Sidney Robert Aschim

On Friday, May 9, at 12:15 a.m., Sidney Robert Aschim left the Home Hospice Care bed at his daughter Cari’s Bigfork home and moved Heavenward after a brave battle with cancer. Born in Shelby, Montana on July 21, 1949, Sid was the 2nd born of Emmett and Doris (Whitt) Aschim’s 5 children. The Aschim farm/ranch family stayed busy with crops, dairy cows, cattle, ponies, cats and dogs. Sid added to the menagerie by frequently bringing home animals such as skunks, birds and rabbits. 

 Sid and his siblings attended Sunburst Schools where he wrestled plus honed his drumming skills in band. After his NTC graduation in 1967, Sid went on to get his teaching degree from M.S.U. Northern where he also served as Head Resident of Morgan Hall. 

 In 1972 Sid married nurse Carol Friesen. During their 22-year union, the couple lived awhile in Fort Benton, Montana where Sid worked for Melrose Manufacturing. They moved to Bigfork when Sid began teaching Vocational Education & Driver’s Education at Bigfork Schools. In 1974, Sid and Carol welcomed the birth of their son Shawn, then their daughter Cari in 1976. He was later nominated to be 1983’s Montana Teacher of the Year. 

 Following Sid’s 2003 teaching retirement from Bigfork Schools, he moved out to the family farm east of Sunburst to care for his parents. Due to Sid’s love of anything automotive, he opened Aschim Auto Repair while on the farm, then later moved into the town of Sunburst. Sid retired from his successful Sunburst business in 2018. 

 Sid was a wonderful son, brother, father, grandfather, cousin, neighbor and friend. He went out of his way to generously help others, donating his machinery, tools, time, and talents to assist whenever needed. Sid sent the kindest cards for birthdays, signed in his beautiful penmanship, even though he was a “leftie”. A devoted Christian, kind-hearted Sid had a dry sense of humor and was a faithful member of Sunburst Lutheran Church. Of all the stories coming in describing Sid’s influence in their life, a similar phrase keeps resurfacing: Sid Aschim was a special person and a really good guy! 

 Sid is survived by his son Shawn Aschim of Bigfork and daughter Cari Galbraith of Bigfork; 3 Grandchildren – Kayli (Tobias) (Galbraith) East of Kalispell, Emmett Aschim, student at MSU Bozeman, and Tyler Galbraith, student at Montana Tech in Butte; 2 Great-grandchildren - Hudson and Kazdyn East; Siblings - brother Terry (Laura) Aschim of Fort Benton, brother Rick (Sally) Aschim of Sunburst, and sister Jill (Tom) Hauer of Great Falls; plus many beloved nieces/nephews. Sid was preceded in Heavenly relocation by his parents, Emmett and Doris Aschim, plus his sister Julie Reis. 

 A 10:00 a.m. memorial service for Sidney Robert Aschim of Sunburst, Montana will be held Saturday, June 14, 2025, at Lutheran Church of Sunburst, 108 1st Avenue South.