love of opera.

Early in 1943, Dad applied for the Army Specialized Training Program and was selected for the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. In late 1944, shortly after the invasion of North Africa, the need for replacements overshadowed the ASTP, so he and his classmates became replacements to infantry divisions. He then reported to the C Company, 1st Battalion, 100th Infantry Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and shipped out of New Jersey on Oct. 5, 1944 on the George Washington — the first convoy into the Mediterranean after the invasion of southern France — reaching Marseilles on Oct. 20, 1944.

In late 1945, Dad transferred to VI Corps Headquarters, and became part of the 7th Army under General Patch and remained stationed in Esslingen, Germany, until the end of 1945 and his honorable discharge in January 1946. He said that “winning the lottery” actually amounted to three and a half years of room and board, including an 18-month walking tour of France, Germany and Switzerland — plus two ocean cruises — and, more importantly, four years of prepaid college after the war, including a $75 monthly allowance.

Dad made good use of the GI Bill, graduating from Washington State College in Pullman, Washington, with a degree in chemistry in 1950. While working at the Sperry Flour Mills, he met Mary Ellen Tysver, and they married in 1950 upon his graduation from WSC. He then began work as assistant chemist for General Mills in Spokane.

Wayne’s General Mills career took the family from Washington to California before settling in Great Falls in 1968. As quality control manager for the General Mills Flour Mill in Great Falls, his “laboratory” was part chemistry lab, part test kitchen, and part cribbage (lunchtime only). He served as president and vice president of the Montana Wheat Quality Council, alternating years and terms of service with his lifelong friend and colleague, Louie Freeman, also a quality assurance manager from Great Falls. Louie and Dad also served as judges for the “Day of Bread” events in Great Falls, focusing on the use of Montana grains in home-baked breads as well as in professional bakeries.

Dad retired from General Mills in Great Falls on Feb. 28, 1985, and Mom started work in Helena the next day. Dad played in the General Mills Golf League while in Great Falls and, while Mom traveled all over the state with the board hearing tax appeals cases, Dad and his golf clubs kept Mom company on the road. It worked out pretty well for them, as they got to see more of the state they love so much. He continued baking bread and cookies, and their home in Helena was known as the “Cookie House” by many, as no one can leave without being offered half a dozen home-made chocolate chip or oatmeal raisin cookies, or even a loaf of Dad’s bread.

Dad so enjoyed Montana — from tying flies to catching fish with his creations to grilling Montana beef on the BBQ out back, even in the snow while smoking one of his meerschaum pipes. He took us ice skating at the pond in Gibson Park in Great Falls, where we witnessed the best, most natural and graceful ice skater ever. Dad was not much for “new-fangled” technology, and believed almost any piece of equipment could be made to last forever. The junk drawer always had tape, twine, nails, glue, screwdriver and two hammers — just in case anything broke.

Dad liked to have fun — Winnie-the-Pooh festivals, summers fishing at Lake Mary Ronan, creating in the kitchen, camping in the Little Belts or at Avalanche in Glacier Park or in northern Idaho, and fishing at Prickly Pear in the Wolf Creek Canyon, where he picked chokecherries with his grandchildren to make the best syrup ever for ice cream and their famous waffle breakfasts.

The family thanks Tammie Espenlaub, NP, and Melinda Ryser of the Veterans Administration Home Based Primary Care Program; Adam and Jason of Gold Leaf Physical Therapy; Marie Lavinder, RN, Gwen Knight, and Cherie Albrecht for providing ongoing care and friendship along the way. Combined with the dedicated Mike & Monica Hagman of HomeHelpers, all supported Dad and Mom in living at home as they wished.

A celebration of Dad’s life will be held in the summer of 2015, and details will be provided when known.

For additional information, please call 442-5136.

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