Henry L. Armstrong, deeply loved by family, friends and community, was a well-respected gentleman and historian for the Geraldine community, Chouteau County and beyond.  To many, the Treasure State lost a gem of a man with Yogo sapphire-colored eyes on March 12, 2023.

Born in Fort Benton, Montana, on March 21,1927, he was the youngest child of Fay Irene Davis Armstrong and B.W. Armstrong.  He grew up on the Armstrong homestead farm, attending school in Geraldine.  In high school, Hank played sports and was a drum major.  His lifelong love of music, art and history began then.

Following graduation in 1944, Henry enlisted in the United State Marine Corp.  He served as a military police officer and attended the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, for OCS. Upon his discharge, Hank returned to help his parents on the farm.  He also worked in Great Falls where he eventually met Norma Hazel Sorensen. They enjoyed dancing at the clubs and were married in June 1948. They celebrated their Golden Anniversary (1998) with a community dance, waltzing in the newly restored Geraldine Milwaukee Depot.

Henry and Norma farmed in the Geraldine area where they raised four children, Stuart, Cindy, Shelley and Scott.  Henry worked as a crop adjuster and served as a Boy Scout leader and a basketball referee. Climbing Square Butte a multitude of times and searching for artifacts were some of his pastimes.

Following in his father and grandfather's footsteps, Henry joined the Masonic Lodge, becoming a lifetime member of Pilgrim Lodge #102 in Geraldine.

Henry enjoyed fishing, hunting, boating, camping, dancing, ice-skating, golfing, reading, gardening, collecting, photography, archaeology, genealogy, and research to name a few.  He was a talented woodworker and a hard-working farmer and fabricator.

Henry spent most of his life researching and preserving history, doing archaeologic exploration and nominating buildings for the National Register of Historic Places. He was a member of the Geraldine Historical Committee, the River and Plains Society, the Montana Agricultural Museum and Center, the Overholser Historical Research Center, the Montana Farmers' Union, the Montana Archaeological Society, and the longest standing member of the Montana Historical Society (MHS).  Henry served on the Geraldine Co-op board and the United Methodist Church board as well. He wrote seven books about local history, along with countless articles, and compiled the community history with the Geraldine Historical Committee in two books: Spokes, Spurs and Cockleburs and Beyond Spokes.

Over the years, Henry received several awards for his work. The Governor of Montana, on behalf of the Montana Historical Society and the Montana Preservation Society, presented Hank The State Historic Preservation Award (1997-98); Montana Farmer's Union Centennial Farm Award (2009); Montana Historical Society 2015 Heritage Keeper Award; and The Trowel & Pen Award presented by Montana Archaeological Society (2016).

Preceding Henry in death are his wife, Norma; son, Scott; sisters, Opal Armstrong, Nina K. Anderson, and Merle J. Atkinson; nieces, Shirley Folger and Joyce Sigman; brothers-in-law, Alvin Sorensen, Henry Anderson, Frank Brown, and Chesley Atkinson; and sister-in-law Wilma Skinner.

Survivors include his son, Stuart Armstrong (Lila); daughters, Cindy Burgess (Bill), and Shelley Smith (Steve); grandchildren: Amy Dahlin (Kam), Alan Armstrong, Carson Smith, Jillian and Johanna Burgess and great-grandchildren: Isaak, Ian, EJ Dahlin, and Hazel Burgess-Hutchinson; sister-in-law, Mildred Brown; brother-in-law, Leonard Sorensen (Brenda); nieces, Joan Cantrell, Leslie Reed, Pamela Shipp, Marilyn Barber, Sher Loberg, Claudia Kajin, Jennifer Allen, MaryBeth Jourdonnais, Rachel Sorensen-Woodward, Kimberley Sorensen-Brown, Lisa Sorensen, Mary Ulinger-Sorensen, Judy Ulinger-Sorensen-Mahaney; and nephews, Jeffrey Sorensen, Michael Ulinger-Sorensen, Jim Skinner and Grant Skinner.

His funeral service will be held at the Montana Agriculture Center, 1205 20 ^th Street in Fort Benton on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.  a luncheon will be served following the service, then on to the Geraldine Cemetery for the graveside service at 3:00 p.m.  There will also be a time for coffee, cookies, and conversation at the Geraldine Senior Center following the graveside service.

In Memoriam, please send gifts to the Montana Historical Society, The Montana Ag Museum and Center, or a charity of your choice.  Benton Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.  Please visit Hank's online memorial page at www.bentonfh.com to send a card or leave a message of condolence for his family.