Gary Zeiler
Gary Eugene Zeiler (86) was welcomed to his eternal home on June 22, 2024, after a brief battle with urinary tract cancer. He was born on July 30, 1937, and was the middle child of five children born to Emma Robertus and Ernest Eugene Zeiler. He was born on the family farm southwest of Billings and spent his entire life living on Zeiler Acres.
He met his wife of 66 years, Eleanor Kober, at a dance at Dave’s Place, where they frequented. They had two children, Denise (Bohlman) and Doug Zeiler.
Gary loved to jitterbug, waltz and polka, play cards and watch Western movies. He was a gifted horseman in his early years and was a member with the Billings Quadrille, performing square dancing on horses and participating in the sport of O-Mok-See riding competitions (pole bending, barrel racing) and riding horses in parades. In his later years, he was a member of Pike Masters. Gary enjoyed fishing for pike and walleye, boating, camping, 4-wheeling, and snowmobiling. Gary loved life and teased he would live to 200! He teased everyone, especially his nieces and nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
He was loyal, hardworking, and resourceful. Gary was mechanically inclined, as well as a skilled welder and builder. He could fix or build anything! He made his own engine lift, log splitter, grain bin feeder for cattle, hog feeders, a large stone waterfall and pond and countless gadgets. He built a large, enclosed patio area where many fish fries, bar-be-ques and celebrations were held. He built a Quonset-style airplane hangar and numerous other outbuildings, too. He enjoyed taking a discarded item and rebuilding and remodeling it, like their boat and motorhome, with his wife and best friend, Eleanor, by his side.
The diversity of the jobs he held reflected his many talents and abilities. During his lifetime he worked on the family farm raising crops and cattle; delivered and set up mobile homes for Danny’s Mobile Homes and Char-El’s Mobile Homes; welded for Roscoe Steel and for Scott’s Mobile Welding; wrapped meat at Pierce Packing Meat Plant for 17 years until its closure where he was a member of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, Local No. 560 Labor Union; and was a diesel mechanic for Jacobsen Trucking and Graham’s Auto Body. He and Eleanor eventually owned their own semi-truck and business – G&E Transportation. After suffering a stroke at age 81, he reluctantly retired.
Gary was a long-time member of Christ the King Lutheran Church where he served the Lord and his flock. He enjoyed his relationship with Reverend Ryan Wendt and the congregants there.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Eleanor; daughter, Denise; son, Doug; grandchildren, Travis Gustin, Nicole (Ryan) Kamura, and Payton Zeiler; great grandchildren, Addison Hope Kamura and Emersyn Grace Kamura; sisters, Barb Culver and Linda (Edward) Popp; and numerous nieces and nephews. Gary was predeceased by his parents and brothers, Harold and Richard.
A special thanks to Dr. Neal Sorenson, Dr. Kenneth May and the staff at Intermountain Health Cancer Center; the attentive and kind nursing staff at St. Vincent’s Hospital; the caring staff at RiverStone Health Home Care and Hospice; Reverand Wendt for his many visits with Gary and the family; and to all the family and friends who lifted us during their more desperate times with food, prayers and their time.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to:
Christ the King Lutheran Church, 759 Newman Lane, Billings, MT 59102 or a charity of your choice.
Condolences may be made online at: Billings Cremation and Funeral Gallery.
Gary’s service will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 759 Newman Lane, Billings, Montana, on Friday, June 28, 2024, at 10:00 AM. It will be live streamed on YouTube – Christ the King Lutheran Church – Billings Montana, if you are unable to attend in person.
