Eugene Garber of Ismay, Montana, passed away on Tuesday, February 25, 2020 at 95 years old in Bozeman where he had lived near his daughter Annette for the past several years. Born September 21, 1924 on his family’s farm near Big Horn, Wyoming, he was the third son of Roy and Vie Willits Garber. Coming of age during the Great Depression he and his family knew hard work.
Graduating from Big Horn High School in 1941 Gene entered college only to have Pearl Harbor change plans; he returned home to grow food for the war effort. By early 1944 three high school classmates had lost their lives in the war so even though he was exempt due to the farm’s production, Gene enlisted in the Navy Reserves and was assigned as a yeoman on board the USS Oconto APA-187. He served in the South Pacific for the remainder of the war on the telephone communications watch from the bridge of the ship relaying all the captain’s commands. In 1946 after the war he enrolled at the University of Wyoming under the GI bill and graduated in 1949 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Industrial Arts along with a private pilot’s license. During college he had met Fernande D’Haeyer and they were married May 31, 1947, living in Laramie until he graduated.
In July of 1950, having purchased the Dial Moss ranch near Ismay, Montana they came to where they ranched for the rest of their lives. The early years and many to follow were very tough. They had six children and together as a family worked hard at raising sheep, cattle, grain, and hay. Contour farming, flood irrigation, fences, range management, reservoirs, all were in the mix to improve the land and earn a living. Gene put his pilot’s license to good use using first a J-3 Piper Cub, then later a PA 11 to oversight the ranch. Gene had a strong work ethic yet he nor the family worked on Sundays! During many of those years son Warren and Bernie ranched with Gene and Fernande.
Gene enjoyed years of his Navy reunions, building and maintaining the Holy Family grotto in Ismay, being an amateur historian for the Ismay area, visiting with relatives and friends, keeping up his genealogy chart, and most of all RANCHING in which he took great pride. He served on various grazing and conservation boards, helped bring electricity and telephone service to the Ismay area, fought fires, and was honored to be a lector at Sunday Mass in Plevna. He and Victor rode in the 1989 Montana Centennial Cattle Drive as well as the 1990 Wyoming 100th Centennial Cattle Drive.
He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Orr, his son Marvin, and his wife Fernande in 2012. He is survived by his brother Victor of Big Horn, WY; his son Victor (Jane), Douglas, Wyoming; Arlette Randash (Dean), Helena; Warren (Bernie), Miles City; Annette (Don), Bozeman; and Paulette Householder (Cliff) of Ismay. He is also survived by 15 grandchildren, 25 great grandchildren (plus 2 on the way), and 2 great, great grandchildren. A special thank you goes out to those who graciously cared for Gene in his last years: Jennifer and Brian Cain at Homestead Homes in Miles City, Bozeman care givers Ginger Lee, Springmeadow staff and hospice care as well as a visitors David Baldwin, Dean Parisian and his life- long friend Dick Steigenga. THANK YOU one and all.
Pallbearers are grandsons, Shane Garber, Dael and Drew Householder, Thomas, Timothy, and Giovanni Osen, and Marvin Randash. Honorary pallbearers are granddaughters and great grandchildren.
A rosary will be prayed at St. John’s Catholic Church in Baker at 10:00 a.m., preceding the funeral Mass on Saturday, February 29, 2020 at 11:00 a.m. After the funeral a community luncheon will be in St. John’s basement for all to gather and share memories. Gene will be buried at the family cemetery on the ranch. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Memorials may be made to a charity of any choice or to St. John’s Church, Baker, Montana.
I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though he dies he will live. And whoever lives and believes in me will never die. John 11: 25-26
DEAN T PARISIAN says
To the sons and daughters of Mr. Garber our hearts go out to you in your time of sorrow. I am blessed to have had a 50 year friendship with my first “boss” and am forever grateful to the Garber family. May God bless each of you and hold your Dad in the palm of HIS hand. I know his presence with Marvin and your dear Mother is comforting.
Dean & Pam Parisian
Mary Snell says
Paulette, Cliff & Family
My prayers & sympathies to you all!
Lynette & Danny O’Connor says
To all the Garber Family , We send our thoughts and prayers! We had the honor of having Gene as part of our church family and friend for many years! May he RIP!
David Sparks says
To all the Garner siblings and their families best wishes and prayers. I enjoyed every moment working on the ranch. I sure miss those good old days. Eugene and. Fernande were very good to me and I often remember some of the experiences I had while working on the ranch. My condolences to each and every one of you
Jack and Charlotte Murnion says
Vic, sorry to hear of your dad’s death. He had a good life
Jack and Charlotte Murnion
Ray young says
Annette, my condolences to you and family best wishes to all and God Bless
Ray young
Norman Willson says
Garber Kids-Fifty six years ago I spent the fall working with Gene and Jakey Shumaker doing dirt work building dams. I ate a lot of good meals at their family table. They always treated me very well and made me feel at home. Fernande always treated me like family. Gene was a real good man to work with. I had some exciting rides with him in his plane. Victor and I had some good times spotlighting. They wee both special people. Norm Willson
Robert Clark says
To the family, So sorry. I and Claire Bolton enjoyed so many wonderful days hunting on the ranch. Your folks were always so wonderful to us. I enjoyed the history talks we had with them . The last couple of years were not the same without Gene being there. So Sorry Robert Clark Family Dresser Wi.
Malcolm Soare says
I remember Gene bring his airpane to Glendive to have my father’s maintenance shop work on it. I also remember him trucking the airplane to Glendive after he had run over a sheep on take off and damaged the landing gear. He was a very interesting person to visit with when he came to Glendive.
Malcolm Soare
Gérald Schepers says
Dear Gene
It’s been so long since you came and visit us in Belgium.
