John Stark
John Ancil Stark passed peacefully in the presence of his family on Wednesday, June 8, 2022, at Riverstone Hospice Home.
John was born at home on the Moss Ranch near Pass Creek in Parkman, WY, August 29, 1933, to Keta and Floyd Stark. During the following two years his brother Gene and sister Betty joined the family. John received his education from Parkman School, Indian Arrow School, Lincoln and Billings Senior High, and from growing up on the Moss ranch and later the family ranch on Indian Creek, east of Billings. At the age of 17, John decided he “no longer liked the smell of paper and pencils” and with the approval of his parents, he enlisted in the United States Army where he proudly served in the 504th Air Division and became a paratrooper. He was honorably discharged in 1954. John then began his mason career carrying hod and mastering the trade of laying brick and block and building fireplaces in the surrounding areas of Billings, Hardin and Grass Range.
While attending a local dance, John met the love of his life, Nadine Alice Stricker, and they were married in Hardin, MT, November 24, 1956, and were blessed with four children over the next seven years. John moved his family to Hardin in 1960 where he leased farm ground and raised kids, sugar beets, corn, cattle, sheep and horses as well as working at the Holly Sugar Beet Factory and performing masonry work to make ends meet. For fun, John loved to chariot race, and the family squeezed into the pickup for many road trips to various race tracks to cheer him on. The highlight of his chariot competition came in 1970 when he finished 3rd in the World Championship Chariot Finals in Pocatello, Idaho, with his favorite team of mares named Lady Dove and Missile-Step.
Ten years later, John’s lifelong dream of owning a ranch presented itself, and he consigned his beet farm equipment to auction and purchased a ranch in Grass Range. At nearly the same time, the Holly Sugar Beet Factory announced their pending closure and John’s anticipated farm auction proceeds were reduced significantly, but he was determined to make a go of the ranch life he’d dreamed of. John and Nadine spent some of their best years ranching and raising their family in the community of Grass Range where they made treasured life-long friendships and memories.
Their plans to semi-retire kicked-off when they sold the ranch to start a feedlot in Silesia between 1978 and 1980. John enjoyed buying cattle for himself and others. He proudly credited his success to his knack of “buying junk and selling prizes” at the stockyards which included “knocking off the horns, cutting off a nut or two, lancing a lump jaw and putting on the pounds” which he accomplished with the help of his special dogs Spud 1, Spud 2 and Tuffy.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, their retirement was short-lived, and they returned to the ranch but after several years it was once again sold, and they purchased their retirement home in Billings where they enjoyed being closer to their children and their families. Pack trips on horseback, fishing and RVing were some of John’s favorite activities. John shuttled mine equipment between Billings and Nevada for many years for his son Victor at Rocky Mountain Air and Lubrication, and he occasionally ran the street sweeper and drove truck for son Steve at Arrow Striping and Manufacturing, and they both agree he was their best employee! John continued to broker cattle for others, and he and son Steve purchased some cow/calf pairs together and became partners and best friends.
If you asked 100 people to describe John, they would all give you a different story. He was self-made, hardworking, proud, kind, stubborn, thrifty to a fault, a cattle buyer, a mechanic, a horseman, an RV driver, a mason, a sugar beet, corn and hay farmer, a rancher, a self-taught country vet, a house builder, a lover of dogs, a farrier, the grand-kids sports fan, a risk taker, a loyal friend, a chariot racer, a fisherman, a PBR and NFR fan, a card player, a prankster, a wealth of knowledge and advice, a veteran, a cowboy, a gentleman, a mentor, a gardener, a fan of good cooking – especially desserts, a great story teller, a better story maker, a truck driver, a Fox News watcher, a patriot and paratrooper; he was funny, resourceful, a one of a kind, fun loving, devoted husband and family man, and he will be greatly missed!
John collected stories and friendships throughout his life and PAYS and BLS stockyards became his home away from home, and many there were like family to him. He always enjoyed breakfasts hosted by the VFW and his Sunday breakfasts with special friends Walt, Don and Norm.
When he was no longer able to care for Nadine at home, the only things that kept him from his daily visits to see her at Butter Fly Home and The Springs were his rare hospitals stays and Covid.
A very special thank you for the extraordinary and loving care John received from everyone at Riverstone Hospice, in particularly from Sue, Donna and Mark. You are earthly angels and greatly appreciated.
John was preceded in death by his parents, brother Gene and cherished in-laws Vic and Elizabeth Stricker. He is survived by his wife Nadine, their children: John (Mary), Steve (Kymm), Victor (Kyra) and Sandy (Keith); grandchildren: Jonathan (Jen), Jesse (Jen), Kaylee, Casey, Taryn, BreAnna, Wyatt, Kendall, and Sienna; great-grandchildren: Brocton, Bailey, Mason, Leighton and Emerson, as well as his sister Betty, along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and other loving relatives and friends.
John’s love and devotion to his wife and family were evident until his time on earth came to an end. Happy trails to this extraordinary man and a life well lived.
The family requests any desired memorials be made to Riverstone Hospice Home, 2230 Mission Way, Billings, MT 59102. A private family VA memorial service is planned for 1:00, Wednesday, June 15th at Sunset Memorial Gardens and a celebration of John’s life will take place at the Rhoadside Event Center, Sunday, July 10th, 1-4 pm.
