He had a great life of 94 years, a marriage of over 60 years and raised three kids.... as I often told my mom, "... who are still married to their first spouse, always worked hard, and never spent more than a few hours in a jail cell." She always laughed at that. I had a special bond with my dad and he gave me the love of fishing and woodworking. He wasn't a hunter. I gave that addiction to myself at 17. He was born in Bozeman, MT, spent the war in the Aleutians, loved fly fishing, golf and skiing, but moved around the country in his career with Shell Chemical selling ag chem products for over 40 years and was lucky enough to retire back to his hometown and run with his buddies he grew up with.

He had dementia, as my mom did before she passed away, but was well cared for by my brother and his family for years while in a memory care unit in central Washington. Curiously enough, we made a connection through music, and although he never saw or listened to me playing my guitar forty years ago, for the last 7 years or so I call my brother on speaker phone and play my dad Johnny Cash, Niel Young, some blues and bluegrass. When I visited him over the last 6 years in the fall I rented a guitar and played at his retirement house. 5 minutes after I would start to play I was surrounded by walkers and wheelchairs. After playing 5 hours a day for a week my fingers were shot. The connection was surprising and even last Tuesday when I called and he was already in Hospice care on morphine I had a great connection with him and he kept asking me to play one more. My brother was in the room and couldn't believe his reaction to the music. My wife always said that music can connect anyone.

Next summer we'll spread his and my mom's ashes in the Gallatin river in Montana, his favorite trout stream, with my mom's only remaining sister from Big Timber and her family.

I'm happy for him to be in a better place now, where the trout ALMOST always eat your fly and the beer is always cold. If the trout ate your fly every time... that would be Hades.

Thought I'd tell the tale of a good man on T-man.

Pete

Condolences, at least they are at peace together again

Sorry for your loss

Prayers for the family...


Donnie

Pete, great story, memories, thanks for sharing. You're in our prayers!

Sorry for your loss

Sorry to hear of your lost. Sound like he live a life he wanted.

Sorry to hear. Hang tuff

very nice tribute!

may he rest in peace!

Godspeed Sir!

He will leave hearts full of memories.

It's wonderful that y'all were close. Your cherished memories of him will give you comfort.

Your have our condolences.

Prayers to the family

can relate Pete and will say a little to the man upstairs for the family.

nice little write up also,sounds like people i would of liked to sit with for a while and they get fewer and fewer everyday.

Sorry to hear that news Pete.

Very nice story of you and your dad. God bless

Sorry for your loss but what great memories you have.

I know it is hard. My sympathy.

Thanks for the Great Story of your close Family. That is enlightning. Prayers for you all.

Prayers to your family. It sounds like he was a great man, that also raised an excellent son.