![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/74\/2007\/12\/Ohs.jpg\" "\\"Ohs\\"")
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.<\/p>\nHELENA, MT (December 3, 2007) – Former Lt. Governor Karl Ohs was best known nationally for brokering a 1996 settlement between federal agents and an anti-government extremist group that had holed up in its armed compound for 81 days, but he was remembered at his funeral Friday as much for his faith and compassion.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was a mighty man of God,\u201d eulogized former Gov. Judy Martz, with whom he served.<\/p>\n
In an interview today, Ohs\u2019 pastor, Keith Johnson, recalled, \u201cHe was a real servant, an incredible man.\u201d<\/p>\n
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. \u201cHe had developed a large passion for missions,\u201d Johnson added.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s AWANA program.<\/p>\n
\u201cKarl 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,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cHe absolutely loved people.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n