John Newman

On Jan. 31, 2017, our world traveler made his final journey.

John Newman was born to Harold and Maude Victoria Smith Newman in Rickmansworth, England, on Sept. 18, 1933. Due to the death of his mother at a very young age, John was raised with the help of his family during very dark times while England was engaged in the Second World War.

As a young man, John entered the British Army Regiment of the Coldstream Guards. John served as Honor Guard to King George and at Queen Elizabeth's coronation. While in the Coldstream Guards, John also served in two campaigns in Egypt and the Korean War. Following his duties as a soldier, John took a job as a field correspondent for Reuters News Agency. John traveled the world, writing as a journalist for Reuters and witnessed some amazing historical events during the 1950's and 1960's. In 1968, John found a new career as a newspaper editor and took a position for the newspaper in Wilmington, N.C.

Always the traveler, John, adventured around the United States and Canada, working for a multitude of newspapers and journals. John served as the editor of the Billings Gazette from 1970 to 1975. While working in Billings, he met a young lady named Glenda David, from Joliet. They shared 40 years of adventures through life together. Always a man of print, John held several more positions in newspaper editing and journalism. In Billings, John also managed and owned a print shop while Glenda continued as an elementary school music teacher. Side by side through 40 years of marriage, John and Glenda enjoyed the community of Billings and raised their wonderful family here.

John was an avid sportsman and English Premier Futbol fan, waking the entire family to catch a game at the early hours of the morning. John's two sons and five grandchildren were truly blessed to hear tales of adventure, history and to be loved by such a generous and caring man.

John was preceded by his mother, father, brother Tony and sister Yvonne, as well as his much loved in-laws, Russell and Mary David. While his wife Glenda Newman, sons Michael and David (Tara), and grandchildren, Luke, Kathryn, Anna, Russell and Bear will carry his loving memory and adventure on forever.

Special thanks to Frontier Cancer Center, Dr. Christiansen, RiverStone Hospice Care, Monica and Nicole.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 6, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, 1241 Crawford Drive.