Peter Ed Orestad

Visitation: Monday, January 19, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. in the chapel in Miles City, the family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the chapel in Miles City.

Funeral Service: Tuesday, January 20, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Miles City

Interment: will follow at the Orestead Family Cemetery

Peter Edward "Ed" Orestad, age 86, of Powderville passed away at Holy Rosary Extended Care on Thursday January 15, 2004.

Ed was born on November 30, 1917 at the family ranch at Powderville, Montana. He was the son of Ole and Martha Orestad. He attended Powderville School through the eighth grade. He was in the CCCs, worked for area ranches, and then went to Sioux City to visit his sister where he got a job constructing grain elevators at Leeds. He married Helen Brewer on August 8, 1941. He suffered an appendix attack on August 11 and they moved to Montana when he got well. They took a ranch job working for Hank Dykes on the 6666. He ruptured his surgery and they went to work for Charles Miles I herding sheep on the WL. Previous to getting their own ranch, Ed worked for ranches and then moved to Milwaukee to start his job on the railroad. From there he was transferred to Miles City Milwaukee yards. He earned an apprenticeship as a machinist. They rented a small acreage and started building a herd of cattle, which they took with them and worked for Harry Brown. They worked at Elgins and for Rues as well until they were finally able to buy their first section of land. From there they built their cattle herd and present day ranch on Spring Creek.

Ed was a people person. He was always known to be hone'st, fair, and sometimes overly generous. He loved his family, horses and cattle. He had a firm handshake and was known to be a hard worker and he loved to talk and share experiences. Later years he loved to tell old time stories and had a way of holding everyone's attention. He loved being with his family and the little kids. He particularly loved getting everyone together to go out for a good meal. Ed was a member of the Range Riders, The First Lutheran Church, and the Montana Farm Bureau.

Peter Edward is survived by his wife, Helen, of 62 years, four children, a son Jim Orestad and his wife Darla of Bozeman; his daughters: Donna Balsam and her husband Charley of Powderville Stage; Lillian Ostendorf and her husband Tom of Powderville, and Mary Ann Johnson and her husband Dan of Forsyth, and numerous nephews, nieces, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Joe Orestad, and three brothers Conrad, Oscar, and William, and three sisters, Marie Oddy, Anne Schinko, and Gena Woodruff.

Should friend desire, memorials may be made to the Range Riders Museum, First Lutheran Church, of to the charity of one's choice.