Person:Leslie Finkbeiner (1)

Per 4 Mar 1931 obit of Margaret Kinnick

Billings Gazette Billings, MT 25 Apr 2006

LEWISTOWN - Leslie Arthur Finkbeiner, 103, died early Monday, April 24, 2006, at Valle Vista Manor. Les was born Jan. 12, 1903, in Grass Range, to Fred and Marie Finkbeiner. He attended the Finkbeiner School in Grass Range and worked at the family home until he moved into Lewistown to attend high school. He worked for Aero Refinery, refining crude oil from Cat Creek until the spring of 1923. He then worked for Diddy Construction as a carpenter. In February 1925, he met Dorothy Kinnick at a dance. They were married on Nov. 21, 1925. In the fall of 1928, he bought a truck and went into the trucking business. That same fall, he went to work for the State Highway Department and continued to work for the State Highway Department until January 1943. At that time, he moved their house in Grass Range and the Carl Noble barn to the old home ranch on the Beaverball Creek. He and Dorothy farmed and ranched until November 1955. In 1955, they moved to Lewistown, where Les went to work at the Independent Lumber Yard. He became owner and operator of the Independent Lumber Yard in 1963, and continued to operate it until 1968, when he sold the property to Buttery Food Store and retired. He was a member of the Grass Range United Methodist Church; a life member of Captain Scott Masonic Lodge #98 AF & AM, and served as past master in 1940 and 1942; a member of Scottish Rite Bodies; a member of Al Bedoo Shrine; the Anna Smalley Chapter #112 Order of Eastern Star; the Elks and the Eagles. He also served as a school board member at Grass Range; and served on the board of the Snowy Mountain Industries (Regional Services) for many years. He enjoyed working with wood, all aspects of ranching, visiting with people, traveling, going to dances and calling square dances. He loved get-togethers at Pine Ridge and running old steam tractors. Survivors include a daughter, LaVerne (Pete) Boettger of Lewistown; four grandchildren, Janie Kettenacker of Grass Range, Leslie (Jim) DeWitt of Kalispell, Dennis Herbold of Stanford, Joe (Char) Herbold of Jordan; six great-grandchildren, Ty Kettenacker of Shepherd, Heidi (Kevin) Rendina of Kalispell, Cassie DeWitt of Kalispell, Charity DeWitt of Kalispell, Hailey Herbold and Heath Herbold both of Jordan; and three great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by a son-in-law, Lester "Swede" Herbold of Stanford; and a sister-in-law, Opal Finkbeiner of Lewistown; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy in 2001; a daughter, Lois Herbold in 2000; six brothers and two sisters. Memorial services will be at the Creel Funeral Chapel on Friday, April 28, at 1 p.m. Masonic services will be under the auspices of Captain Scott Lodge #98 AF & AM. Inurnment will be at Lewistown City Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Memorials are suggested to the Grass Range United Methodist Church or to the charity of the donor's choice. Source: [email protected] Subject: Obit, Leslie Arthur Finkbeiner

1930 U. S. Census, populations schedule, Montana, Fergus County, School District 49, April 2, 1930, Sheet 1A, dwelling 6, family 6: Leslie A. Finkbeiner, Head, R, yes, 27, M at 23, Montana, Germany, Germany, Laborer, General Farming; with wife, Dorothy J., 21, M at 17, Oregon, Iowa, Illinois; with daughters, Edith L., 2, S, Montana, Montana, Oregon; and Lois M., 10/12, S, Montana, Montana, Oregon.

1. ↑ Obituary.
2.   Obituary.