Charles "Chuck" Gilmon Slater

Born in Escondido, CA, May 10, 1929. Youngest of eight children, three boys, five girls. My parents and four of the children had moved to California from Fairmont, MN, where my dad could find work. This was during the great depression, and they were very poor, as were many others at that time.

I grew up and attended schools in La Mesa, CA. After high school, I worked in machine shops and selling auto parts, wholesale and retail. I married at 22 years of age to Irene Marten, a pretty neighborhood girl. We had two children, Joye Ann and Mark William. I was divorced after 12 years of marriage, in February 1964. I was very fortunate to keep my children and our home, purchased in 1954. Joye was five, and Mark was only three.

I had previously started my own business in March of 1960 and was doing very well. I was single and raising my children at that time with hired help. That was a very difficult time. My business was in the South Bay area of San Diego, near the coast and waterfront of National City.

There I met a very attractive young lady whom I fell in love with. She worked at the bank I used at the time. I asked her if she would have lunch with me. She accepted, and that was January 15, 1968. Her name was Twyla Perkins, and she was a wonderful lady who loved me and my (our) children as well. We were married on August 17, 1968, after a whirlwind romance. We had our 50th anniversary on August 17, 2018.

We made many camping trips to remote spots in Baja, CA, both on the Pacific and the Sea of Cortez.

Built a new building for my business in 1973 in National City – made many summer trips, as a family, to Montana. In 1976, we made the move to Bozeman, MT, and had our dream home on the East Gallatin River.

In Bozeman, I started a new business called Engine Machine & Supply. As years passed, Mark and Joye took the reins, and it became their business.

Many happy years were spent working, fishing, hunting, woodworking, and loving Montana. Chuck loved his family, his country, and he was a true patriot.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Hazel Slater, his five sisters, and two brothers. He is survived by his wife, Twyla; daughter, Joye (Mike) Josten; son, Mark (Lynette) Slater; granddaughter, Kendall Josten; grandsons, Nicholas (Delacy) Slater, Riley Slater, and Matt (Kasey) Josten; niece, Sherry Shepherd of Hawaii; and nephew, Chuck (Cindy) Thorn of Ramona, CA.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 13th, at Dahl Funeral & Cremation Service, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Warriors & Quiet Water, wqwf.org/donate or WQW, 351 Evergreen Dr, Ste A, Bozeman, MT 59715.