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- [S927] Obituary.
Obituary for Anton "Tony" Gress
Anton “Tony” Gress passed away peacefully Sunday morning, February 12, 2017, at the Granite County Medical Center in Philipsburg.
Tony was born on the 9th day of October, 1919, in Judson, North Dakota. He was the fifth child born to Mike and Agatha (Erith) Gress. He worked on his father’s ranch along with his eight brothers and sisters. He also worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps, commonly known as the CCC’s. He enlisted in the Army on the 22nd day of July, 1941. During his Army career, he was in combat on various islands in the South Pacific and Australia, including Guadalcanal. Upon his discharge from the Army on July 31st, 1945, Tony worked in California for a time and then returned to his father’s farm in North Dakota.
On October 5, 1953, he married Caroline (Benfiet) Gazda, a young widow with twin daughters. Later, they moved to Anaconda where Tony worked for the B A & P railroad until it closed in the 60’s. Thereafter he worked for the phosphate mine at Hall, MT. He then went on to work at the smelter on the copper floor at Anaconda as a furnace puncher. He was the first to convince the engineers there that it was better to use natural gas rather than timber in the smelting process. Thereafter, the Anaconda Company switched all of their copper furnaces to natural gas. When the smelter closed down in 1980, he had finally retired.
Preceding in death were his parents, Mike and Agatha, brothers Joe, Peter, John, Paul, and Matt, and his sister Rose.
He is survived by his sisters Agnes Fawcett and Evangeline (Ray) Backus and by his children Kevin (Val) Gress and Antonette (Glen) Dolphay and his step-daughters Carolyn (John) Radonich and Elizabeth (Edward) Hoffman; 12 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.
Many thanks to all those who were caretakers and showed him love and compassion during the 10 years he resided at Granite County Medical Center.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church on Friday, February 17, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. There will be one hour of visitation prior to the service.
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1919 - 2017 (97 years)