Burial: to follow in the Birney Cemetery (9 miles south of Birney).
A gathering for family and friends will be held at the Quarter Circle U Ranch of Birney.
Randolph Jay Fjell Randy, 58, passed away on March 21, 2009 at his home on the OX Ranch South of Ashland, MT.
Randy was born December 6, 1950, in Sheridan, WY to Elmer A. & Alice Salveson Fjell. Randy grew up in Birney along with five siblings. He attended grade school at Birney Community School and then went to Colstrip High School. After graduating from Colstrip High in 1969, Randy enlisted in the US Navy. He graduated from San Diego Navel training boot camp, and Fire Control Technician training in Maryland. He was stationed mainly on the USS Ticonderoga and participated in the recovery of Apollo 16, Apollo 17, and Skylab 2.
After his time in the service, Randy returned to Montana. He worked as a ranch hand around the area. Randy and Sharon (Sheri) Osborne were married in November, 1979 and to this union were born 4 children. Randy continued ranch work in the Ashland area. In 1984, he moved his family to Colstrip and was employed by Montana Power Company. He remained there for fourteen years then returned to the Birney area to work at the saw mill in Ashland until its closure. Following the mill closure, he worked for a fencing contractor until moving to his sister Margies ranch near Ashland. There he helped work on the ranch and lovingly cared for his failing Mother until her passing. Randy continued to live on the ranch and was employed at the St. Labre Mission in Ashland. In 2008, Randy went back to the life he loved the most, a ranch hand for the Diamond Cross Ranch of Birney, MT where he was employed at the time of his death Randy never met a stranger. He was liked by everyone who met him. Randy was kind to all and always there to lend a hand when needed.
Those who knew him best enjoyed his funny jokes, great sense of humor, and smiling face. Some of Randys hobbies where baking, The best bread on the Tongue River and wood working. One of his favorite past times was shooting prairie dogs with his son, nephews, and good friends.
Randy is survived by three daughters, Carisa (Jay) Hoerner; Jessica (Tye) LeDuc and Savanna Lewis; one son Olin (Kim) Fjell. He is also survived by his greatest pride & joy - his grandchildren: Trevor, Madysen & Camren Hoerner; Sophia, Conor & Liam LeDuc; Lillian & Charlie Lewis.He is also survived by three brothers: Elmer II Butch (Laurel) Fjell; Richard Dick (Rayetta) Fjell; Alan (Vicky) Fjell and two sisters, Margie (Jack) Knobloch and Carol Colwell. Randy is also survived by eight nieces, seven nephews, their spouses, thirty great-nieces & nephews, and several cousins. Randy was proceeded in death by his parents, Elmer & Alice, grandparents, Eivind & Anna Fjell; Toby & Molly Salveson; nephew Elmer Fjell III; niece Lee Anne Knobloch Elliot; brother-in-law John Colwell and several uncles & aunts.
Randy was a very proud and wonderful father and grandfather. He was a loving son, brother, and uncle. There are no words to express how deeply those who loved him and knew him will miss him.
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