Joe Feist
Joe Feist, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend passed away on September 18, at the age of 89. Born in a farmhouse in Emmons County, North Dakota, to Martha and Mike Feist on November 20, 1933, he was the fifth of nine children. He attended grade school in a one-room schoolhouse and high school at St. Benedicts both in Strasburg, ND. After graduation, Joe left the family farm when he enlisted in the Air Force to work in communications and served at several bases including Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska before it even became a state. After serving his country he returned to North Dakota and received a degree in communications from Wahpeton State School of Science.
He had a number of occupations during his long life including operator of the Longbranch Restaurant and Truckstop and a service tech at Tour America RV, but none was more important than working for National Cash Register Company in Denver where he met the love of his life, Joann VanLuchene in 1958. She had left the farm and ranch life for the bright lights and big city hoping for a different career, but to her surprise Joe fell in love with her family and Montana. Joann, also smitten, married him in 1959 and they returned to farm and ranch in the Ballantine area where they raised two children and turned their love of land and livestock into their life’s work for more than 50 years.
Joe was an animal lover. The ranch included a feedlot where he custom fed 1,200 head of cattle each year in addition to 250 mother cows of his own. He became an excellent muleskinner and participated in the Montana and Wyoming Centennial Cattle drives and numerous teamster competitions winning many top honors in log skidding and driving precision. His skills as a horseman, earned him, his Belgian draught horse team Duke and Dan, horse Peaches, Conestoga wagon and doctor’s buggy places in the production of the 1992 epic western adventure Far and Away. His beloved burro, Burrito, was also the star of many petting barns and live nativity scenes. In later life his animals became smaller, and he spent many years with his companion “Buddydog”.
Joe also loved people and his community. He was an avid supporter of the Huntley Project. He was devoted to events like Homesteader Days and Threshing Bees and on the boards of the Museum, Irrigation District, Lion’s Club, Jaycees, and the Yellowstone County Calf Feeders, and Montana Horse and Mule, and Pompeys Pillar Historical Associations. He rarely turned down the opportunity to support the community with hayrides and campfires for the little ones on the last day of school and at events like Boy Scout Jamborees, and St. Vincent Hospital family outings. His greatest joys came from being with his family and he took great pride in their many accomplishments.
Joe and Joann retired to Billings, MT, and moved to Mission Ridge in 2010. He was active in his new community where he participated in the Residents’ Association, and enjoyed drum circle, singing in Missionaires, faithfully attending devotions, playing pinochle and became the resident jeweler, taking care of all the ladies jewelry repair needs. Residents and visitors alike could count on Joe to greet them with a devilish smile and a hug. He was quick with a joke and had the ability to bring humor to any situation.
Joe had a strong faith and was a long-time member of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church where he acted as chairman of the building committee for the new facility in Ballantine and was a current member of St. Pius X Church in Billings.
Joe is preceded in death by two sisters, Theresa, and Katherine, and three brothers Leo, Pete and Richard. He is survived by twins Adam and Conrad and brother John; his wife of 64 years, Joann; children Debbie and Dan and grandchildren Alisa and Joshua.
Joe was an amazing man who was loved immensely by many and will be forever missed–not forgotten. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request that you make donations in Joe’s honor to the St. John’s United Foundation or Huntley Project Museum.
