Orville Gayle Fossum

Orville Gayle Fossum, 76, passed away on Saturday, March 8, 2014, at the Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital in Glasgow, Mont.

A service to celebrate Orville's life will be held Tuesday, March 18, at 2 p.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow. A reception at the Elks Lodge will follow immediately after the service.

Orville, the youngest of seven children, was born on Sept. 23, 1937, in Scobey, Mont., to Ole and Mary (Udoch) Fossum at Daniels Memorial Hospital. The only child of the couple born in a hospital, he lived on the family farm north of Richland until they were ready to make the move to Glasgow. He started school at the age of seven and went on to graduate from Glasgow High School in 1955.

In 1953, he and his father, Ole, formed Fossum & Son, where they maintained equipment – hauling topsoil, manure, gravel and excavating. In the early 60s, against the advice of his father, Orville bought out the ready-mix division or Best Way Lumber on the south side of Glasgow. In the late 60s, the ready-mix made the move from the south side to the north side of town. This was an immense expansion recalls Jim Carney, a life-long friend and former employee and partner of Orville. This gave Orville and his crew the opportunity to eventually go from the excruciating labor of busting and hauling sacks to bulk cement ... that was a big deal!

On May 27, 1961, he married Carol Matuska in Glasgow, where they remained to this day, happily raising their three children and enjoying their grandchildren.

Remaining ambitious, he and good friend Jim Carney purchased Malta Ready Mix in 1973. In 1976, Fossum & Son officially became Fossum Ready Mix as Orville bought out Glasgow Ready Mix. Throughout all of his career endeavors, Francis Muggli remained a steadfast friend to Orville mentoring him along the way.

He was a wonderful man and a friend to many. He donated selflessly to the community – by and large anonymously. He was hardworking and proud of what he had accomplished in his life. Characteristically in Orville's world, if the conversation didn't involve hauling gravel, pouring cement, bartering, or occasionally discussing fishing, it was simply not worth discussing.

Outside of work, the hobbies he enjoyed were fishing with his buddies, hunting, traveling to auctions to look at heavy equipment, bartering with his friends, and enjoying coffee, or maybe a beer and a bite to eat at all the many places he loved in Glasgow.

He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered for his daily, leisurely drives around his community just thinking, looking and enjoying a smoke.

He was preceded in death by four brothers, Ralph, Roy, Melvin and Lloyd; and one sister, Glenda Gardner.

He is survived by his wife, Carol (Matuska) Fossum; three children, Scott and his wife, Karleen, and grandchildren, Ashley, Shelby, Chase, and Keely Fossum; Steve and his wife, Janel, and grandchildren, Teagan and Kaden Fossum; and Julie Fairclough and her husband, Mike, and grandchildren, Tavia, Britten and Lexten, all of Glasgow; one sister, Grace Robinson, of Bozeman; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the charity of your choice or to the Glasgow Elks Lodge, a place Orville dearly loved.

Bell Mortuary of Glasgow is in charge of arrangements.