Charles Frederick Pratt -“Charlie”- passed away peacefully on December 13, 2024, in Billings, MT with his family by his side. Over the last several years Charlie faced increasing health complications with courage and a faith that never wavered.
Charlie was born February 9, 1948, in Miles City, MT to Sidney Charles Pratt, M.D. and Esther Irene (Dahl) Pratt. Big sister Sydney was overjoyed with the addition of her baby brother to the family. Charlie spent all but one of his school years in Miles City, having moved his senior year with his father to Helena, MT. After graduation, he returned to Miles City and enrolled in Miles Community College. It was there that Charlie met the love of his life – Marilyn Irene Gilbert. When he first saw her, he told a friend that “I’m going to marry that girl.” Following graduation from MCC, Charlie and Marilyn were soon married (August 8, 1970) and moved to the San Francisco Bay Area for Charlie to attend Mortuary School. After finishing his training in California and graduating, they returned to Montana for a mortuary internship. Charlie and Marilyn initially settled in Hardin, MT where he worked for Bullis Graves Funeral Home and the Hardin ambulance service. He also became active in the local Jaycees. But physical limitations caused by a genetic affliction (Charcot-Marie-Tooth) ultimately prevented him from continuing work as a mortician and he thus changed career direction.
In 1979 Charlie and Marilyn with young daughter Kimberly moved to Laurel, MT, where he embarked on his long-time career as an officer in the Gross Vehicle Weight Division of the Montana Department of Transportation. At the same time, they both immediately began to forge cherished lifelong friendships. Two years later, second daughter Stacie arrived, thereby completing the family of four.
Charlie will be remembered for his love of family, his adage “It is what it is”, his keen sense of humor, his smile that lit up a room, his fascination with trains that developed into a hobby, and his loyalty as a fan of the Denver Broncos. He enjoyed having a dirty martini with his father and all the travels they took as a family with Marilyn and the girls. Around his eighth birthday, Charlie began to assemble an H.O. model railroad set with assorted rolling stock and lengthy tracks, as well as houses, stores, roads, cars, and other features. This railroad town grew steadily over the years and Charlie spent many hours together with his daughters, family and friends operating the trains. Kimberly and Stacie also have special memories swimming with their Dad as he would pretend to be a shark; playing “horsey” rides when it was bedtime; and always sharing his unconditional love.
Charlie proudly retired after 34 years with the Montana Department of Transportation. Retirement gave him the time for varied activities at our King of Glory Lutheran Church: attending the men’s coffee group, singing in the KOG Choir, and assuming other parishioner responsibilities (Montana Synod Assembly delegate, Vacation Bible School volunteer, and two terms on the KOG Memorial Committee). He also loved picking up his grandkids after school, taking them out for treats, and attending their choir concerts, volleyball, baseball, and basketball games.
Charlie was preceded in death by his parents Sidney and Esther Pratt; sister Sydney Reed; nephews Paul Grenz, Greg Mitchell, and Jeff Mitchell; sister-in-law Barbara Grenz, brother-in-law Bob Gilbert, and nanny “Mrs. Kelly.”
Charlie is survived by his wife of 54 years Marilyn; daughters Kimberly (Andrew) Meyer and Stacie Hicks; grandchildren Makenna, Jaxon, Laken, Kiana, Khloe and Kinsey; niece Cheri L. Grenz (all of Billings); nephews Daniel (Kelly) Reed; David (Lori) Reed, Michael (Jenn) Reed, and Dick (Nancy) Mitchell, great niece AnneMarie (Neil) Wallette, great nephew Eric Mitchell, brother-in-law Bob Reed, sisters-in-law Susie Rebeck, Margaret (Dick) Mitchell, and special cousin Marilyn (Dan) Menser.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to King of Glory Lutheran Church and the Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association. CMT Research Foundation, Inc. 4062 Peachtree Road Suite A209, Atlanta GA, 30319
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
Share
Mary Ann Liles says
My sincere sympathy to Charlie’s family. I wish I’d known that he also had CMT, he and could have traded stories. It is a very limiting disease. I remember Charlie as one of the neighborhood “gang” and from later years in high school. Always with a smile on his face, he was a super guy with a great sense of humor.
God bless Charlie.
Mary Ann Stockhill Liles