George Collins

Visitation: Thursday, November 11, 2004 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus

Funeral Services: Friday, November 12, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home

Interment: Valley View Cemetery

George Francis Collins, 91, of Broadus died Wednesday, November 3, 2004 at the Powder River Manor in Broadus.

George was born May 12, 1913 in Gillette, Wyoming, the son of James D. and Florence Hunter Collins. He had two older brothers, Jim and John and a sister Irene. He attended elementary school in Gillette and the country school near the ranch. He attendedCreighten Prep in Omaha, Nebraska and finished high school in Gillette. He attended college at Wyoming University in Laramie.George married Marjorie Eberlein April 21, 1935 and they made their home on the Collins Ranch in Campbell County. In 1936, they moved to Mountain View, Wyoming. Their son Larry was born in Ogden, and then the family moved to Lyman, Wyoming where George became a partner in the Collins & Hall grocery business.

In, 1939, the family returned to the ranch north of Gillette where their son George Neil was born, and they went into the sheep business and then back into the cattle business, 1941, their son Tommy David was born.The family sold their interest in the ranch in 1945 and moved to Montana and purchased theTarbell Ranch on Baking Powder Creek in Powder River County, in 1947, their daughter Gail Lisabell was born in Gillette.

When the children started attending high school, the family moved to Broadus and purchased an apartment house. The family lived in town while school was in session and stayed at the ranch the rest of the time for the next 12 years. George stayed at the ranch year round even though the family lived in town. In 1980, the couple retired and spent winters in Mesa, AZ., living on the ranch in the summers. Marge passed away in May of 1988. In 1989, George married Beatrice Dahl and continued to live in Mesa in the winters and summers in Broadus.George was very active in the community, a Trustee for the Powder River County District High School, a member and President of the Commercial Club, and was a member of' Biddle Braves baseball team. He enjoyed golf, bowling, traveling, playing cards, and enjoyed his friends and neighbors.

Survivors include his wife Beatrice; Larry, Sharon & Mark Collins of Broadus; Kurt, Julie, Madison & Sage Collins of Woodstock, Georgia; Neil & Jim Collins of Biddle; and Cindy, Ryan, Hayden & Jhett Braley of Billings; Tom & Judy Collins of Broadus; Karen Collins of Post Falls, Idaho and son Tyler of Helena; Bill, Melissa & Finn Collins of Dallas, Texas; Gail & Royce Robins of Broadus; Melinda, Curt, Kaitlyn & Teal Kelley of Miles City; Andrea Borla of Salt Lake City; Rick & Charlotte Dahl; Marilyn & Kirk Peda; Carol Goplen; Milt & Debbie Dahl; eight grandchildren & two great grandchildren.

George was preceded in death by Marjorie Collins, and great grand-daughter Madeline Kelley.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, November 11, 2004 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus. Funeral services will be held on Friday, November 12, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home and burial will be in the Valley View Cemetery at Broadus. Father Chester Poppa will officiate. A lunch will be served at the Montana. Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Association, Powder River Manor or the Powder River County Library.