Born while Teddy Roosevelt ran his Bull Moose campaign (1912), Orril linked the Coastside with pioneers as the son of Montana hardscrabble homesteaders and as a self-described “bandy-legged lumberjack/preacher.” His days with crosscut saw and horse team were interrupted by four years in WWII when his faith was tested by court- martial. Busted to Buck Private because he wouldn’t carry a rifle, Orril cooked for GI’s and POW’s. “They were mostly farm kids; homesick and worried about their families, whichever uniform they wore.” His ability to empathize and listen with his heart made him a magnet as a counselor from then on. His ministry was universal yet personal. Weddings (on horseback, beach, in forest or Church) were touched with humor and joy. He never took a dime for a funeral.
“Marrying Clara, in 1942, was my greatest accomplishment.” Raising a family (Mike, Pat, Peggy) meant long workdays, and Clara’s nursing skills were often tested by families in need.
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