David Gerber

Visitation: will be held on Monday, October 25, 2004 at the Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Funeral Services: will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at 2:00 pm at the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City

Interment: will follow in the Custer County Cemetery with full Military Rites

DavidNels Gerber passed away October 22, 2004 at Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City, MT.

He was bornMay 4, 1925 in New Underwood, South Dakota, one of four sons born to Harry and Bonnie (Compton) Gerber. Leaving school at an early age to help support family during the Great Depression, he worked on many small ranches in the area. His first job at the age of ten consisted of shoveling out a neighbor's sheep barns, and loading the contents on a horse drawn manure spreader to fertilize the fields. By the age of twelve he was self supporting, and often trailed horses from one ranch to another in South Dakota, riding and sleeping in an open wagon.

On Dec. 6, 1945 he joined the United States Navy serving on the USS Marias and the USS Jason. He spent a number of months in the Persian Gulf area. Reaching the rank of Machinist's Mate Third, he was given an Honorable Discharge on Oct. 8, 1947, receiving $100 Mustering Out Pay. Returning to civilian life, he worked a variety of jobs around the area of Osage, Wyoming. At one point while working in an oil field outside New Castle, Wyoming, he barely escaped serious injury when an oil head exploded. Friends tackled him and threw snow on his burning clothes. He spent less than a week in the hospital before returning to work. In 1957 he moved to Montana, working as a carpenter in Baker and Plevna. On September 25, 1959, he married Phyllis (Mulkey) Cook, who had two children from a previous marriage, Clay Cook and Nyla (Cook) Morris. In 1960, Dale Wayne joined the family and daughter Robin Davette was born in 1961. In 1961, David began working at the Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Station. In 1971 he was promoted to Farm Foreman, a position he held until his retirement on Jan. 1, 1987. Ill health encouraged Mr. Gerber to move into Friendship Villa Assisted Living in Nov of 2002. There he made many friends among staff and residents.

Mr. Gerber was a longtime member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and in later years enjoyed playing games, solving word puzzles and visiting with friends at Parker's.

He was preceded in death by his wife Phyllis in 1986. He leaves behind Clay Cook and Bob Kohan of Columbus, Ohio,Nyla and Dick Morris of Shepherd, Montana, Dale Gerber of Miles City, Robin Gerber of Miles City, grandson Daniel Newby of Billings, and two great grandsons.

Visitation will be held on Monday, October 25, 2004 at the Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 at 2:00 pm at the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the Custer County Cemetery with full Military Rites. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Range Riders Museum; Box 1, Route 2003, Miles City, MT 59301. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.