Charles Linburgh Hudson

Charles Lindbergh Hudson, born May 13, 1928, in Spokane, Washington, to Mary Opal and Owen Merton, left for his eternal home on March 18, 2025. Most of Lin’s childhood years were spent growing up in Walkerville, Montana in an area called Butchertown. In 1946, Lin enlisted in the United States Navy, where he completed his GED and served on the USS Chicago as a radio operator. He was honorably discharged in 1947 as a Seaman Second Class. He married his “jewel,” Bernice Elizabeth Harvey, on August 5, 1950, in Vernonia, Oregon. The couple had six children — four daughters and two sons — and were married for 74 years. All six of his children by faith have accepted Christ as their Savior and follow Him to this day. Lin and his brother(Bill) worked in many of the Butte mines until the big strike of 1959. In 1960, they decided to go into logging, where Lin continued to work until he was 84. When his brother retired, he went into post and pole contracting as a “gyppo logger,” otherwise known as an independent logger. Lin loved being outside and was a friend to the birds and squirrels, often offering them food from his hand. He quipped that people living in big cities don’t know what the sky, mountains, or moon look like. Lin was a shining example of how to manage the forest when logging, often referred to as “a hard-workin little guy.” No stumps, no tracks, no garbage in his logging stands! At age 70, his work ethic was featured in The Montana Standard in 1998. Rick Henningsen, a forester with the Beaverhead-Deer Lodge National Forest, was quoted in the article. “Every single person who starts [a] new post and pole contract with us is taken to see Lin’s work,” Henningsen said. “His units look like parks when he’s done.” He loved all his kids and their spouses, grandkids, and great-grandkids, and made each of them feel like they were his “favorite.” He was always witty, cracking dad jokes, even up to his last day. Around 1981, Lin started keeping a journal that his daughter Jan gave to him annually at Christmas. He would usually put in notes about the weather, his work that day, and anything he found special about family that day. He kept them all and would sometimes say, “I’ll have to check with my journal for this day last year.” The family enjoys reading his old journal entries and feels blessed to be left with an incredible legacy. Lin is preceded in death by his parents, siblings (Henry, William, and Alleene), and grandson Dusty. His surviving family includes wife Bernice, children Marsha (Bill) Vanderhoff, Karen (Kevin) Ernst, Beverly (Marc) Loughran, Janice (Mike) Pertile, Jim Hudson, and Ron (Karla) Hudson. His grandchildren include Richard Vanderhoff, Robert Vanderhoff, Ryan Vanderhoff, Jennifer Carter, Robyn Ernst, Mike Ernst, Laura Redmond, Lindsay Loughran, Rachel Burdoin, Jess Cruz, Paul Pertile, Kaytelin McCauley, Vanessa Hudson, Scott Hudson, and Veronica Hudson. His great-grandchildren are Megan Vanderhoff, Nick Vanderhoff, Olivia Vanderhoff, Mackenzie Vanderhoff, Jordan Carter, Sabrina Carter, Elizabeth Bowers, Josette Bowers, Easton Bowers, Garrett Redmond, Gavin Redmond, Carina Schoessler, Marcus Schoessler, Kingston Cruz, Cali Cruz, CC Perez, Reed Pertile, and Flint Pertile. The family would like to thank the Crest Nursing Home and St. James Hospital staff for their compassionate care for Lin. Instead of saying “goodbye,” Lin preferred to end his conversations with, “Bye for now.” Bye for now, Lin. We look forward to that glad reunion in Heaven.

Tributes

Charles Linburgh Hudson

May 13, 1928 - March 18, 2025