Luke Robert Muggli was born in Miles City, Montana on August 2, 1927. Luke was seventh of the ten children born to Joseph and Barbara (Schmidt) Muggli. Luke passed away Feb 9, 2024, surrounded by his family at the Holy Rosary Resident Living Center in Miles City.
His early childhood consisted of helping his dad and older siblings on the 110 acre, irrigated home place located in the valley, east of Miles City. As the farm grew in acres, Luke was needed to help with harvesting crops and farm animal care. Luke attended Sacred Heart School for 12 years and was granted time to attend Auto Mechanics at Custer County High School. He traveled to Helena on the train full of other able young men to go through a physical for military preparation.
In his youth, Luke enjoyed swimming in the irrigation ditches and Yellowstone River. Sunday afternoons in the summer were spent at the river or Bensley Creek flume. He assisted his brothers in making a swimming reservoir on the lower place which was widely known by most people in the valley and also enjoyed by his children in later years. He trapped skunks with his brother Francis and sold the pelts to Sears Roebuck & Co. They also purchased two bomber, trainer airplanes with radial engines that were in running condition. They were missing the wings but were able to be taxied in the farm fields for fun.
With the purchase of some used machining equipment from the Milwaukee Railroad round house for the farm, Luke took to machining as a hobby and a need for repair of machinery on the farm. He would make “blue prints” on bearing boxes that he cut up because of their thick card stock nature. He would always caution coworkers to stop and “make a plan” before moving forward with a new project. He worked with his three brothers on the farm to develop the Muggli Bros feed business. Long hours of toil shaped his work ethic and helped to make the business a success. Due to crop hail damage, he and his brothers worked for LP Anderson one winter trenching in lines for seismic wells north of Miles City.
On February 6th, 1961, he joined in marriage with Georgia Mockel. They built their home on farmland purchased from Henry Spiri and raised four children: John (Michelle) Muggli of Miles City, Ben (Brenda) Muggli of Miles City, Joe (Evelynne) Muggli of Dickinson, ND, Lucy (John) VanCleave of Bozeman, MT. He also was known as grandpa to TJ Muggli, Angie (Jake) Haxby, Nolan Muggli, Wyatt Muggli, Gracie Muggli, Isaac Muggli, Harlie Muggli, Andrew VanCleave, and Amber VanCleave.
Luke enjoyed a challenge whether it involved metal or wood working. He invested in a wide range of power tools to complete these projects. He assisted his son and his son’s friend to make matching, wood gun cabinets one winter. Most winter Sunday afternoons Luke was found in his heated workshop engrossed in a project. He also enjoyed deer hunting with his brother Tom and close friends. Many stories were told of organized hunts and how they were successful. He was proud of his WW1 military rifle that he converted to a useful deer hunting rifle.
Luke planted a large garden every year he was able. He was challenged with finding solutions for poor growth and yields. In the later years, he got involved in apple and plum trees which produced some bumper crops on random years. He read up on procedures to minimize worm infestation and loss. He also enjoyed fishing at the river in search of large channel catfish. He did go on a fishing trip with two of his sons to the Big Horn Mountains one summer that yielded some brook trout. He always talked about taking some canned beans along and spending a week in the mountains fishing.
Luke and Georgia enjoyed trips later in life to Alaska, Minneapolis, Vermont, Grand Canyon, and Branson, MO. They enjoyed visited grandkids when they could. Luke was intrigued with history and different ways of life in other regions of the country. Luke and Georgia were members of the Range Riders Reps.
Luke helped out people in need. He built a hand cart for the catholic missions one year. He was good at refurbishing special equipment or devices that needed repair. He was not afraid of modifying something to make it work better for the application. He always was open-minded and found a solution for the problem at hand. Luke is the last of a generation of true craftsman that is detailed and takes pride in the end product. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Luke is survived by his children and grandchildren, two siblings: Tom Muggli and Sister Agatha Muggli OSB and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Georgia, and his siblings: Hugo Muggli, Don Muggli, Anna Mae Miller, Gregory Muggli, Lorraine Kaiser, Francis Muggli, and Arthur Muggli.
A Rosary and Vigil service will be held on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Calvary Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Service Schedule
Rosary & Vigil
6:00 p.m.
Thursday February 22, 2024
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59310
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Friday February 23, 2024
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
120 N. Montana Ave.
Miles City, Montana 59301
Service Schedule
Rosary & Vigil
6:00 p.m.
