At the age of 90, on the 27^th day of June, 2010, Elbert Ernest Gass, Hap as he is known to family and friends, joined his parents Ernest Leslie Gass and Esther Baker in the great beyond.  Born one of twin boys on the 15^th day of December 1919 in Valentine, Nebraska, Hap earned his nickname for his ‘happy’ demeanor as a child.

Hap graduated from Valentine High School in 1938, and moved to Lincoln Nebraska where he worked as a haberdasher and subsequently a secretary for the governor of the state of Nebraska.

In March of 1942, Hap enlisted and entered the service in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. His military schooling in Aerial Gunnery was completed in Harlingen, Texas.  Serving as an Aerial Tail Gunner 611, in the 231^st Army Air Force Base Unit, Hap was stationed at Gowen Field Air Base in Idaho and in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater.  Hap flew B-24 observation missions in North Africa and Italy.  Hap spent one month in the Azores after encountering mechanical problems during one mission.  Sergeant Gass was discharged on the 26^th day of November 1945 in Sioux City, Iowa, having received the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, Service Stripe, and World War II Victory Medal.

Early 1946 Hap enrolled in the Lincoln School of Commerce, Lincoln, Nebraska, later that year enrolling at Creighton University, in Omaha, Nebraska.  On the 14^th day of September 1947, he married the love of his life Mildred ‘ Millie‘ Sarah Thomas (Valentine), in Valentine, then traveled to Omaha on their honeymoon so that Hap could enroll in his second year at Creighton University.  Hap subsequently enrolled in law school at Creighton and graduated with his JD in 1952.  Hap was very much impressed with the state of Idaho, while stationed at Gowen Field, which influenced his decision to move to Boise following the completion of the Idaho State Bar Exam in 1954.

Initially while in Idaho, Hap worked as an insurance adjuster, graduating from the 16^th Claims Department Adjusters’ School for Farmers Insurance Group.  It was at this time that Hap and Millie developed a life-long friendship with former Boise residents Dick and Doris Schneider, now residing in Stanley, Idaho.  In 1956, however, Hap began his long career in law as an Assistant for the Attorney General of the Great State of Idaho.  In June of 1958, Hap and Millie Gass moved to Montpelier, Idaho with their two young sons, Tim and Tom, to begin his career in civil law.  In addition to acting as City Attorney for Montpelier, Hap was also nominated in 1960 to serve as the Prosecuting Attorney for Bear Lake County, Idaho.  While in Montpelier, Millie and Hap welcomed their third child, a daughter, Mary Beth into the world.  The family was complete along with their legendary dachshund Herman.  In March of 1967, the family moved back to Boise (wise decision), where he joined the law firm of Clemmons, Skiles and Greene, handling the Boise City legal issues.  This parlayed into a permanent position as the City Attorney for Boise, Idaho, which consumed Hap’s life until his decision to enter private practice in 1977.  At the time of Hap’s retirement from the City Attorney’s Office, then Mayor Dick Eardly said, “He was a tremendous city attorney and we will miss him.” 

Hap continued practicing law, handling the affairs for the Ada County Drainage District #2 and #4, and the Bench Sewer District, and other civil functionaries until 1996.  At the age of 77, after 40 years of legal practice, Hap finally decided to leave the profession of law, and along with his wife Millie, who had been functioning as his secretary, retired to their residence in Eagle, Idaho.  Now retired, Hap had time to devote to his passion of genealogy, spending countless hours researching the family history and that of his Scottish clan, the MacLennans.  Hap also enjoyed coin collecting, sending and receiving email from family and friends, caring for his five acres, and spending time with his grandsons. 

Hap is survived by his wife of nearly 63 years, Mildred S. Gass; sons, Timothy J. Gass of Eagle, Idaho, Thomas J. Gass of San Diego, CA; daughter, Mary Beth Carson of Eagle; grandsons Thomas C. Carson and Alec J. Carson of Eagle; many wonderful in-laws; numerous nephews (9), nieces (8); a myriad of great and great-great nieces and nephews; and many wonderful friends including Greg Carson and Chester McLemore.

His parents, twin brother Robert, older sister Roberta, and brother Raymond preceded Hap in death.

Most who knew Hap, were aware of his great affection for his hometown of Valentine in the Sandhills of Nebraska.  He chose to be laid to rest in the family plot at Mount Hope Cemetery in Valentine, which took place Saturday July 3rd.  There will be a celebration of life in Boise that will include an ice cream social in remembrance of Hap’s passion for ice cream with salted peanuts and chocolate topping.  This will take place 2 PM Saturday, July 10^th at Covenant Presbyterian Church, North-East Corner of North 5 Mile Road and McMillan Rd., Boise, ID.  Arrangements are under the direction of Accent Funeral Home, Meridian.  Condolences may be left for the family at www.accentfuneral.com

The family requests no flowers, but suggest memorials be made to St. Lukes Mountain States Tumor Institute, Boise, ID; http://www.stlukesonline.org/specialties_and_services/Cancer_Care/.  Guiding Eyes For the Blind, 611 Granite Springs Rd., Yorktown Heights, NY 10598; https://www.guidingeyes.org/.

In finality, a quote from one of Hap’s favorite books, The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran:

Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing.
And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.

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