My hope was to visit you again and all your folk spread all over the USA.
My trip in Montana in 1979 is probably the most important souvenir of my life.
Now that you are with Fernande for eternity, I wish you could meet my dad also, I miss him so much, after all these yeras.
So long Gene. Maybe one day we’ll meet again.
Dee McCants says
To the Garber Family from the Willman Family: So sorry to hear of Gene’s passing. So many memories of years ago, when all of you kids were small, when we lived close by, when my husband, Don Lamb, worked for Gene. Gene’s cousin Dave, is also our cousin. Gene and Fernande were always hard working folks. Now, they are together again. Sincere Condolences,
Roberta Willman
D’Alene McCants
Doug Benge says
To all the Garber Family:
Today I note Gene has passed. What a great guy! Gene and Fernande and all the family were loyal and wonderful clients and friends. Hard working for sure, good operators, keen thinkers, very thoughtful. I am richer for having known Gene, his passion for the ranch, for the Navy, and most of all his family. Best wishes to all.
Brenda Pauley Witkowski says
To the family of Gene,
I had the pleasure of spending quality time with him spraying noxious weeds on his BLM permit early in my career. We were hot, sweaty, dragging spray hose and working very hard. I enjoyed every second of it as Gene told me many stories. I have always thought that someone should have recorded him and Fernande for the historic stories they could tell. He made a huge impression on me in many ways, mostly how much he respected his wife. Every time I drive by the pasture we sprayed in I think of Gene. I am saddened to hear of his passing, but I am so thankful that he is with his Lord and Savior, his wife, and son. I learned a lot from him. Memories that I will treasure!
Fred and Donna Houzvicka says
Our thoughts and Prayers are with you all today and the days to come. We will always remember the day when Gene flew his plane over and landed behind our house. We thought it was pretty awesome. Gene and Fernande were always so kind to us and we have fond memories of both of them. Cherish your memories and with those memories will come tears but also smiles. Love and Hugs, Fred and Donna Houzvicka
Christian Deroch says
So much giving!
Generosity. It is the first word that comes to my mind aswe think of our cousin Gene and the family who now grieves for him. To all of us, he was a giant of the West, a man nothing or nobody could break. But to me in particular, like the Man who strode the dusty roads of Palestine 2000 years ago, he was a beloved and outstanding teacher – of the English language, of American history, and above all of life itself. He threw open more doors and windows for me than anybody else besides my own dad. And for that I will always be grateful to him and will remember him with love for the rest of my life. So, goodbye Gene, and go get your heavenly rewards for your long life as a truly good man.
Christian, Brigitte and the Deroch family in Belgium.
Kim DuCharme Price says
Heaven gained another great Dad. Treasure the memories and know with the tears will come lots of smiles. I will keep your family in thoughts and prayers for the days to come.
Lynette Tague says
Garber family, We send our condolences to each if you. We remember many wonderful visits at the Rugg house in Ismay. The Tague family
Roger and Joan Gammond says
Dear Garber Family,
Roger and I always enjoyed sharing a pew at St. John’s in Baker with Gene and Fernande. We were happy to receive Christmas cards from him over the years. Our deep sympathy to all of you. I would love to send a card, but don’t have any addresses for any of you. God bless!
Terry Wagner says
I moved to MC in early 70’s as a young business person. I met Gene and Fernande shortly there after . Wonderful family, and many fond memories . As rookie flier he gave me ranch fly over that I’ll never forget. I use to kid Fandande about her sell eggs and always got a smile and witty response.
Not many can return as much to their community as the Garber’s . Genuine, dedication to livestock /agriculture, a friend to anyone that ever met him. God Bless
Matt Smith says
Gene was a good guy to work for. Every man should care for his wife the way he cared for Fernande. Thanks for the memories.
Steven and Lavonne MacDonald says
Paulette ,Cliff and families so sorry for your loss! May God Bless and comfort you .
Ramona Stephens Kurkowski says
I Remember when that picture was taken! I was very young but remember how much the Garbers meant to my Father (AJ Stephens)
Elisabeth and Jacques Schoenaers-Laurent says
Dear Gene,now you have left this earth to go to Heaven,free from pain.We have met you three times and will never forget you.We still hear your voice telling us about your ranch,your dear Montana and your life so full of unforgettable experiences.When we left in 2013 after our first visit to the ranch,you told us two significant words:”Pleasant Remembrances.”So we’will remember you till the end of our life as a wise man and a person of immense resources.
We hope you’ll lead a happy and peaceful life in Heaven near your beloved wife.
And even such a rich human existence as yours is but a sigh in the whirl of eternity.
Rest in peace now,dear Gene.
Elisabeth and Jacques from Belgiumj
Doug Davis says
To the Garber family, Some of the fondest memories of my life come from the Garber Ranch at Ismay Montana . I learned a lifetime of lessons in the three short years that I lived and worked there. Gene , Fernande , Warren, Bernie, Annette and Paulette we’re at the ranch during my time there. I felt like family from day one. Two of the three years were severe drought and times were a bit tough. Watching how this family worked their way through that time taught me a lot . From the business end of things to welding with twisted bailing wire it was worth more than any college could have ever taught me. My fondest memories were flying with Gene over to the Knowlton country early in the morning in the old J-3.
Lynn Sellers Kacatin says
I’m wondering if Eugene had a sister named, Ruth Garber Nurmi? She passed away in 1990 and was married to my mother’s first cousin, Edwin Nurmi of Idaho. I know Ruth was from Eastern Montana and a teacher by training. I recently found a small book with her maiden name inscribed, as well as the name Ardella Hanson. Maybe they were friends from this area. Thank you and I’m sorry for your family loss.