Peter A. Dighans

Peter Arnold Dighans, 88, from Richland, Mont., passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, April 7, 2024.

Peter was the 10th of 13 children born to Peter and Magdelina Dighans. In 1955, after high school, Peter joined the military and was stationed in New Ulm, Germany for two years. It was there that he first saw Elvis perform before Elvis was famous. He often commented about his time in New Ulm and loved the castles. He loved this country and was a true patriot until the end.

He returned to Peerless, Mont., worked construction, and helped out on the farm. He was active in community sports and oftentimes traveled to Rockglen, Saskatchewan for events. It was there that he met and fell in love with his wife, Dolores. They were married in the fall of 1962.

Peter and Dolores homesteaded outside of Richland where they raised four daughters, Alisa Vandersloot (Cal), Melissa Van Dyken (Dan), Gwendolyn Moore (Matt) and Gayleen Jones (Bill). As you can imagine, the girls were Peter's right hand "men." They drove tractor, milked cows, and helped out with all of the other things necessary to run the farm. Peter loved his girls and would reminisce with them about their accomplishments and antics. He wasn't sure how many times they made him tumble from the top of a pickup load of bales while feeding the cows, but they each had their turn. 

Peter loved his cows and spent over 50 years perfecting his herd of Fleckvieh Simmental Cattle. To his dying day his eyes would light up when the conversation turned to these beautiful creatures. He also enjoyed panning for gold in Alaska, fishing at Fort Peck Lake, and dancing anywhere they were playing good two step music.

In his later years, Peter was known to travel the country to enjoy a good, hot meal. You could find him at the Bum Steer in Flaxville, Mont., on a Friday night and in Opheim, Mont., each Tuesday and Thursday for "senior citizens" as he commonly called the senior lunches. In between, he would be in Richland at the Silver Dollar enjoying a burger or a bowl of Rhonda's famous soup. There were many times when he should have stayed home because the weather was terrible, but he would always respond "Oh, it wasn't that bad.  I'm a good driver you know.  I've been driving for 80 years!" He loved the country and his home in Northeast Montana and didn't want to live anywhere else.

Peter is preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife Dolores; and nine of his siblings-infant girl, Christina Taylor, John Dighans, Martha Hersel, Agnes Sheets, Henry Dighans, Alfred Dighans, Antone Dighans, and Francis Hagen.

He is survived by his four daughters, eleven grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; three siblings and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services were April 17, 10 a.m., at Waller Funeral Home, 221 Timmons Street, Scobey.