William "Bill" Lowden

William M. Lowden, 91, of Great Falls, passed away Friday, August 19, 2016 at a local care facility.A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 25, 2016 at Peace Lutheran Church at 2:00 p.m. Schnider Funeral is handling the arrangements.Bill was born April 27, 1925 in Buffalo, NY. He was educated in New York City and Grand Rapids, Michigan. He went on to serve in the Army from 1943 to 1946 with the 24th Infantry Division and the 19th Infantry Regiment overseas in the Pacific for 2 years with combat landing in New Guinea and four islands in the Philippines. Bill received the Bronze Star for heroic achievement and a Combat Infantry Badge.Bill worked in the food business in Indianapolis from 1947 to 1956. The family moved to Great Falls in 1956, where he started his own food brokerage business. In 1972, he merged the business with Rich Cannon of Butte, MT forming the Cannon-Lowden Company. His first wife, Freida passed away in 1973 and in 1974 Bill married his current wife, Ruth. In 1978, he sold his part of the business to his partner and retired in 1979. He began spending winters in Arizona, until 2005.He was a long time member of Peace Lutheran Church. As well as a member of VFW Post 1087. He enjoyed gardening, golf, fishing and his churchs bible class.Bill is survived by his wife, Ruth; daughter Catherine Lowden of Great Falls, step daughters, Patricia Shropshire of Bandon, OR and Gisela Schneider of Colstrip, MT; grandchildren, Brandon, Andrea and Ryan of Missoula; and great grandchildren William and Syren of Missoula.He is preceded in death by his son, William and his parents.Memorials are suggested to Peace Lutheran Church, Benefis Healthcare or LCMS seminaries.