March 20th, 2019

Terrance James Smith
​Terry Smith died on March 7, 2019 at his beloved ranch doing one of his favorite chores, feeding the cattle.   His wife of nearly 58 years was with him as he took his last breath.
Terry was born on July 2, 1935 to Elmer Smith and Mabel (Stevenson) Smith in Lucky Lake, Saskatchewan. He was the last of their seven children: Murray (died at birth) Lois, Wilma, Robert, Keith, Doreen and Terry.
During his last year of high school, his parents decided to leave Canada   and find a new ranch property. It was near Ovando, where Elmer found the special place to settle.   Shortly after becoming U. S. citizens Terry was drafted and spent some time in the Army.
After going back to the ranch, he had the chance to buy his own ranch and it was through those days that he was introduced to Carolyn LePiane (there was a little matchmaking going on by Carolyn’s Aunt Louise Haynes). They were married and bought the old Praast place which is where they have resided off and on for their 58 years.   This is where his children ran wild and grew up.   Jeanne Dawn, Matthew James, Victoria Lynn, Tracy Ann and Marcy Elena loved Terry’s sense of humor, his firm hand when they were learning right and wrong, his work ethic, his fierce pride, his generosity;   but most importantly his love.   He would have done anything for his children as long as it was within his moral principles.
Terry worked with neighbors in   logging, haying   and fencing.   He raised and showed Appaloosa horses thanks to a great old cowboy named Lew Ferguson. It has been said many times about Terry, especially when he was on a horse, “He must be the last true cowboy !”
Terry worked for different Breeder’s Services for 40 years. He really enjoyed this.   It was during this time that he designed and built a mobile breeding barn that could be used to service two cows quickly.   He was pretty proud of that barn and many hundreds of cows went through it. He built his new home with the help of some very innovative neighbors and many other buildings; but mostly he raised his kids and he ranched.
He felt comfortable wherever he was: on a horse, on a tractor, in the city, on the ranch, in Canada, in an argument, sharing a joke, giving a hug, with strangers, with family. He knew himself.   This trait made everyone like him and the more you got to know him, the more you loved him.
When the children all were gone Terry and Carolyn enjoyed a lot of wonderful vacations: Germany, Italy, cruising on a great ship in the Gulf of Mexico, New Orleans, across the eastern U. S. in a bus.  
Terry is survived by his adored wife Carolyn, his son and daughters Jeanne Dawn (Robert) Rowland, Matthew James (Lolita) Smith, Vicki Lynn Pocha, Tracy Ann (Walter) Schuele, Marcy Elena Inama, his grandchildren Lyle Andrew Pocha, Ty Daniel (Delaney) Pocha, Mia Montana Smith, Nathan Craig Schuele, Shawnae Rose Inama, Maggie Malena Smith, Paul Kyle Schuele, Matteo Milio Smith and Sandra Dawn Schuele, his great-grandson Kaine Jaxson Pocha, sister,   Doreen Thorpe, Bakersfield, Calif. and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Terry was a person who loved HIS GOD and Church and the people.
Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Thomas Catholic Church in Helmville on Friday, March 29 at 11 a.m.   There will be a luncheon at the Helmville Community Center following.
Donations may be sent to   Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) at 1215 4th Ave Ste 1100 Seattle WA 98161. This is due to the fact that two daughters and one granddaughter are diabetic.

