Willard "Luke" Newman was gracefully received into the Lord's arms on May 5th, 2018. Luke was born August 11, 1934 in Miles City, MT to Everette and Edna Newman.
In 1955 Luke moved to Anaconda, MT to work on the smelter. He met the love of his life LaVonne "Squeakie" Smith and they were married in 1956. He then became an Iron Worker and worked in the Union, traveling job to job, until his retirement. After retirement, he bartended at the Seven Gables and Lucky Lady.
He enjoyed spending time outdoors, tending to his garden and watching his grandkids while they grew up. Luke was passionate about telling his grandkids the most treasured stories of his day, leaving them fascinated in wonder. His heart was always to leave a legacy of kindness and love. He was the greatest friend a man could ask for and apart from his stories his ears were always attentive to those who needed their troubles and cares to be heard. His journey here on earth has left a lasting impact on many, filling the memory bank of hearts with his unforgettable personality and intentionality to give those he loved nicknames. Behind every nickname was a beautiful story that unraveled how the name was obtained. He was never shy to give those closest to him a hard time and to this day, jolly laughter echoes in the ears of those who surrounded him. He will be missed more than words can truly express, but his friends and family honor the man that he was and celebrate the life that he lived.
He was survived by his wife Squeakie Newman of 61 years, his children Christine (Mark) May, James (Tracy) Newman, Mercedes (Dick) Kroll, Lonnie (Julie) Newman, 12 grandkids, 14 great grandkids. He is also survived by his two brothers, Burton (Debbie) Newman and Byron (Betty) Newman and his sister Lou (Jack) Schield.
There will be a celebration of his life at The Haufbrau at Noon, Wednesday May 9th, 2018.
Celebration of Life
MAY 9. 12:00 PM (MDT)
Haufbrau
111 Mt. Highway 1
Anaconda, MT 59711