[br][br]August (Gus) Henry Eschenbacher Jr. was the youngest son of August Sr. and Katy Eschenbacher. He grew up in a farming family in Froid Montana where he learned to farm wheat and barley and to raise Cattle. He attended college in Bozeman where he took classes in agriculture and butchering. Gus married Luella Knick on November 10th 1951. He and his brother Benny took over the farm from their parents in 1963 when his Dad died, and they immediately sold off the cattle because he "always hated those cows." Gus and Luella had four children who all grew up on the farm until they sold their half of the farm to Gus' brother and moved the family to Great Falls Montana in 1968. He worked putting in water wells and then he and Luella owned a small grocery store until 1971 when the store was "accidently" set on fire, by their youngest son. The family followed their oldest daughter Kathy to Spokane because Gus didn't like the looks of the apartment building she had moved in to...so he bought another apartment building and fixed it up so she had a nice place to live. Gus started a contracting business here in Spokane, doing remodeling, plumbing, electrical, roofing, and siding until 1981. Gus and Luella then became sales representatives for Giftlines for the next 20 years. In 2002 Gus and Luella moved to Arizona to retire and then moved in with their daughter Marlene in Yakima in 2012.
Gus loved airplanes and flying. He and his brother owned a Piper Cub plane that they enjoyed flying together. For his 80th birthday he got to take a ride on a WWII trainer plane which he loved.
Gus enjoyed history and traveling, in the early 1950's he took a road trip from Froid MT with his brother and dad to Mexico, Texas, New Orleans and back. He was a jack of all trades and great at building and fixing things and enjoyed nothing more than teaching his grandsons how to be handy-men themselves. His shop was always a mess, and he loved to wake the grandsons up early to come over and help him with some project. He always enjoyed finding a project and kept on doing them well past when everyone else thought he should stop. He loved having all of the family together to BBQ and enjoy a meal. He was often found teasing the kids with stories of chief "Falling Rock," reminding them to "check their blinker juice" and asking them if they had their spanking yet today?
Gus died in Hospice care in Yakima WA, due to complications from pneumonia after a year of declining health. He had many family, friends, and little dogs to comfort him.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years Luella, daughters; Kathy Goldthorpe (John), Marlene Davenport, (Richard), Ginger Smith (Larry), and his son, Alan Eschenbacher (Laurel). His Sisters; Louise Cooper and Helen Coolidge; 8 Grandchildren, and 6 Great-Grandchildren.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, 1 brother and 3 sisters.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday December 7th at 2:00P.M. at All Saints' Lutheran Church 314 S Spruce Street. Donations in Gus' honor may be made to All Saints' Lutheran Church.