Mencel Leory “Popsie” Carey went to be with his Lord on February 29th, 2016. Mencel was born in Ismay, Montana on March 23, 1929, to Victor Carey and Anna (Buraas) Carey. He grew up there with his younger siblings Laura Mae, Charles “Chuck”, and Fern; attending Cottonwood School until age 11 when his family moved to Kinsey, Montana on May 1st, 1940. There he finished grade school and graduated from Custer County High School in Miles City, Montana in 1947. He attended Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, for one year, where he studied Agriculture.
Mencel served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict from November 3, 1950 to October 24, 1952. On April 24, 1952, during his 8 months in Korea, he was wounded by sniper fire and after only 11 days of recovery from a chest wound he was sent back to the front line. He also proudly served for 10 months in Japan and the balance of time in Camp Cook, California. After returning from service, he rented and farmed with his parents and brother in Kinsey, Montana until purchasing his own Kinsey farm, next to his parents, in 1955.
On August 6, 1959, in Red Lodge, Montana at the Community Church, Mencel married a Kinsey girl; Evelyn “Evie”Myran. Together, they farmed in Kinsey and raised seven children; Clint, Dallas, Tim, Cindy, Stena, Mencella and Becky. Later, in 1968, the family moved to Miles City, Montana. There he worked Mac’s Frontierland until 1977. He then worked in Maintenance Department for the Miles City Post Office until retirement in 1992. Mencel and Evie always had a love for Red Lodge, Montana. Therefore, in 1976 they bought land there and developed a home site for fun times with family and friends on weekends and during vacation time. In 1994, they decided to move and make Red Lodge their permanent home.
Popsie was a kind, quiet man but enjoyed being surrounded by friends and family. Therefore, he was very active in the Red Lodge community. He had many talents; farmer, electrician, plumber, mechanic, builder, etc and was never too busy to lend a helping hand. To enhance his opportunities to chat with farmers; he worked as a ditch rider and census taker. His church was important to him; therefore served on the Community Church Board and spent many years taking care of the church grounds. He looked for any excuse to mechanic on, or be on a tractor so he volunteered to help his son-in-law and several others every haying season. As a member of the Home of Champions’ Committee he worked the arena and provided overall maintenance. He was very proud to be selected as the Grand Marshall for the Home of Champions Parade; being the only Grand Marshall to lead the parade on a tractor – an “Allis-Chalmers” tractor.
Mencel is survived by his wife, Evie; sister, Fern; all his children, numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren and many, many nieces and nephews. His children Clint (and Leslie) Wildman live in Billings, MT, Dallas (and Linda) Wildman and Mencella (and Kelly) Carlson live in Miles City, MT, Tim (and Cin) Wildman, Cindy Smith, and Stena (and Jim) Bushnell live in Red Lodge, MT, and Rebecca (and Dixon) Murnion live in Sand Springs, MT. Mencel was preceded in death by his brother Chuck Carey in 1988, his father Victor Carey in 1989, his sister Laura Mullen in 1993, his mother Anna Carey in 1993, his grandson Clint Zeitner in 1995, his son-in-law William “Bubba” Smith in 2006, and his granddaughter Wendy (Zeitner) Wilson in 2012.
Mencel’s funeral will be at 2:00 pm, Saturday, March 5th, 2016 at the Home of Champions Rodeo Grounds, in Red Lodge, MT with a reception celebrating his life immediately following at the Bull and Bear in downtown Red Lodge. On Monday, March 7th, there will be an informal friends and family gathering at Stevenson’s Funeral Home in Miles City, Montana from 4 pm to 6 pm. The graveside service with military honors will be Tuesday, March 8th, at 11 am at Custer County Cemetery in Miles City. In lieu of flowers, donation can be made to the Home of Champions Rodeo Association, PO Box 1546, Red Lodge, MT 59068.
Service Schedule
Family to Receive Friends
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Monday March 7, 2016
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home
1717 Main Street
Miles City, MT 59301
Graveside Service with Full Military Honors
11:00 a.m.
Tuesday March 8, 2016
Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, MT 59301
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Martha Crandall says
Sorry to hear about your Dad. My sympathy.
