On July 31, 2024 Everett Leroy Lynn passed away peacefully at Touchmark in Helena, MT following a long and courageous struggle with declining health.
Born in Wabasso, Minnesota on September 23, 1923, he moved with his family to Redwood Falls Minnesota in 1925. Happy boyhood years were spent bicycling, swimming, ice skating, sledding, camping, family picnics and vacations, and roaming the woodlands of the Redwood River and Alexander Ramsey Park. He graduated from Redwood High School with honors in 1941. In that period, he participated in the Order of DeMolay, high school band and orchestra, lettered in track, and was awarded the rank of Eagle Scout.
Attending the University of Minnesota, he enlisted and served in the V-12 Naval Training program from 1943-1945, and graduated as a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1946. From 1946-1948 he served as a Lt. (j.g.) in the U.S. Navy Dental Corps at Alameda Naval Air Station, California and at Camp Pendleton, California, being attached to the U.S. Marine Corps. Further military time was spent from 1959-1963 as a Major in the Dental Corps of Helena’s U.S. Army, 10th Corp, 396th Station Hospital Reserve unit.
Everett was united in marriage to Wanda Irene Steiner on November 21, 1947, at Los Angeles, California. Their day of marriage was a unique one. They were selected to appear on Bride and Groom, a pre-nuptial program broadcast over WCTN and televised on American Broadcasting Company of Hollywood. Everett and Wanda were bride and groom for sixty two years prior to her death in August 2010.
His 42 years of dental practice included his two Navy years, 2 years in Minnesota and general practice in Helena from 1950 until his retirement in 1988. Everett was a Life Member of the American Dental Association, Montana Dental Association, and an honorary Fellow of the International College of Dentists. The Montana Dental Association recognized his contributions to the community as well as the profession with the T.T Rider Award in 1980 and the prestigious Clinical Dental Excellence Award in 1989. Beyond his love for his family, the practice of dentistry was dearest to his heart of his life’s many activities.
Under the auspices of the American Dental Association and the Montana Dental Association he was instrumental in launching Montana’s first dental pre-payment plan known as the Delta Dental Plan of Montana in 1969. He became its president and later its executive director until the corporation merged with Utah’s Delta Dental Plan in 1975. Following that in 1980 he participated in the Dental Service Plans Insurance Company (DISPIC), a national dental pre-payment plan, as a Montana professional advisory committee member until 1990.
Music was a lifelong hobby and dedication. After moving from Minnesota to Montana he joined the State Capital Band in 1950 and played in it for an astonishing seventy-two concert seasons as the first clarinet. Everett will also be remembered for his stirring verbal recitations of “I Am the United States” at patriotic concerts. His diligence in obtaining publicity, veteran’s attendance and programming assistance contributed to the success of the concerts over the years. He also served as a member of the Board of Directors continually from 1968-2020.
During his 1950-1969 years as principal clarinetist in the Helena Symphony, he also served 11 years on its Board of Directors, three of which were as Board President.
Other musical organizations participated in were the U.S Navy V-12 Dance Band, Anything Goes Band, Big Sky Syncopators, Queen City Swing Band, the Dick Merley German Band, New Horizons Band, and Algeria Temple Shrine Band. The Last Chance Dixieland Jazz Band performed music from New Orleans, The Cradle of Jazz, and for the 1983-2014 years it performed at numerous gigs both locally and across Montana and beyond, including jazz festivals and cruises.
He was a member of Ottawa Lodge 51, Helena Lodge # 3, and Helena Valley Scottish Rite. Everett took pride in his twenty-two years as the Scottish Rite Reunion Director and the execution of its ritual. He was coroneted a 33rd Degree Honorary Inspector General in 1993. Associated memberships were Order of the Eastern Star, Algeria Shrine Temple and served 16 years as trustee-secretary of the Consistory Shrine-Temple Association.
His many other activities and interests included Jaycees, Toastmasters, photography, trees, Montana birds, screening for arrowheads in Montana pishkuns, pheasant hunting, Montana, wildflowers, and family genealogy, which he pursued with great dedication and diligence for many years.
The empty nest years brought Everett and Wanda many travel adventures, and included a Caribbean Jazz Cruise, numerous European river boat tours and one to the Nile River in Egypt.
With the sale of his home for sixty five years, Everett moved to Touchmark in Helena in 2021 where he acquired new friends and activities including playing religious hymns on the keyboard piano for the Sunday afternoon church services.
