Walter F. (Wally) Hallenberg, age 81, a life long farmer & rancher from Ethridge, passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2006 at a Great Falls hospital. Visitation is Sunday from 1:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Whitted Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be Monday, December 18, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Luke’s Lutheran Church in Shelby followed by burial with military honors in the Mountain View Cemetery .  

Survivors include his daughters, Linda (Ross) Haworth of Shelby, Darcy (Charlie) Larson and Marcia Crumine both of Cut Bank; son, Gary (Debbie) Hallenberg of Cut Bank; former wife Shirley Hallenberg of Shelby; special step-daughter, Alta Hallenberg of Great Falls; sisters, Bernice (Gunhield) Denny of Redding, CA, Anna Mae Woldvedt of Shelby, Betty Sigurdson of Boulder and Loretta Hanson of Cut Bank; 14 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.  

Wally is preceded in death by his parents, Alfred & Linnea Hallenberg; brothers, Harvey and Gust; and a sister, Clara Hoffman.

Wally was born May 23, 1925 on the family homestead south of Ethridge to Alfred & Linnea (Nelson) Hallenberg where he grew up and where he farmed and ranched his entire life.  He joined the Army in 1944 and fought under General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge.

He and Shirley Jean Layton were married Oct. 10, 1947.  They had four children and later divorced.

Wally was a member of the Lutheran Church , and the Moose and Elk Lodges. Wally was a dedicated 4H Leader and served as Chairman of the Ethridge School District for many years. He was the first sponsor of the Shelby Rodeo in 1970.  Wally was an avid pilot and enjoyed flying his own plane.  Wally was known for never turning away a kid who needed a home.