Leo F. Barthelmess Sr.

Leo F. Barthelmess Sr., 88, surrounded by family and friends, passed away peacefully on Monday, Nov. 14, 2016.

The family will receive friends at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Kirkwood Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Kirkwood Memorial Chapel. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery.

He was born May 3, 1928, in Miles City, Mont., to Casey and Anna (Oby) Barthelmess. He grew up on the family ranch at Olive, Mont., with four brothers and one sister, Richard, Bob, Casey (Ward), Rosemary and Randall. He graduated from Custer County High School in 1946.

He married Mary Emily Robinson on Oct. 16, 1954. Out of the marriage came four children: Leo (1955), Chris (1957), Emily (1974) and Marian (1977).

He and Mary Emily and the boys moved to a ranch near Fort Peck in the spring of 1960 where they lived until they settled in the Content Community in South Phillips County, Montana in 1964. He, with his family by his side, weathered all the ups and downs of agriculture for 52 years. He and Mary Emily moved to Malta in 2011, where he continued to make positive contributions to the management of the ranch until his passing.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Emily; children, Leo and his wife Darla (Ereaux) Barthelmess, Chris Barthelmess, Emily and her husband Scott Arthun and Marian Barthelmess; grandchildren, Anna and her husband Cliff Merriman with their children Courtney and Beau; Eric Barthelmess; Scot and his wife Rachel (Nash) Barthelmess with their children, Tade and Toby. He is also survived by his older brother Ward Barthelmess, one sister Rosemary and her husband George Zettler, and his brother Doctor Randall and his wife Judy Barthelmess. Also survived by close family and friend, Scott and his wife Lisa Bjornson and Walter "Chip" Gibbs and numerous nieces and nephews.

In-lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Hi-Line Retirement Center in Malta.

Kirkwood Funeral Home in Malta is in charge of arrangements.