Harold E. Gierke passed away on August 26, 2018 in the Holy Rosary Extended Care unit in Miles City where he had been a resident for the past 3 years. Suffering from Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Spinal Stenosis he has been kept safe and tenderly cared for by the dedicated staff.
Harold was born June 7, 1934 in Bismarck, ND to William and Esther (Lundin) Gierke, the 6th of 7 children. He attended school there until his sophomore year when the family moved to Miles City. He attended high school at Custer County, and then completed his junior and senior years at Broadus High following another family move. After graduation Harold served two years in the Army, returning to Miles City where he became employed as manager of what was then Beatrice Foods, later Meadow Gold.
It was at this time that he married Shirley Beaudet in 1957. Six children were born to this union: Allyson, Gay, LuAnn, Harold R. (Hal), Garve and Guy. During this time Harold worked with his father and brother Billy at Gierke Auto Repair on 7th Street, sold life insurance for Bankers Life for a short period and hated it; bought a truck and began driving over the road for the next 13 years, accumulating a fleet of 6 trucks, first leased to Carl Kimbal of Ace Beverage and later to Bill Newhouse. Around 1970 he sold the trucks to Newhouse and purchased the asphalt portion of Doeden Construction. This was the birth of Portable Pavers and a 22 year career of laying asphalt all over southeastern Montana. He and his partners, brother Bill and Lester Christopherson were well known and respected throughout Montana for the quality of their work and their reputation of always paying their suppliers and sub-contractors on time. They had a great relationship with their crews, many of whom became lifelong friends. Most of his children worked on the crews, some even starting in high school. In 1987, Harold was awarded the Business Person of the year by the Chamber of Commerce, nominated by his employees. Harold served for eight years on the board of the Montana Contractors Association, elected president in 1992. In 1994 Portable Pavers, the asphalt portion of the Corporation, was sold to Prince Inc. of Forsyth and the company became UrbanAg Inc. for the next 20 years. This moved allowed Harold and Lester the time to pursue their favorite hobby of restoring old cars and tractors.
During the Portable Pavers years Harold and business partners and lifelong friends Jim Geis and Jerry Doeden turned their talents to farming. They purchased two farms in the Cohagen area and the Mizpah farm on the Powder River/Mizpah Creek area. Geis was the farm expert and teacher, the others willing students in the love of the stewardship of the land. Harold always laughed about being able to farm when the weather prevented him from laying asphalt. On the death of Jim, the farming partnership eventually disbanded, and Harold purchased the Damm Ranch south of town, spending many happy hours exploring, hunting and loving this land.
As much as Harold loved his work, he also was passionate about hunting, fishing, travelling, playing golf with his buddies and being a charter member of the “Knights of the Round Table” at the Town and Country Club. He fished and hunted from Alaska to Costa Rica, from the Pacific Ocean to the Caribbean. His love of auto restoration spanned his entire life and many a classic car, beautifully reborn, travel the highways and byways today. Annual trips to Barrett Jackson and Silver auctions in the Phoenix area where high priority.
Winter vacations, when you can’t farm or lay asphalt were filled with trips accompanied by friends Jerry and Kathy Doeden, Jim and Kay Geis, and often with Barb and Ron Lee; Mexico, Hawaii, London and Istanbul (to visit Allyson) and many motor home trips. He loved taking all the kids on snowmobile trips and hot summer days spent on his pontoon at Hell Creek. Harold worked hard, played hard, loved life and was always a man of his word. While he did things “His Way”, he almost always did them the right way.
Surviving Harold are his wife, Shirley, daughters Allyson Gierke, Gay Beaudet, LuAnn (Weldon) Birdwell, sons: Hal (Justine) Gierke, Garve (Tracey) Gierke and Guy (Gretchen) Gierke; and grandchildren: Zachary Gierke, Madison and Keifer Beaudet, Benjamin and Isaac Birdwell, Jordan and Jamie Gierke, Bree Beals and Jonathan Gierke; sisters Laverne Day and Beverly Hill. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death are parents Bill and Esther Gierke, brothers Robert (Bud), William (Billy), George, and sister Shirley Southworth.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 30, 2018 from 1:00-6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 31, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery with full military honors. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Extended Care Unit of the Holy Rosary Hospital or to the Animal Control Unit, where he spent many happy hours hosted by Brian Certain; or to the charity of one’s choice.
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday August 30, 2018
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m.
Friday August 31, 2018
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Interment with Full Military Honors
Friday August 31, 2018
Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday August 30, 2018
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Funeral Service
2:00 p.m.
Friday August 31, 2018
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59301
Interment with Full Military Honors
Friday August 31, 2018
Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, Montana 59301
Share
Bill Gierke says
RIP Harold. I hope your cruising in your favorite car!