He is survived by his son Stephen (Marcene) Lynn, Whitefish, daughter Barbara Lynn, Helena, grandsons Geoffrey Lynn, Daniel (Sarah) Lynn, Wayne Irion, and Nicholas (Jessica) Irion and three great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his daughter Nancy Lynn Irion in 2002 and wife, Wanda in 2010.
A memorial service celebrating Everett’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 11th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A reception will follow the service in the social hall of the funeral home. Burial will follow the service at Forestvale Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the Algeria Shrine Transportation Fund, State Capital Band, Boy Scouts of America, or a gift to the organization of your choice.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday October 11, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Service
Friday October 11, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial
Following the Reception
Friday October 11, 2024
Forestvale Cemetery
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Friday October 11, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the Service
Friday October 11, 2024
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Burial
Following the Reception
Friday October 11, 2024
Forestvale Cemetery
Helena, Montana 59602
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NAN LEFEBVRE says
Steve, Marci and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Ev certainly had an amazing life and contributed so much to the lives of others and the good of his community.
I wish you peace and comfort.
Annette Wakefield says
I am very sorry Barb for the loss of your father. He certainly was a man of great achievements in a long and very active life. I remember him so well, playing his clarinet in the Last Chance Dixieland Band, which my husband and I attended frequently. His name was well=known in Helena with his dentistry practice. He served our community well. I pray for God’s peace and comfort for you and your family as you rely on all the fond and loving memories of him.
MICHAEL F MARSH says
Even though Everett’s son Stephen is my brother-in-law I never really didn’t know him. In 2016 I moved to Helena and we became good friends. He has always supported me with my passions and I will deeply miss him.
“Within the rough shell of sorrow, we find a sweet kernel of grace” – Charles Spurgeon
Bert Bouma says
As stage manager for the Helena Scottish Rite Bodies, I remember Brother Everett as a perfectionist in all the endeavors he was involved with; both in our organization, but in the others he was involved with as well. As a Mason, he was a master of his craft, and set an example worthy of emulation. He wore his honors with dignity and quiet humility. As a product of the ‘greatest generation’, he set an example for honesty, perseverance, and integrity that is beyond reproach. His timely advice and dry wit will be remembered by all who had the honor to know him.
Todd F Johnson says
Brother Everett and Wanda were neighbors when my family lived on Hayes, then Flowerree, then Harrison Streets near Hawthorne Elementary. I didn’t get to know Everett until 40 years later, after I moved back to Helena and joined Helena Masonic Lodge #3. Since then, Everett helped me grasp the fundamentals of Masonic teaching while at the same time, he became my dad’s dinner companion at Touchmark – They reminded me of Stadler and Waldorf on the Muppet show the way they mocked their institutional dining experience.
I will miss Everett’s encouraging words and insightful observations about Masonry, Helena, and life in general.
Kathy Jensen says
Steve, Marci and family,
Thinking of you and wishing you moments of peace and comfort as you remember someone who was so close to you.
Please know you are in our thoughts.
Rick and Kathy
Michael Marsh says
I miss my friend!!
Ron Yuhas says
To the Everett Lynn family,
I am sorry to hear of your loss. The Lynn family lived only a few houses away on Hayes St. from our family home on Stuart St. My folks LaVerne & Quintin Yuhas were good friends of the Lynn’s. I went to grade school and graduated in the same HHS Class of 1971 with Nancy Lynn. I remember birthday parties that date back to those grade school days. Mom had many gatherings at the Stuart St. house that the Lynn’s were a part of. I am grateful for Ev Lynn’s help in the Masonic Organization. He will be missed.
Nancy Perry says
To Dr. Lynn’s family,
I was so sad to hear about your father’s death. He was such an important person to the Perry family. We first met him when your parents moved into the second floor apartment on Dearborn, right next door to us. He was my first dentist, always serious, frequently scolding me for my slap dash tooth brushing habits. When you moved up to Hayes your parents hired my sister and me to babysit occasionally. It was always a pleasure to come to your home; your mother kept it so orderly. I moved away to go to college and didn’t see your father again until I moved back to Helena 7 years ago. I attended a band concert and there was your father, still playing the clarinet. After so many years, he still remembered the names of me and all my family members, and recounted several naughty escapades you and my little brother got into! Whenever I pass the Power Block I think about your father’s office. Know that you are not alone in missing him.
Kathy Dreyer says
We have so many great memories of “Doc” in all of his bands, especially Last Chance Dixieland. It was great to see him playing in Queen City Band and so late in life still playing in the Capitol City Band! ‘Glad he lived such a full life. Hugs, Kathy and Larry Dreyer
Char LeVasseur says
Dr. Lynn was a wonderful dentist! I was lucky to have had him..