Thursday February 22, 2024
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, Montana 59310
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Friday February 23, 2024
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
120 N. Montana Ave.
Miles City, Montana 59301
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Mary Ann stoltz says
Sorry, for the loss of your father! Let God help you all
Through difficult time ! God bless
Diane M Welbes says
We lose another pillar in our community. My thoughts and prayers are with the family.
Rhonda Bonogofsky says
Ben, Brenda, Nolan, Wyatt, my family is praying that you get through this time with the grace and peace of our Lord. You were always there to support and comfort Luke through this part of his journey. He was such a good man. He carried his cross with such strength and humility. Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon him. Love you guys.
May the peace of our Lord be with all of Luke’s family in your time of loss.
George and Maggie Holom says
To the family of Luke Muggli, we send our sympathy. May he Rest In Peace. And may God comfort you in your time of sorrow.
Jeana Brock says
This is very sad news. I am praying for peace and comfort for you all. Sending love.
Shannon & Bryan Holmen says
So sorry to loose your dad. Our prayers.
Bert and Anita Murnin says
Sorry for your loss, may he rest in peace.
Chris and Maxine Hardy says
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!
And then one day, I’ll cross the river, I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!
Thank God for the empty tomb!
Vicki Draper says
My thoughts and prayers are with you all through your loss of Luke. He was such a sweetheart , I was lucky to have met and cared for him very special man .
Norma Bryan says
Lucy my dear friend. May you be comforted as now your folks are together. Your dad’s dear daughter and loved by him. Take comfort in your family. Sincere condolences. Norma Bryan
Vikki Bradley says
Thoughts and prayers to Luke’s family. He was a very gentle man. 🙏
Wilma Becker says
Dear Ben, Brenda, Nolan and Wyatt, ….and the entire family, I’m so sorry for your loss. My love and prayers to you all.
Kim Smarsh says
To all of Luke’s family–he aas a wonderful, devoted man. Devoted to his faith, wife, children, and Muggli Bros. I fondly remember dinner with him and Georgia following Saturday night Mass. Always a gracious host. He’s now reunited with Georgia and I’m sure that was a glorious meeting. My prayers to all of you.
Kim Smarsh says
To all of Luke’s family–he was a wonderful, devoted man. Devoted to his faith, wife, children, and Muggli Bros. I fondly remember dinner with him and Georgia following Saturday night Mass. Always a gracious host. He’s now reunited with Georgia and I’m sure that was a glorious meeting. My prayers to all of you.
Walter and Angela Murray says
I enjoyed talking with him. Getting to know him was a honor. Great guy. Sorry for your loss.
Tom Clarke says
I got to know all the Muggli Brothers in 1957 when my Dad bought two Cord automobiles, and Don offered space to my Dad in the “old” shop. Luke was the quiet one, but had incredible knowledge, and was of great assistance as we took the two cars apart and put them back together into one. Much later when we needed machine work done on the Cord transmission, he took it into the “new” shop, and performed a miracle cure that has worked so well to this day.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Luke’s family, and to all the families of the Muggli clan as we celebrate the lives of them all.
Curt and Kate Terrett says
To all the of Lukes’s family, so sorry for your loss.
Jean and Dan Doran says
Our prayers and thoughts are with all of Luke’s family during this time. He was a wonderful man.
Karson and Marie Farnum Kluver says
Luke’s Family
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Luke was a wonderful friend and neighbor.
BERNADETTE MILLER says
Vaughn and I both send our thoughts and prayers to all of you. I enjoyed getting to know Georgia here at work over the years and got to visit with Luke at different social events. Luke and Georgia are together again.
Louise Dickins says
He will be missed and my thoughts and prayers with the whole family. He was one of my favorite uncles and always had a smile and a story to share. I remember him and Francis would talk to each other and always ended up telling fabulous stories to us. They were so creative with machinery and making “gadgets” to finish a project that would seem hopeless to everyone else.
Take care and bless you all!
Louise (Wesen) Dickins
Scott J Kimball says
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of the Muggli Family.
Kerry Raghib says
I am so sorry for your loss. Your father was a remarkable man. My prayers and love to you all.
Robert Z Muggli says
Sympathy and prayers to all
Sheri Brewer says
Luke, my brother-in-law was fun to tease. When we would come to visit Gigi and Luke, my sister and I would laugh at the dumbest things. Luke would sit patiently and just shake his head, which made us even sillier.
Luke was a very honorable man with an extremely loyal devotion to his church and his faith. He also had an incredible work ethic which he passed down to his four children; John, Ben, Lucy and Joe. He would write endearing “post it” notes and leave them on a pillow, on a mirror or in a drawer for the “love of his life” to find.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called the sons of God.
Matthew 5:5