Albert W. Young
Born: May 7, 1928
Departed: January 16, 2009

Albert W. Young, 80, of Great Falls, a retired architectural engineer and Army Air Corp veteran, died of natural causes Friday at a Lewistown care center.

Survivors include daughters Sue (Don) Hesse of Black Eagle, Linda “Heine” (Gary) O’Brien of Great Falls, Ellen (Cal) Stevens of De Borgia, Mont., and Lisa (Darryl) Weiler of Spokane, Wash.; sons Steve (Michele) Young of Paso Robles, Calif., David (Sharon) Young of Anchorage, Alaska, and Courtney (Miriam) Young of Butte; a sister, Marcia Smith of Knoxville, Tenn., and brother-in-law Harry Chamberlain of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; as well as 20 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and six nephews and nieces.

Al was preceded in death by his parents, Leona and William Young, a sister Betty Chamberlain, brother-in-law Ken Smith; grandson Cody Stevens; and great-grandson Troy Pottratz.

Al was born May 7, 1928, in Great Falls, where he also grew up. He attended schools in Great Falls, graduated from GFHS in 1947, attended Montana State University in Bozeman on the G.I. Bill and received a BS degree in architectural engineering in 1952. Al then served with the Army Air Corp in the Pacific islands hopping between Guam and Korea as an air-traffic controller.

Al worked for Northern Materials, Sletten Construction, Pappin and Son Architects, Kenny Knight and Associates, Morgan and Oswood Architects, and Environmental Development Corp. (EDC), all of Great Falls, where he helped design and construct numerous houses and buildings including landmarks such as “1405,” Warden Bridge, Burger Master’s ramp, and Sheraton Hotel (now the Holiday Inn). His work can also be seen throughout the state including various government buildings in Helena and the resort and golf course at Fairmont Hot Springs. He concluded his career with Target, building stores throughout the West including here in Great Falls, Boise, Idaho, Las Vegas and Holland, Mich. Al also had his own consulting company.

Al was a member of the Great Falls Elks Lodge and Meadowlark Country Club. He enjoyed his work, trains, playing golf, cars especially his red Cadillac, the Green Bay Packers, bowling which including four perfect games, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, traveling particularly to Green Bay, Washington DC, Hawaii, Egypt and Israel, and watching his kids and grandkids participate in all their activities in and out of school. He will also be remembered for his wit, his thirst for life, and his love for family. As a Son, Brother, Dad, Grandpa, Great-Grandpa and Uncle, family always came first!