Alvin J. Kramlich

Alvin J. Kramlich passed away at his home in Portland, Oregon, on March 11, 2021, following 94 1/2 years of life.

Alvin was born September 8, 1926, the sixth child of Fred and Freda Kramlich born on the family homestead. He attended grade school at Doyle Creek School and finished at Broadus Grade School. He graduated from Powder River High School in 1945. As a young boy, Alvin learned to work hard alongside his dad. He learned to hunt. He learned great love and loyalty toward family. Work, hunting and family filled the rest of his life.

In October of 1945, Alvin went into the Army. He trained at Camp Roberts in California, and then was sent to Korea with the Signal Corps in the aftermath of the Japanese occupation. Papers were not signed signaling the end of hostilities until December of 1946, so Alvin was proud to be a V.F.W. member, although, as he said, he never shot at anyone, and no one shot at him.

Returning home in 1947, he took an electrical course under the GI Bill at Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He returned to his home town, where he began his life long career in the field of electricity, working for Ashton Jones at the Broadus Power Company. He said, when the Broadus Power Company was sold in 1955 to Tongue River Electric Co-operative, that he was part of the inventory.

In 1960, Alvin married Bertha Lavell. Their first home was a 21-foot trailer in Joe McDowell's court and then an upstairs unit in Lester Rowsey's apartments. In spring of 1961, they purchased a house in northeast Broadus. Soon after that, Alvin's father died. Their daughter Beverlea was born June 12, 1961 and their son Tim on July 23, 1962, both at Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City. During these two and a half event-filled years, Alvin still found time for Rifle Club and hunting.

Alvin believed that they would spend their lives in Broadus, but, early in 1963, Tongue River Electric transferred him to Terry, Montana and promoted him to line foreman there. He and his family made many visits back to Broadus to visit family and friends. In July 1969, he took a job as line foreman with Park Electric Cooperative in Livingston, Montana. He later held the job of line superintendent.

For the 20 years the Kramlichs lived in Livingston, Alvin continued to make frequent trips to Broadus for visits with family and to spend time hunting there with old and new friends. In 1986, upon his retirement from Park Electric Cooperative, he spent a great deal of time on the Kramlich ranch, undertaking the project of clearing the place of scattered old wood. After that, he went to work as a consultant for electrical engineering firms.

In 1989, the Kramlichs sold their Livingston home and moved to Billings, In 1994, Alvin worked with Montana Fish and Wildlife, his brother Bill Kramlich, and Charles Patten and his sons, to plant 3000 trees for habitat for upland game birds and songbirds on the Kramlich ranch. In 1994, Alvin and his brothers and sisters sold the ranch to their long-time neighbors, Charles Patten and his sons.

When Alvin came out of retirement again and took a job at Rimrock Lighting Company in Billings, he let the owner of the company, also an avid hunter, know that he needed plenty of time off for hunting down at Broadus. His new employer respected that.

In 2000, Alvin and Bertha sold their Billings home and moved to Portland, OR to live near their adult children and their granddaughter. Again he found good work to do, maintaining the carriage lights at Mill Ridge where they owned a town home and then being employed at their daughter's business. They traveled back to Broadus often for visits with friends and for Alvin to accompany his friends on their hunting trips.

Alvin lived 94 ½ years. He was preceded in death by his brother Leland, his sisters, Mildred Rea, Leota Glasgow, Inez Wright, Ramona Carlson, and Margaret Shober. He is survived by his wife of 60 ½ years, Bertha Lavell Kramlich, his daughter Beverlea (Scott Bigger) of Portland, OR, his son Tim of Palm Desert, CA, one granddaughter, Megan Grey also of Portland, two brothers, Bill Kramlich of Great Falls, MT, and Bob (Della Mae Hanson) Kramlich of Lone Tree, CO. He is also survived by many loved nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held April 17, 2021 at Oak Hills Church in Beaverton, OR. A graveside service is planned for July 24, 2021 at the Broadus Cemetery.