Clifford Arnston

Funeral Service: Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Circle

Interment: Riverview Cemetery, Circle

Clifford Christian Arnston, age 74, a life-long farmer and rancher of McCone County, MT, and for a short time of Billings, MT, passed away Thursday, August 9, 2007 at the Billings Clinic after a long and very courageous battle with cancer.

Cliff was born January 16, 1933 in Circle, MT, to Conrad and Martha Arnston. He attended grade school at near by Figure Eight country school. He graduated from Circle High School in 1950. Following graduation he farmed with his dad until 1956 when he was drafted into the Army. Cliffs two highlights while in the service included: chosen as one of the color guards for the opening game in Dodger Stadium; and while stationed at Fort Ord in California (because of his mechanical abilities) he was head of the motor pool, in charge of the Colonels car and was assigned his own pickup. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1958.

Following the service he returned to the home farm. On January 21, 1959 Cliff married Helen Drewry in Circle. They had three children Hanz, Shelley and Larry. The family enjoyed many wonderful trips together including: Disneyland in California, Portland, Oregon and the Pacific Ocean coast. Cliff and his family also watched the Indy 500. They enjoyed many fishing trips together and several professional baseball games. Cliff and Helen spent many happy winters in Arizona.

Cliff is survived by his wife, Helen of Circle; his children, Hanz (CC) Arnston, Larry (JoDee) Arnston and Shelley (Randy) Birkley all of Circle; six grandchildren, Gage Arnston, Brandon Birkley, Lorena Birkley, Jena Arnston, Janae Arnston, Lathe Arnston, all of Circle; brother, Ray (Elnora) Arnston of Glendive; sisters, Doris (John) Farmer of Lakewood CO and Mildred Castillo of Portland, OR; and several nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Conrad and Martha Arnston, sister Evelyn Stuart, an infant older brother who died shortly after birth and niece Theresa Farmer.

Special thanks to the dedicated and very caring medical and nursing staff at the Billings Clinic. Their compassion was much appreciated by Cliff and Helen. His funeral service will be Saturday, August 18, 2007 at 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church in Circle, MT with Rev. Jerrod Williams officiating. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery, Circle.