Kim Smarsh says
Shirley, Garve and families—my deepest sympathy to all of you. You will all be in my prayers in the coming days.
Diane Welbes says
Shirley–Thoughts & prayers during this time.
Jim & Cathy Bastian says
You are in our thoughts and prayers. Our deepest sympathy.
Beth & Doug Wiedeman says
Love and prayers to Harold’s family. His is healthy again, and chatting away, just as Harold can do.
Beth Wiedeman says
Love and prayers to Harold’s family. His is healthy again, and chatting away, just as Harold can do.
Mike & Judy Toennis Family says
Our thoughts and prayers are with your families.
Jessie Leidholt says
Dear Shirley and family, we are so sorry for your loss. Wishing you God’s strength and comfort in the coming days.
Susan & Dennis Bakken says
Our deepest sympathies.
Bob Wills says
Our thoughts and prayers. May you find comfort in Jesus words, john 5:28, 29
Jim & Lavina Hall says
Shirley, Sorry to hear of Harold’s passing. He was a fine man. We will pray for his soul and for your consolation.
linda walker says
Shirley and family, my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Becky and Ed Gergen says
Sorry to hear your father passed.
Susan Moreno says
Thoughts and prayers to the family….
Shorty &Judy Brush says
Praying for God to give the family strength now and in the days to come
Kathy Culy says
May your great memories carry you thru this sad time.
Thinking of you all.
Wanda Linnell Richlen says
Sorry for your loss. Your family is in my thoughts and prayers.
Loren and Nellie Williams says
Shirley and family,
Lots of good memories. Sad times now.
—Loren and Nellie
Darwyn Dasenko says
Harold and I have know each other since the days in Bismarck. We have always had a close tie with the Gierke family which goes back seventy years. He will be missed.
Pam (Moths) Nisley & Dave Nisley says
Praying for comfort for all of Harolds loved ones~ I was in HS with Allyson, and our brother John Moths worked for Portable Pavers in 1994 when he was called home by Jesus~ Just a month prior to his death Portable Pavers had a contract re-surfacing the Highway here, and so John stayed with us:) John really enjoyed his work with all the crew! We care for your loss, and our prayers will continue~
James Liles says
Dear Shirley and family,
We are so sorry for your loss and will keep you in our prayers. God bless you.
Jim & Mary Ann Liles
M J Crandall says
My sympathy. NO MAYONNAISE!
Bruce Wilson says
Garve, Shirley, and family,
The world lost an American original with the passing of Harold . Such a good fun hard-working man who always had a big smile on his face .
Prayers to all of the family .
Bill & Pat Dengel says
Condolences to Shirley and family. Harold had a big part in our success as contractors and was a great friend. He will be missed.
Bob and Charlotte Grover says
Thinking of and praying for you and your family Shirley.
Peggy and Chuck Steadman says
Shirley and your family, we are thinking of you!
Ken Dunham says
Harold was a fine man and a great contractor. I was honored to have worked with him when I was at the Montana Contractors Association. He taught me so much about the paving business just being around him. He had a great sense of humor, needed when we were battling for highway funding with the legislature and he gave a lot back to the industry. Janelle and I remember him and Shirley fondly from various contractor meetings.
B Dean Holmes says
to the entire family our prayers are with you. HAROLD was always full of fun. He will be missed.
Helen Kembel says
Shirley and family
My deepest sympathy at the passing of Harold. Have many fond memories of him while trucking for our firm. He was reliable, honest and oh so much fun! May the memories you created together be your solace at this sad time.
Kendra Benner says
I bet there’s one helluva reunion going on in heaven right now. Love and prayers to you, Aunt Shirley, and to the rest of the family.
Joe Whalen says
Shirley and Family~
May the tears and laughter of this day of memorial, celebration and reunion fill your hearts with Peace now and in your days ahead. What a life; what a family!
Amen.
Mary Jean(Cate) Niklas says
Dear Shirley,
Even though I never got a chance to meet this fine man, I am sorry to hear of your loss. What a large and grand family you have. I am sure hey will be of comfort at this time of loss.
Love,
Mary Jean
Mary Snell says
150 Kircher Creek Road
Mary Snell says
My thoughts and prayers to the Gierke family
Maureen O'Reilly says
Shirley and family – I was sadden to hear of Harold’s passing, I did not realize just how long he had been so ill.
My sympathy and prayers are with all of you and your family at this time.
Treba Hollowell says
Dear Shirley and Family,
What a great man! My prayers are with you!
Debbie Oatts says
Dear Shirley,
Joe was just in and told me of your husband’s passing. You are in our prayers.
Debbie Grasky Oatts and the rest of the Grasky Clan!