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Ted Jacobson, 89
Theodore “Ted” Fredrick Jacobson passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, March 13, 2019 from pneumonia at the BeeHive Homes of Butte where he had resided for nearly two years.  For the past three weeks his son, Jim Jacobson, sat vigil by him offering him comfort, as well as his son, Tom, who was able to make it here for the last few days of his life.  Heidi and Chuck and Brett and Kris also made it home to visit Ted before his passing.  This meant the world to him to have the comfort of his children in his last days.
Ted was born to Fred and Della Jacobson on September 7, 1929 at the third generation family homestead in the Deer Lodge Valley where he joined two sisters, Virginia and Eva, and a brother Bud.  On Ted’s 7th birthday he received a special birthday present, his baby sister Joan.  Ted and Joan remained close throughout their lifetimes.    
Ted attended school at the Racetrack Schoolhouse, a mile from his home, and also the Deer Lodge schools.  
On March 16, 1952 Ted married Verna Bentley from Butte and two sons were born of that marriage, Jim and Tom.  They later divorced.  Growing up, Jim and Tom worked alongside their dad on the family ranch learning many life lessons.
Ted went into the ranching business with his dad and brother and in 1953 they formalized a partnership where they raised Hereford and Black Angus cattle and certified seed potatoes.  The brothers separated their business partnership in 1969 and each continued ranching separately on neighboring ranches. Ted continued ranching through 2004.  He was gifted with handling horses, catching and breaking wild horses.  His kind, gentle spirit calmed the wild animals.  He loved riding gaited Tennessee Walking horses.  Ted transitioned from a Black Angus herd of cattle to the Simmental breed which he helped introduce into Montana and the Deer Lodge Valley.  He also did artificial insemination.  He traveled showing cattle as well as advertising cattle at livestock shows throughout Montana, Colorado, and Canada.    (Ted enjoyed listening to the song “I was Country before Country was Cool” and his son Jim pointed out that he was “black cows” before “black cows” were cool.  Now that is pretty much all you see are black cows but that was not the case back when Ted, his dad, and brother first had them.)
Ted was Vice President of the Deer Lodge Bank & Trust from 1966-1968 where he assisted his brother Bud as President.
Ted met the love of his life Barb Nolte and they were married on March 17, 1986.  Barb was a bonus package to him because he gained three more children, Gavin, Brett, and Heidi, who he loved and adored. Ted encouraged Barb to pursue her dream of nursing, and she became one of the best RNs ever.  He was very proud of her.  Ted and Barb enjoyed traveling, and especially loved Hawaii.
Ted belonged to the Elks Lodge and the American Simmental Association.  He loved family get togethers which occurred often, not only holidays in the Jacobson family.  He was close to all of his family.  He would help anyone out.  He especially had a kind spot in his heart for children, and helped many with their needs and educations.  Ted was always a true gentleman, very kind and sweet, and had a heart of gold up to the moment he died. He loved music, and had a beautiful tenor voice that would give one goosebumps. Even with dementia setting in, he could remember every word to all of the old-time country songs as well as the Lord’s Prayer.  Ted loved God, his family, his friends, his Country, and Deer Lodge.
Thank you to the staff at BeeHive Homes for wonderful care and friendship, Frontier Hospice for your compassion and care, and Jim Gaskell for your companionship.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents, wife Barb, step-son Gavin, sister Virginia, sisters and brothers-in-law Eva (Leon) Carmen (Oliver Touchette); Joan (John) Mollenberg; brother and sister-in-law Bud (Edna) Jacobson; and a special cousin Robert Evans who was his best friend.
Survivors include his sons, Tom Jacobson (Anchorage), Jim (Kelly) Jacobson (Anchorage), step-daughter Heidi (Chuck) Silzly (Boise), step-son Brett (Kristine) Nolte (Kuna, ID), grandchildren T.J. Jacobson, Jennifer Jacobson, Hunter Nolte, Gavin Nolte, Alli Jo Silzly, Randall Silzly, daughter-in-law Jo Ellen Jacobson, numerous nieces and nephews, and two special Deer Lodge nieces Debbie (Jeff Tamcke) Ehret and Lori (Mike) Johns who were there to help him when his children moved out of state, as well as a long-time friend Joe Heisdorf.
Jewell Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.  Visitation was Monday, March 18, 2019 from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home, and a memorial service was held Tuesday, March 19, at 11 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church, Deer Lodge, with internment at the Hillcrest Cemetery followed by a luncheon at the Broken Arrow.  Pallbearers were  Jim Jacobson, Tom Jacobson, Brett Nolte, Chuck Silzly, Hunter Nolte, Gavin Nolte, Randall Silzly, Mike Johns, Joe Heisdorf, Jim Gaskell and honorary pall bearer T.J. Jacobson.
Memorials:  Rialto Theatre, P.O. Box 874, Deer Lodge 59722 or donor’s choice.

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