Milton Robert Finster was called to his heavenly home Tuesday, July 14, 2015. Milt was born Oct. 14, 1918, to Martha M. Kristall and the Rev. Robert Frederick Finster, who died before Milt was born. He and his sister, Gertrude, were then raised learning German by his mother and grandfather, Fred Kristall. In 1923, Martha married the Rev. E.W. Henry Mueller.
Milt received education from high schools at Almond, Wis., and Concordia University, then located in Milwaukee. He submitted the winning entry for Concordia's nickname, the Falcons.
During the Great Depression, Milt traveled to Washington to work in fruit orchards and processing plants. In 1941, he became an electrician at A.O. Smith Corp., where he worked for 40 years. In 1944, Milt entered the U.S. Army and served in Italy until 1946.
In 1946, Milt married Eleonore B. Worgull and raised six sons. In 1979, he married June Lee. They spent 35 wonderful years together, hunting, fishing and gardening after they moved to Idaho in 1983. Together they ran Finster's Peach Orchard for eight years.
Milt is survived by his wife, June; by sons James, Mark (Rebecca), Paul (Sandra), Robert and David; by sisters Adeline, Grace and Gloria; by 10 grandchildren; many nephews and nieces; and stepchildren Gregory Lee (Brenda) and Vicki Bunfill (Michael).
Milt was preceded in death by his parents; by his son, John; by his first wife, Eleonore; by his sisters, Marcella, Gertrude and Clara; and by his brothers, Arnold, Martin and Walter.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 920 Eighth St., Lewiston, where he was a member, followed immediately by a graveside service at Lewis-Clark Memorial Gardens, 3521 Seventh St., Lewiston. Lunch at the church will follow.
Memorial donations may be made to the charity of one's choice.