Mike & Judy Toennis Family says
Our thoughts and prayers are with your families.
Linda Walker says
I am so sad. Such a good man. Love all of you. Linda Walker
june opp says
Evie and family, we are in shock to see about Mencel’s passing So sorry we can not be there for you all at this very difficult time as we are still in AZ. But know our thoughts and prayers are with you all. May God bless and comfort you all now and in the days ahead. June and Ruben Opp
James L. Arneson says
I remember when I was in school and lived down the street. I was always at your house with one of your kids. What a kind and gentle man. I am sorry for your loss. May God keep you in his arms always.
Ron and Marilyn Frize says
Evil and family: We were so sorry to hear of Mencel’s passing. We will miss his impromptu visits just to stop by and say “hi” and share old stories. He always wanted to talk about the earlier days with Cecil and Betty. It meant so much to us to see him get as much comfort talking about them as we did hearing about “the good ole days”. He will be missed by many. Prayers of comfort to you all.
Betty Carter O'Brien says
Sorry to hear about your loss – May God give you peace and keep you strong – blessings for all.
Andrew (Chris) & Sally Christensen says
Evie so sorry to hear about Mencel. we will miss getting to see him in Red Lodge at parade time Our deepest condolences to you and your family
Brian and Sharon Roat says
We will miss his smiling face and his soft spoken words at our church in Red Lodge. We will always feel his presence in our town. With love, Brian and Sharon Roat
Dee (Willman, Lamb) McCants says
Evie, and families, Am so sorry to hear. Was many years ago that we were there, Donald Lamb hauled beets for Mencel, then worked for your Dad at the Dairy farm. Our first son was just a few months old when Donald worked at the Dairy farm. We enjoyed our time with you folks. Mencel will be very missed. Prayers for you and sincere condolences. Dee (Willman, Lamb) McCants
Dave Gunderson says
I remember Mencel from my years at Kinsey I want to extend my sympathies to the family in your time of grieving.
Mike & Patsy Davis says
Aunt Evie and all my cousins,
So sorry to hear of the loss of such a super nice husband, father and family man–there will never be another Mencel–so kind and gentle and considerate and always had time for everyone:) Love you guys and see you Monday, Patsy & Mike
Cori Munsell says
Sorry to hear about Mencel. Thoughts are with you.
Cathy (Hall) Emerson says
Sorry to hear about Mencel. He was such a gentle man when I would see him while growing up in the neighborhood.
Donna Orthman says
Ivan and I wish to express our sympathy in your loss. Losing a father is difficult and you are all in our thoughts and prayers.
molstad and smith families says
our sympathy to all you kids and your mother. we knew many of you in our youth and i worked with mencel for a few years at the post office. so hard to loose our parents and other loved ones. you have lost too many. hugs from ronna molstad, donna smith, jerry molstad, teresa lane, becky sims.
Carlene Root says
Evie and families, Sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. Carlene (Aastrom) Root.
Shorty and Judy Brush says
So sorry for your loss of your Dad Praying for God to give you the strength now and the days to come
PAT HERZOG says
Ev and family..so very sorry for ur loss..Mencel was such a friendly and giving person..your family was truly blessed having him in your lives and will be truly missed by all of you..our deepest sympathy to all of you..we’ll keep you in our prayers..all our love and prayers…Monte and Pat Herzog..
Larry Certain says
Evie, and family, I’m sorry to hear about Mendel, and this late! Guess I don’t stay up on things since leaving Red Lodge. I loved sitting on my front porch visiting with Mendel and talking about things and friends around Miles City. He was a fun guy who remembered everything and everybody. I enjoyed our time together, and his smile and friendship will be missed, but not forgotten. I sure appreciated his helping hand, with his tractor, at my place there, in Roberts. Rest in peace, my friend.
Larry Certain says
Evie, and family, I’m sorry to hear about Mencel, and this late! Guess I don’t stay up on things since leaving Red Lodge. I loved sitting on my front porch visiting with Mendel and talking about things and friends around Miles City. He was a fun guy who remembered everything and everybody. I enjoyed our time together, and his smile and friendship will be missed, but not forgotten. I sure appreciated his helping hand, with his tractor, at my place there, in Roberts. Rest in peace, my friend.