James Edwin Strodtbeck

Our father, our grandfather, our brother and our friend, James Edwin Strodtbeck passed away Wednesday, April 11, 2018, in Glasgow, Mont. He is now at peace and pain free as an angel high in the mountain tops of Montana. We were blessed to have him in our lives for 85 years and he touched the lives of so many across the Big Sky country.

Family, friends and loved ones whose lives Jim touched are invited to visit from 10-11 a.m., at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home at 525 S Main St. in Kalispell on Friday, April 20, with funeral services following at 11 a.m. A Celebration of Life event will be at 1:30 p.m. at the Eagles Club on 37 1st St. W. in Kalispell. A second Celebration of Life luncheon will be held on Tuesday, April 24, at 11:30 a.m. for his friends in Nashua at the Nashua Senior Center on 70 Temple St.

He was born in Missoula, on Jan. 18, 1933. After graduating from high school in 1952, he played college football for the Eastern Washington Eagles. Shortly after starting college, he began serving with the Army and served during the Korean War. He settled in Kalispell where he began a masonry apprenticeship with Louis Phillips. After his apprenticeship, he owned his own business for six years and eventually started working with Bud Anderson at Anderson Masonry until retirement. He perfected his trade, becoming an expert and revered artist of mason work. He built a home in East Glacier where he lived for 20 years. He eventually settled in Nashua, next to the Mighty Milk River, as he called it, for the last 15 years.

He was the master with his hands as a stone mason for over 50 years, creating masterpieces throughout the states of Washington, Idaho and Montana. If he wasn't building a stone wall, he was remodeling or building a house. He was a lover of nature and avid outdoorsman, always hunting, packing or fishing. He knew the mountains of Montana and could tell you some amazing stories of the woods. He was a master gardner and had a passion for growing the best flowers and vegetables. Most of all, he was one with a generous heart, helping and giving to all.

What will we do without your creative ideas to make things work? What will we do without your salty humor? What will we do without having you here to flick your nose? What will we do without your presence? You will be missed father, grandfather, brother and friend.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Marjorie; a brother, Russell; a sister, Virginia and one son-in-law, Kirby.

Survivors include his children, Kathy Ray, Mark (Lori) Strodtbeck, Teri (Wayne) McMichael, Tim (Chris) Strodtbeck and Cindy (Mike) Donohue; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Marilyn and Jean.