Jacob Hirsch

Visitation: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City.

Funeral Service: Thursday, August 20, 2009 at10:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral home in Miles City.

Graveside Service: Custer County Cemetery in Miles City

Jacob Hirsch, age 95, of Angela passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2009 at the Holy Rosary Health Center in Miles City.

Jacob was born on May 28, 1914, on the family ranch at Rock Springs, Montana, the son of Charley and Magdelena (Schluat) Hirsch. He grew up and attended country school in the Rock Springs area. Only having an eighth grade education, he started from scratch and ended with a very prosperous farming business. One of many highlights of his life was working at Fort Peck, Montana in 1934, constructing the Fort Peck Dam, which has continued to provide electricity and recreation up to this day. President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited this area while Jacob was employed at the site. Jacob worked on other government projects including the WPA Little Dry Irrigation Project at Watson Flats, Montana where a 25 mile long irrigation ditch was dug by hand shovels; the Taylor Grazing fencing project at Terry, Montana in 1938; and the Little Sheep Mountain Reservoir, which was built with horse-drawn fresnoes and plows. Jacob also worked at the Crow Rock Jensen Coal Mine again, all work was done by hand. At that time, lignite coal sold for $1.50 a ton. After the horse-drawn era, Jacob owned his first tractor-an Allis Chalmers. In 1947, he purchased a W-9 tractor for $2,200 from his father. Jacob married Martha Elhart on October 24, 1937. They were married 64 years, and to this union were born five children: Leroy, Gerald, Delores, Marlene and Sandra. Jacob has attended every Rock Springs picnic held since 1913. He was very good in the horseshoe contest and bowled twice a week in Miles City where his bowling record is one of the highest. He belonged to the Good Sam Club and wherever there was a community project, Jacob was there, volunteering his service.

Jacob is survived by four children: Gerald Hirsch of Angela, MT; Delores Sitton of Forsyth, MT; Marlene (Louie) Preller of Colorado Springs, CO and Sandra (Ernie) Nielsen of East Helena, MT; nine grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Martha in 2002, a son, Leroy, two brothers and one sister.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral home in Miles City. Interment will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery in Miles City. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.

Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.