Funeral Mass: Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City.
Rite of Committal: will follow in the Eastern Montana Veterans Cemetery in Miles City with full military rites provided by VFW Post 1579
Casper Frank The Big C Schaefer, an original cowboy, passed away at the age of 65, in Miles City, Montana at the Holy Rosary Healthcare Center on May 1, 2008.
Casper was born on March 2, 1943 in Rhame, ND to Edmund Henry and Irma Lucille (Nichols) Schaefer. The family moved to the Miles City area where he attended grade school in Kinsey, MT and later graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1961. Casper enlisted in the United States Navy Reserves where he was on active duty for two years on the USS Saint Paul. After his honorable discharge, Casper went to Northern Montana College at Havre for one year where he got hooked on rodeo. He worked in the coal mines in Colstrip in the early 70s and in the oil fields in Plentywood in the late 70s and early 80s. Casper went to the National Finals Rodeo for steer wrestling in 1975 and was involved in wild horse racing for 25 years. Casper was a lifetime member of the PRCA. Casper retired from rodeo when he was 60 years old. He was inducted into the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall and Wall of Fame in Billings in 2007.
On March 1, 1980 he and Connie Lala married in Miles City and they had two beautiful children, Mary Elaine and Edmund Quinn. Casper was a devoted family man who adored his wife and loved his children. It became traditional for him to give kids silver dollars over the years. Casper was a people person who enjoyed visiting with whoever crossed his path, he never met a stranger. True to his nature, Casper dealt cards at the Bison for almost 17 years which gave him the opportunity to meet many new friends along the way. He also enjoyed doing crossword puzzles and having coffee at the 600 Cafe every morning with his friends. Casper liked to spend Thanksgiving with his older brother Keaton and enjoyed spending time with nieces and nephews.
Casper is survived by his wife, Connie, two children: Edmund Quinn and Mary Elaine all of Miles City. He is also survived by his brothers: Richard (Sharon) of Forsyth, MT; Leonard (Sharon) of Vancouver, WA; Lee (Rita) of Lichtfied Park, AZ; Roy (Eleanor) Port Orchard, WA; Keaton (Arlene) of New England, ND; brother-in-law Don Jacobson of Bonny Lake, WA; his mother-in-law, Loretta Lala of Miles City, MT; along with many nieces and nephews and his faithful companion Bo.
He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Elaine Jacobson and brother B.A. Bruce Schaefer.
Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 6, 2008 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home with the family to receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at 11:00 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Eastern Montana Veterans Cemetery in Miles City with full military rites provided by VFW Post 1579. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
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J. Keller Norton says
I worked in the oil fields with Casper for a brief time in 1981. He would car pool with other fellas so occasionally He squeezed into my Toyota and rode into Culbertson with me. I was only 23 at the time and I really looked up to the big grizzly of a man. Being from Lexington,Ky he assumed that I knew horses(which I still don’t) and he immediately began to educate me. He invited me to stay our week off with him in Miles City but I chose to travel. When I first met Casper he came into the mud room of the oil rig, put his big foot up on a chair, put a little pinch of tobacco in his cheek and asked me my name.
When I told him it was Keller Norton he said what kind of a name is that? I was a little intimidated by the way this big man asked the question and I answered it’s a family name. I quickly shot back with what’s your name and when he said Casper Schaefer, I asked him what kind of name that was. He responded it’s a family name, I think at that point we were friends. I think of him whenever the rodeo comes to Louisville and I often wish that I had gotten to know him better.
I’m certain that having him for a father his children must have turned out pretty darned good.
I know that this brief rendering of my short time with Casper is about 14 years too late, but I will always treasure the memories of the the “Big C”.
J. Keller Norton Louisville Ky
PS my daughter is attending the rodeo this weekend and I had to tell her about Casper!