Donald “Gene” Huseby, 85, died peacefully on Monday, May 19, 2014, at the Prairie Community Hospital/Nursing Home in Terry.
Mr. Huseby was born, March 18, 1929, in Circle, the eldest child of Elvin and Mable Emry Huseby. He graduated from Circle High School in 1947.
After working on the family farm several years, he was called to service for the United States Army Signal Corps during the Korean War, then honorably discharged from active service to the Army Reserve in May 1953. He returned to the family farm and worked with his cousin, Kenneth Youngquist, as a radio and TV repairman.
On June 30, 1957, Mr. Huseby and Marian May Durfey were married at the First Lutheran Church in Circle. From this union of almost 57 years, came 15 children, 26 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
Mr. and Mrs. Huseby lived on their place close to Wolf Point by the Missouri River, farming and beekeeping for three years. In 1965, they moved to the Huseby farm. He worked hard farming and ranching until his health made him retire.
He worked with horses much of his life and had a love of western movies. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping and would make it a point to take trips to Ft. Peck Lake. Mr. Huseby had a natural talent for music, playing piano, harmonica, guitar and accordion by ear, and loved singing his favorite songs to his children. He was an avid reader and enjoyed putting together a challenging puzzle with his family. In more recent years, one of his favorite pastimes was teasing his grandchildren with his dentures.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, a son Richard Huseby, a granddaughter Tiffani Huseby, son-in-law Douglas Kelley, sister Marcia Bates, and brothers Norman, Raymond, and Ivan, sisters-in-law, Joan Huseby, Barbara Huseby, and Dorothy Huseby, and brothers-in-law, Ed Meyer, Ray Jonas, and James Durfey.
Mr. Huseby is survived by his wife, Marian, of Circle; his children, Mikel (Ramona) Huseby of Fallon, Ian (Karla) Huseby, Shonda (Gregg) Heide, Wade Huseby, Kyle (Kathy Crockett) Huseby and Adam (Candice) Huseby, all of Circle, Carol Huseby of Columbus, Ohio, Jed (Marni Rolston) Huseby of Bozeman, Eileen (Arnie) Stahl of Lewistown, Peter (Julie) Huseby of Havre, Rebecca (Corey) Bollinger of Miles City, Samuel (Tammy) Huseby of Laurel, Audrey (Charles) Kerr of Glendive and Susan (Peter) Gasper of Ft. Scott, Kansas; 25 grandchildren, Tyrel Huseby, Collin and Jaqcee Huseby, Zelwyn (Laura) Heide, Zander (Nikki) Heide, Charley and Casey Huseby, Johnathon and Emry Kegley, Ida and Sorin Huseby, Haley (Cody) Burch and Jessica Kelley, Lacey, Caleb, and Travis Huseby, Rianne and Cade Bollinger, Julie Kerr, and Daniel, Nathanael, Timothy, Matthew, John, and Ruth Gasper; and four great-grandchildren, John, Benjamin, and Carl Heide, and Elizabeth Burch; brothers, Orvin Huseby of Cowley, Wyoming, Jim (Irene Gross) Huseby of Lindsey, Cedric Huseby of St. John, Washington, and Kendell (Kathy) Huseby of Yakima, Washington; and sisters, Betty (Frank) Kirschten of Ellensburg, Washington, Elaine Jonas of Terry and Karen (Gordon) Larson of Helena; sisters-in-law, Patsy (Dave Bossard) Meyer of Yakima, Washington, Louella Durfey of Big Timber and Sharon (James) Sturn of Billings; and brothers-in-law, Ron (Cheryl Stuber) Durfey of Lewistown and Gary (Cindy) Durfey of Hobson; his only surviving uncle, Lloyd Emery of Eugene, Oregon; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Richard Huseby; a granddaughter, Tiffani Huseby; son-in-law, Douglas Kelley; sister, Marcia Bates; brothers, Norman, Raymond, and Ivan; sisters-in-law, Joan Huseby, Barbara Huseby and Dorothy Huseby; and brothers-in-law, Ed Meyer, Ray Jonas and James Durfey.
Visitation will be Monday, May 26, 2014, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home in Circle. Funeral services will be Tuesday, May 27, 2014, at 10 a.m. at the Circle Evangelical Church. Interment will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Circle with full military honors.
Stevenson and Sons Funeral Home of Circle is in charge of the arrangements.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to McCone County Health Center, P.O. Box 48, 605 Sullivan Avenue, Circle, MT 59215.