Charles R. "Buzz" Virag of Helena passed away at his home on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008.
Buzz was born Jan. 16 1932, to Joseph and Bertha "Mike" Virag in Helena, where he lived and attended school.
In 1950 he graduated from Helena High School and then attended Carroll College for 1-1/2 years. After graduating from Helena High, Buzz joined the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1952 he went on active duty full time during the Korean War until 1954.
He married Melva Lorraine Miller on March 25, 1955; they were married for several years. They had a son, Charles M. Virag. Later he married June Wallace Richards on April 28, 1962, and they were married for 28 years. They had a son, Scott L. Virag.
Buzz worked for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co. in 1948, where he had numerous jobs, starting with mail clerk and ending up in marketing. He retired in 1982 with 35-plus years of service with U.S. West. At the time he retired, he was the youngest telephone pioneer to retire from U.S. West.
He had numerous hobbies in his early years, which mainly included fishing and hunting. After his retirement, he became an avid collector and, as he would say, an "accumulator." Buzz loved to drive around town to all the thrift stores to shop as well as socialize. He would travel from the Kum-N-Go to Good Samaritan to Wells Fargo and beyond.
Buzz and his good friend, Tom "Beanie Baby" Bean, would frequently be seen motoring around town. He would talk about all the history around Helena that he had seen and about all the changes that were taking place.
Buzz is survived by his two sons, Charles M. (Margaret) Virag and Scott L. (Dorothy) Virag of Helena; brother, Jay Virag of Littleton, Colo.; step-children, Debbie (Kurt) Flansaas, Jane (Tim) Evanson; grandchildren, Kirsten Virag, Eric Virag, Caeli Virag, Ashley Virag, Nicole Virag and Stephan Chafin; and numerous nephews, nieces, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Virag and Bertha "Mike" Virag of Helena.
He will truly be missed by all who knew him.
We love you.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 1 p.m. at Retz Funeral Chapel. A reception will follow at the Eagles Lodge, 715 N. Fee St., in Helena.
The family prefers memorial contributions be made in Buzz Virag's name to Good Samaritan of Helena, 3067 N. Montana Ave., Helena 59601
Buzz was born Jan. 16 1932, to Joseph and Bertha "Mike" Virag in Helena, where he lived and attended school.
In 1950 he graduated from Helena High School and then attended Carroll College for 1-1/2 years. After graduating from Helena High, Buzz joined the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1952 he went on active duty full time during the Korean War until 1954.
He married Melva Lorraine Miller on March 25, 1955; they were married for several years. They had a son, Charles M. Virag. Later he married June Wallace Richards on April 28, 1962, and they were married for 28 years. They had a son, Scott L. Virag.
Buzz worked for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co. in 1948, where he had numerous jobs, starting with mail clerk and ending up in marketing. He retired in 1982 with 35-plus years of service with U.S. West. At the time he retired, he was the youngest telephone pioneer to retire from U.S. West.
He had numerous hobbies in his early years, which mainly included fishing and hunting. After his retirement, he became an avid collector and, as he would say, an "accumulator." Buzz loved to drive around town to all the thrift stores to shop as well as socialize. He would travel from the Kum-N-Go to Good Samaritan to Wells Fargo and beyond.
Buzz and his good friend, Tom "Beanie Baby" Bean, would frequently be seen motoring around town. He would talk about all the history around Helena that he had seen and about all the changes that were taking place.
Buzz is survived by his two sons, Charles M. (Margaret) Virag and Scott L. (Dorothy) Virag of Helena; brother, Jay Virag of Littleton, Colo.; step-children, Debbie (Kurt) Flansaas, Jane (Tim) Evanson; grandchildren, Kirsten Virag, Eric Virag, Caeli Virag, Ashley Virag, Nicole Virag and Stephan Chafin; and numerous nephews, nieces, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Virag and Bertha "Mike" Virag of Helena.
He will truly be missed by all who knew him.
We love you.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 1 p.m. at Retz Funeral Chapel. A reception will follow at the Eagles Lodge, 715 N. Fee St., in Helena.
The family prefers memorial contributions be made in Buzz Virag's name to Good Samaritan of Helena, 3067 N. Montana Ave., Helena 59601
Charles R. "Buzz" Virag of Helena passed away at his home on Friday, Dec. 19, 2008.
