HELENA (AP) – Funeral services for former Lt. Gov. Karl Ohs have been scheduled for Friday.
Ohs, a rancher from Harrison, died Sunday morning at his home in Helena of complications from brain cancer. He was 61.
He served as lieutenant governor from 2000-04 under Republican Gov. Judy Martz. He also was a three-term state legislator and chairman of the Montana Republican Party.
Ohs made a name for himself in 1996 by helping negotiate a peaceful end to the 81-day standoff with the anti-government Freemen at the group’s compound near Jordan. The FBI later honored Ohs for his efforts, giving him its highest award for public service.
The funeral is set for 10 a.m. Friday at the Gateway Center in Helena. Retz Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.
Gov. Brian Schweitzer is requesting flags be flown at half-staff Thursday and Friday.
Ohs is survived by his wife, Sherri of Helena; his mother, Sylvia Ohs of Malta; his brother, Jerry (Donna) Ohs of Pony; and sisters Dolores (Rod) Stebbins of Green Valley, Ariz., and Karen (Ross) Wiederrick of Malta.
He also is survived by four children, Brad (Kim) Ohs of Billings, Eric Ohs of Pony, Brian Ohs of Bozeman, Elizabeth (Cody) Carpenter of Butte; four stepchildren, J.D. Hartman of Belgrade, Jessica Wagner of Belgrade, Katie and Justin Marthaller of Gillette, Wyo., and Brandon Boylan of Belgrade; and seven grandchildren.