The funeral was held at the Evangelical Covenant Church where Ohs, 61, had attended since 2000. He died November 25 in Helena due to complications from brain cancer that had been diagnosed in March.
“He was a mighty man of God,” eulogized former Gov. Judy Martz, with whom he served.
In an interview today, Ohs’ pastor, Keith Johnson, recalled, “He was a real servant, an incredible man.”
Ohs and his wife, Sherri, have been active in the church, serving in many ways, Johnson said. Ohs was the vice chair of the church when he died, and the couple participated in mission projects to Juarez, Mexico, as well as Poland and Estonia. “He had developed a large passion for missions,” Johnson added.
That same passion was evidenced in his work locally. Johnson noted that last year the couple cooked a meal for 100 people every Tuesday night for the church’s AWANA program.
“Karl rubbed shoulders with the absolutely most powerful people in Montana and in our country, and yet at the same time, everyone considered him their friend,” Johnson said. “He absolutely loved people.”
His skill in working with people may have saved lives when the extremist group faced off with government agents. Wearing his trademark cowboy hat and yellow rain slicker, he rode his horse alone into the armed compound 19 times to help negotiate the peaceful settlement. The FBI honored Ohs with its highest civil service award for his role in ending the standoff.
Ohs also was a former member of the Montana House of Representatives, chairman of the Montana Republican Party, and president of the National Lieutenant Governors Association.
