Walter Jasper Riggin

Walter Jasper Riggin, 91, passed away on Thursday, May 22, 2014, at the Nemont Manor Retirement Home in Glasgow, Mont.

He was born at Barr, Mont., 30 miles north of Hinsdale, on March 23, 1923, to Guy and Minnie Riggin. He was the second of seven children. At age 10 they moved to Hinsdale for the kids to attend school. At age 16 he went to work at the Black Ranch for one year. His pay was $1 a day. He then worked for the Etcharts until 1943, when he joined the U.S. Army. He was medically discharged from the service and returned back to Hinsdale where he again worked for the Etcharts.

On June 20, 1950, he married Barbara Rice. Together they had three children. In 1952 he went to work for Markle's and later from 1959 to 1969 for the City of Glasgow.

In 1969 he and Barb bought the farm from his father-in-law, Dave Rice, fulfilling his life-long dream. He was one of the founding fathers of the Whitmayer Grazing Association. He also was involved with introducing elk out south, so it was quite fitting for him to shoot the elk of a lifetime in 1997 at 75 years young.

He loved doing many things with his family that included pitching horseshoes, hunting, taking part in the yearly branding festivities and bowling until he was 86 years old.

He was a member of the Methodist Church and enjoyed working the annual Ham Dinner. He was an Elk member, enjoyed the VFW, and the Montana Bar, especially on grazing meeting nights. He loved anywhere that he could go dance. The last 16 years of his life was spent with his best friend, June Cotter.

He was preceded in death by his wife Barbara, five sisters and a brother.

Survivors include his best friend, June Cotter; two sons, David Riggin and his wife, Thelma, of Fort Peck, and Bruce Riggin and his wife, Shelly, of Glasgow; one daughter, Tammy Riggin-Deisch and her husband, Derrick, of Glasgow; and grandchildren, Christi Myers and her husband, Troy, and their children, Breilyn and Keanan, Kari and her daughter, Kamarah, Callie Sather and her husband, Neven, Lisa, and Casey Riggin, Andrew and Michael Deisch; and many nieces and nephews.

A private family service was held Tuesday, May 27, at the Riggin-Rice Cemetery in Glasgow, followed by a Celebration of Life at 4 p.m. at the El Cor Del Bowling Alley in Glasgow. Interment was in the Riggin-Rice Cemetery in Glasgow.

Bell Mortuary of Glasgow was in charge of arrangements.