Ike Lanning went to his rest on Dec. 24, 2012, at the age of 77. Ike was born on Dec. 29, 1934, in Helena to Thomas and Esther (Berryhill) Lanning. He grew up in Helena and graduated from Helena High School in 1953. While in high school, Ike excelled at sports and earned varsity letters in football, basketball and track. As a senior, he was selected to the all-state football team as a tight end.
In 1955, Ike went to work at Union Bank and Trust Co., where he met his good friend and business partner, Wally Trerise. Ike retired from Northwest Bank in 1981 after 26 years of service. His second career was restaurant and bar proprietor, when he and Wally built and operated the Exchange Supper Club in Montana City for nearly 20 years. During these years, Ike also became a real estate agent and broker, working first for Dallas Land Co. and then opening his own office, Lanning & Associates, where he worked right up until his death. Ike was involved in real estate development all over the Helena Valley for much of his adult life. Entrepreneurial by nature, he was involved in many different business ventures with partners, including Dick Carey, Mike Sass and Dean Rankin.
Ike had two main hobbies that took up all of his free time, horse racing and watching sports. An avid fan of the Bruins, Bengals, Bobcats, Saints and Griz, he watched or listened to every football and basketball game. His true passion and joy was horse racing. In over 35 years of horse racing, he owned dozens of race horses, running them in races throughout Montana and western Canada, under his stable name, Prickley Pear Stables. Ike had a knack when it came to claiming horses. In 1999, he claimed CC Bunny with partner Bobbi Gruel. CC Bunny went on to become his winningest (and most beloved) horse, winning the first Judge Hatfield Memorial race and then 15 more races.
In 1962, Ike married Janet Marie Kracher and together they raised three children. They divorced in 1988.
Ike is survived by his two daughters, Tami Lanning and Lori Lanning, of Portland, Ore.; his son, Allen Lanning, of Great Falls; brother, Tom Lanning, of Post Falls, Idaho; and sister and brother-in-law, Nina and Sandy Hagen, of Post Falls, Idaho; sister, Marion Routzahn, of Lincoln; his grandchildren, Yuri Ohno, Khalina Lanning and Kyler Bruno, of Portland, and Sophia Harris-Lanning, of Great Falls; as well as many well-loved nieces and nephews, business partners and friends around Montana and the Pacific Northwest.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Katherine Lanning Gall.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, Jan. 4. Final arrangements are pending. Contributions in Ike’s name may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Diabetes Research Institute.
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Bill and Ann Marie Bushong says
Lit a candle in memory of Claire Isaac “Ike” Lanning
Bill and Ann Marie Bushong says
We were so sad to hear of Ike’s passing. He will be dearly missed by us. I will be forever grateful to Ike for allowing me to work at the Exchange. It was a great place to work. I have very fond memories of Ike, not only as my boss, but as a fellow horse lover. We had lots of good times on our trips to the horse races in Great Falls. He also helped us sell and buy our houses here in Clancy. You will dearly missed, our Friend.
Bill and Ann Marie Bushong
Matt Kunnary and Mary Kunnary says
Matt & I would like to extend our prayers to the Lanning family. Ike was a very nice person. God bless you and your family during such a sad time in your life.
Our prayers are with you. Matt & Mary Kunnary
Joyce Armold says
Even though I did not know Claire I would like to offer my sincere sympathy and respectfully leave a message of comfort to the family.
“If a man die, shall he live again?” asked the man Job long ago. (Job 14:14, King James Version) Perhaps you, too, have wondered this. How would you feel if you knew you could have a reunion with your loved ones right here on earth under the best of conditions?
Well, the Bible makes the promise: “Your dead ones will live…They will rise up.” And the Bible also says: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” Isaiah 26:19; Psalm 37:29.
To have confidence in such promises we need to answer some basic questions: Why do people die? Where are the dead? And how can we be sure they can live again?
I would love to share these Bible truths with you at no obligation should you contact me.
Joyce Armold
laritaarmold@gmail.com