William Doles

William Peter Doles, 102, of Great Falls, passed away Monday, August 1, 2016.No services are planned. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Schnider Funeral Home.William Doles was born September 16, 1913 in Great Falls, Montana to Luke and Anna (Heramia) Doles. In 1917, William moved with his family to Tracy, where the Anaconda Co. operated a coal mine. Life was tough, and William recalled fist fights, labor strife and working at a young age. He started working in a Great Northern Railway roundhouse when he was 14. He also worked on the construction of the onetime Columbus Hospital. Full-time work was hard to come by during the Great Depression. In 1934, Doles and others camped out overnight to gain jobs at the Anaconda Copper Mining Co. metals refinery in Black Eagle. William landed a job and worked for ACM from 1934 to 1975, as a member of the Boilermakers Union. He married Mary Abell and they had two children.Sports proved to be a good diversion for him when he was younger. He played basketball for Centerville High School and was an avid baseball player. He twice attended World Series games as a fan in 1934 and 1939. William was honored for his loyal support of C.M. Russell High School sports.On November 16, 2015, William was the oldest recipient of the atrial heart valve thru through the TVAR procedure at St. Patricks Hospital in Missoula. His reaction to anesthesia during the surgery eventually contributed to Williams passing.William is survived by his son, Bill Doles of Delavin, WI: sister Ann Besich of Great Falls; and two grandchildren, Kara Doles and Jason Freeman.He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mary in 1984; and son Milton in 2009.