Ernest G. Cummins

Ernie went home to be with the Lord on February 5th at the Good Samaritan of Fort Collins Village. Ernie was born on September 9, 1930, in a one-room log cabin in Dore, North Dakota to Frank and Edith (Hawley) Cummins. While there, his father farmed and ranched, helped by his wife and sons Curtis and Ernie. Between the births of sister Clarice and brother Clayton, the family moved to a farmstead northwest of Fairview, Montana, where the farming continued. Ernie was even known to drive a tractor or team of horses at the young age of 9. Curtis and Ernie attended a one-room schoolhouse, travelling by foot, horseback, and horse-drawn sleigh in the winter. The family moved into the town of Fairview in 1942. The children were baptized by their uncle Ray Hawley on December 24,1942 at home. They bought a home and moved to Sidney, Montana in May of 1943. Ernie graduated from Sidney High School in 1948, working as a school janitor’s assistant and as a delivery driver for Sidney Cleaners. In January of 1951, Ernie enlisted in the Army at Butte, Montana with best friend Kipp Gabrielson. He attended basic training at Fort Lewis, Washington and Fort MacArthur, California. He served at Camp Sherman, Panama Canal Zone from September 4, 1951, to August 18, 1953, and was honorably discharged at Camp Carson, Colorado on January 10, 1954, as a Sergeant. Following his service, Ernie worked as a “doodlebugger” at Stanolind (a Standard Oil subsidiary) in the oil fields near Cut Bank and Hardin, Montana, and briefly, Rawlins, Wyoming. He moved to Billings, Montana in 1955 to attend Eastern Montana College. While in school, he worked at Noyes Standard Service Station. As one of the perks of the job, servicing the local bakery’s bread trucks, Ernie would provide leftover bread to the young ladies who walked by, including his future bride Frances (Kuper). They were married Nov 27, 1956, on Ernie’s parents’ 32nd wedding anniversary. Ernie and Fran moved to Denver, Colorado in1960 to complete his accounting degree at Denver University, graduating in August,1960. Daughter Christy (Zentz) was born in May of 1961. Son Cory soon followed in June of 1962. Ernie held various accounting jobs at the Air Force Audit Agency, Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of Land Management, and as a Loaned Executive for Combined Federal Campaign, in Denver, Colorado, Brigham City, Utah, Billings, Montana and finally Lakewood, Colorado. He retired in 1986 but continued to work for H&R Block as a tax preparer. In 2000 they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to be nearer to Christy and her family, while Cory and family travelled the world in the US Navy. Ernie and Fran had many dear friends and neighbors and were actively involved in the Fort Collins Newcomers Club. Ernie enjoyed golf, bowling, travel, and especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ernie was preceded in death by his parents Frank and Edith, brother Curtis, granddaughter Erin Zentz, and the love of his life Fran, who passed in 2019. He is survived by sister Clarice Opsta, brother Clayton (Lynne) Cummins, daughter Christy (Ralph) Zentz, son Cory (Kathleen) Cummins, grandchildren Adam (Elina) Zentz, Jared (Hannah) Zentz, Ryan Cummins, Sarah (Damian Wells) Cummins, Thomas (Sara Park) Cummins, and great-grandchildren Jude Zentz, Ezra Zentz, Helen Zentz, and Callum Wells, who was born on the day of Ernie’s passing. He is also survived by nephews Craig Cummins, Bruce Banderob; nieces Connie (Jim) Larsen, Carla Peterson, and Brenda (Larry) Evans, and many grandnephews and grandnieces. A celebration of Ernie’s life will be held at a later date for all of the friends and family who Ernie held dear. He will be greatly missed but we are comforted that he is with Fran and our Lord in heaven. Donations in Ernie’s memory can be made to Valley Christian Church, Loveland, Colorado (https://vccloveland.com/give/), the Proud American Military Veterans, “PAMVETs”, of Loveland, Colorado (https://www.veteranshonoringveterans.org/), High Plains Honor Flight (http://www.highplainshonorflight.org/) or the veterans’ organization of your choosing.

Ernest G. Cummins

February 5, 2025