Funeral Services: will be held on Thursday, September 9, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City
Interment: will follow in the family lot of the Custer County Cemetery with full military honors
Neal L. Gresens died at the age of 86 years at the V. A. Rest Home in Miles City, Montana, where he had resided for the past 20 years.
Neal was born at Flech Maternity Hospital in Miles City on September 26, 1917, the son of Rexa (Prahl) and Leo Gresens. He attended grade school at the S-Y and Ash Creek Schools. Neal was a member of the Lutheran Church, but attended American Union Sunday School Services held in local schools. Neal graduated from Custer County High School in 1936 and spent the next year working for Shorty Howell in Idaho. During the next four years, he worked for E. O. Allen, Fritz Zook and the Montana Highway Department.
Neal married Irene Carey in Forsyth, Montana on February 9th, 1942. In March of that same year he was drafted into the Army and he received his basic training in Fort Riley, Kansas after which Irene joined him. In the Army, Neal taught auto mechanics and trained drivers for the next two years. Then he was sent to the Pacific where he remained until the end of the war. During this time, he was promoted to Sergeant. After being honorably discharged from the service, Neal worked for the Montana Highway Department until his dad died and then he took over the family ranch. Over the years, he increased the size of the ranch, raising cattle, a few sheep and doing a little farming. In 1967 he moved his family from Ash Creek to the Jordan Place on Basin Creek. Neal's health failed and after one of his operations, he had a stroke from which he never recovered.
Neal is survived by his wife, Irene, of Miles City; four sons: Ira and his wife, Joann of Miles City; Norman of California; Jerry and his wife, Lisa of Helena; and Ralph of Los Vegas, NV; one daughter, Wanda Gresens of Kalispell, MT; one sister, Arlyle Palmer of Miles City; four brothers-in-law and five sisters-in law; three grandsons: Neal Gresens of Newark, CA; Cole Gresens of Manhattan, KS; and Trenton Harbaugh of Miles City, MT; five granddaughters: Natalene Gresens of Billings, MT; Katie Butler of California, Kyla Gresens of Manhattan, KS; Heather Merical of Kalispell, MT; and Canda Harbaugh of Kalispell, MT. Neal and Irene also have four great grandchildren: Nicolas Gresens of Billings, Sady Harbaugh of Miles City, Kaylee Merical of Kalispell, and Elizabeth Russell of Sioux Falls, SD.
Neal was preceded in death by his brother-in-law, Casey (Charles) Jone's, who was closer than a brother and one nephew.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to the Range Riders Museum.
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
Share
Add your thoughts and memories. Upon approval they will be added.