Billy Joe Schaffer, 94, passed away on Saturday, September 25, 2021 at Broadus, Montana.
Bill was born to Carl and Canzetta Schaffer on August 1, 1927 at Clarendon, Texas. Bill had one brother, Carrol and two sisters, Dorothy and Kay. Bill grew up in the three corners area. His dad had a ranch on the Cimmaron River in New Mexico. They leased land in Colorado and they got their mail at Kenton, Oklahoma. Bill attended country schools through the 8th grade and he went to high school at Clayton, New Mexico. When Bill was seventeen years old, he joined the Navy. During World War II, he was stationed on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Mindoro CVE 120. The ship docked at ports in New York, San Francisco, Hawaii, Spain, India as well as at different islands. Before Bill joined the Navy, his parents bought a ranch in Montana. Bill and two friends, Bud Davis and Rex Jones, all teenagers, boarded a train at Branson, Colorado and traveled with all of the family’s cattle and horses to Gillette, Wyoming. Bill, Bud Davis and Rex Jones unloaded the livestock at the stockyards at Gillette and trailed them to the new ranch on Hay Creek, north of Boyes, Montana. They had no map, no food or money and they could only make about 10 to 15 miles a day with the livestock. Bill said if it hadn’t of been for nice ranch ladies along the way, they would have starved. After driving the livestock to the new ranch, the three young men caught the train back to New Mexico. Bill left for the Navy as soon as he arrived. When World War II ended, Bill was honorably discharged from the Navy. He went home to Montana. There he met Mary Preston. They were married on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1948. They made their home on Hay Creek. Bill and Mary had three children, Ronnie, Connie and Debrah. Soon a niece, Bobby Jean Preston, joined their family.
Bill and Mary raised Quarter Horses and Hereford cattle. They added on to their original ranch several times. Their first purchase was the Hans Jacobson place. Together they built a nice sized ranch. Bill and Mary have been married 73 years. Over the years Bill did a lot of dirt work with Caterpillars. He built stock dams and diked the hay meadows. Bill was a good roper and had several buckles he won at both calf roping and team roping. Bill and Mary showed their Quarter Horses at many of the area shows. They had an entire set of shelves full of the trophies and ribbons they won. When their daughter Connie was MSU Rodeo Queen, the newspaper described her family as “horsey people.” That was a pretty accurate description. All the Schaffer’s like good horses. Bill was a charter member of the East Fork Roping Club.
Bill is survived by his wife Mary, his daughters Connie (Jim) Capp and Debrah (John) Capp; special niece Bobby Jean (Lee) Traub; sister-in-law Margaret Schaffer as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nephews and nieces. Bill was preceded in death by his son Ronnie, his parents Carl and Canzetta Schaffer, his brother Carrol, his sisters Dorothy Saye and Kay Rossen, his uncle and lifetime friend Rex Schaffer.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 2, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Interment will follow in the Boyes Cemetery.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Boyes Community Hall.
Tammy Mallett Pecha says
So sorry for your loss.
Vanna Lancaster Byrd says
Oh, my heart hurts for Billy Joe’s family. Such a fun and genuine person. Hugs and prayers for comfort to his family.
Pat Franklin says
To the Schaffer family, sorry for your loss! Memories last forever!
SALLY ANN BORLA says
I CAN’T IMAGINE THIS TOWN AND NOT SEEING BILLY JOE AT TIMES–SO WANTED TO VISIT WITH HIM, MARY AND ALL MY FRIENDS AT THE MANOR, BUT WITH THE VIRUS AND THE MANOR BEING SHUT DOWN SO OFTEN, I SORT OF GAVE UP ON TRYING TO VISIT AT ALL–I HAVE KNOWN ALL THE SCHAFFER’S FOR MANY YEARS AND THEY WERE ALL SUCH NICE FRIENDLY GOOD PEOPLE. LOVE, HUGS AND PRAYERS TO ALL THE FAMILY AND YES, CHERISH ALL YOUR MANY MEMORIES. GOD BLESS
Ginger says
What a character Bill was! He had a good sense of humor that was surely accented by his dancing baby blue eyes. Bill will be missed by all who called him Dad, Grandpa, Uncle, and Friend. Love and comfort to the family.
Robbin Stoddard says
Bill was one of the kindest, most genuine people I ever knew. He had an ability to make people feel very special and cared about. My thoughts are with the family, and my prayers lift all of you up as you mourn the passing of a very wonderful man. My heartfelt condolences to all who are touched by the sadness of his passing.
Linda Hall says
Thoughts and prayers to all the family. Bill did like to tease a little bit. He always rode the VFW float in the 4th of July parade.
Jane & Les Thompson says
So sorry to hear of the passing of your father, husband and grandfather. Sending sincere condolences to all of Bill’s family.
Shawn and Wendy Richards says
So very sorry for your loss. Hugs and prayers for all!!
Kendall NcCook says
Bil was my first cousin. My mother and his dad were siblings. Bill was born and raised on the Texas panhandle , a descendant of cowboy Ed Schaffer —-he was born to the saddle with a love for the land and the livestock he raised.
I remember riding over the ranch with him a few years back; he was in his eighties then. He stopped the truck and motioned me t o step out onto a dry summer pasture. He waved his arm saying ,as far as the eyes could see that was Schaffer land, and I looked out across the rolling Montana hills and saw grasses dry but spread like a yellow balancer a yellow blanket over the
prairie, the land resting under Bill Schaffer’s tender care .. He worked hard and was blessed t o live and die on the land he loved surrounded by friends and kin and of neighbors.
Jim and Annalise Willson says
So sorry to hear about Bill. We met bill and Ronnie several years ago when we fed their cattle at Solaris Feedlot at Miles City and Kinsey during the winter. We always enjoyed visiting with Bill and Ronnie when they would come to look at how the cows were doing and also at shipping time. they were great to deal with. RIP Bill.
Jim and Annalise Willson
Dick &Linda Hurley says
Sorry to hear about Bill’s death.He had a long happy life doing a job,I’m sure he loved. This getting old ain’t no piece of cake.
Sherry Dee Hall says
To Aunt Mary, Connie, Debbie, along with the rest the family,
I am sending you hugs, lots of love along with my deepest sympathies. So sorry for your loss. I can still remember years ago when we lived at Olive & Uncle Bill teasing me at family get togethers. He would bend my arm far behind my back trying to make me say uncle before he let go, little did he know he met his match with that little girl as I refused to say uncle! Rest In Peace Uncle Bill!
Larry & Deanna Hay says
Mary, Connie, Debby and Bobby Jean, so sorry to hear of your loss of Bill…remember spending time riding horses with Connie. Bill always a “big tease”…take comfort in support from family and friends…GOD Bless!
Skin and Betty Collins says
Mary and all of the Schaffer families. Wanted to let you know we are thinking about you all at this time. Bill always had a twinkle in those blue eyes of his and a smile for everyone. He will be missed by his family and everyone who knew him. ❤ God Bless.
Lauri Feralio says
Bill and Mary have always been very special to the Morella family. I never think of the “home place” without thinking of Bill and Mary. I will always cherish the time I had with Bill on the Big Sky Honor Flight. Watching him explore all the Memorials in Washington D.C. and listening to his stories is something I will never forget. Love you all!
Pete Stabio says
Bill has been an inspiration to me for most of my life. He was a mountain of a man in many ways: big and strong physically,; kind and gentle emotionally; uplifting with his caring ways; respectful in his treatment of others; always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. I was fortunate to be raised in Broadus where there were several men I could look to for examples to pattern my life after. Thank you Bill.