Buzz was born Jan. 16 1932, to Joseph and Bertha "Mike" Virag in Helena, where he lived and attended school.
In 1950 he graduated from Helena High School and then attended Carroll College for 1-1/2 years. After graduating from Helena High, Buzz joined the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1952 he went on active duty full time during the Korean War until 1954.
He married Melva Lorraine Miller on March 25, 1955; they were married for several years. They had a son, Charles M. Virag. Later he married June Wallace Richards on April 28, 1962, and they were married for 28 years. They had a son, Scott L. Virag.
Buzz worked for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co. in 1948, where he had numerous jobs, starting with mail clerk and ending up in marketing. He retired in 1982 with 35-plus years of service with U.S. West. At the time he retired, he was the youngest telephone pioneer to retire from U.S. West.
He had numerous hobbies in his early years, which mainly included fishing and hunting. After his retirement, he became an avid collector and, as he would say, an "accumulator." Buzz loved to drive around town to all the thrift stores to shop as well as socialize. He would travel from the Kum-N-Go to Good Samaritan to Wells Fargo and beyond.
Buzz and his good friend, Tom "Beanie Baby" Bean, would frequently be seen motoring around town. He would talk about all the history around Helena that he had seen and about all the changes that were taking place.
Buzz is survived by his two sons, Charles M. (Margaret) Virag and Scott L. (Dorothy) Virag of Helena; brother, Jay Virag of Littleton, Colo.; step-children, Debbie (Kurt) Flansaas, Jane (Tim) Evanson; grandchildren, Kirsten Virag, Eric Virag, Caeli Virag, Ashley Virag, Nicole Virag and Stephan Chafin; and numerous nephews, nieces, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Virag and Bertha "Mike" Virag of Helena.
He will truly be missed by all who knew him.
We love you.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 1 p.m. at Retz Funeral Chapel. A reception will follow at the Eagles Lodge, 715 N. Fee St., in Helena.
The family prefers memorial contributions be made in Buzz Virag's name to Good Samaritan of Helena, 3067 N. Montana Ave., Helena 59601
Buzz was born Jan. 16 1932, to Joseph and Bertha "Mike" Virag in Helena, where he lived and attended school.
In 1950 he graduated from Helena High School and then attended Carroll College for 1-1/2 years. After graduating from Helena High, Buzz joined the U.S. Naval Reserve. In 1952 he went on active duty full time during the Korean War until 1954.
He married Melva Lorraine Miller on March 25, 1955; they were married for several years. They had a son, Charles M. Virag. Later he married June Wallace Richards on April 28, 1962, and they were married for 28 years. They had a son, Scott L. Virag.
Buzz worked for Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Co. in 1948, where he had numerous jobs, starting with mail clerk and ending up in marketing. He retired in 1982 with 35-plus years of service with U.S. West. At the time he retired, he was the youngest telephone pioneer to retire from U.S. West.
He had numerous hobbies in his early years, which mainly included fishing and hunting. After his retirement, he became an avid collector and, as he would say, an "accumulator." Buzz loved to drive around town to all the thrift stores to shop as well as socialize. He would travel from the Kum-N-Go to Good Samaritan to Wells Fargo and beyond.
Buzz and his good friend, Tom "Beanie Baby" Bean, would frequently be seen motoring around town. He would talk about all the history around Helena that he had seen and about all the changes that were taking place.
Buzz is survived by his two sons, Charles M. (Margaret) Virag and Scott L. (Dorothy) Virag of Helena; brother, Jay Virag of Littleton, Colo.; step-children, Debbie (Kurt) Flansaas, Jane (Tim) Evanson; grandchildren, Kirsten Virag, Eric Virag, Caeli Virag, Ashley Virag, Nicole Virag and Stephan Chafin; and numerous nephews, nieces, step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph Virag and Bertha "Mike" Virag of Helena.
He will truly be missed by all who knew him.
We love you.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 27, at 1 p.m. at Retz Funeral Chapel. A reception will follow at the Eagles Lodge, 715 N. Fee St., in Helena.
The family prefers memorial contributions be made in Buzz Virag's name to Good Samaritan of Helena, 3067 N. Montana Ave., Helena 59601
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