George Harrison

BOYD - George Joseph Harrison passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2004, at the Beartooth Hospital and Health Care Center, where he had been hospitalized after a fall he took recently. George had been residing in Tender Nest in Red Lodge since March of 2004.
George was born to parents William and Elizabeth (Lukesh) Harrison on Feb. 20, 1912, in Currie, Minn. He moved to Montana with his parents in 1912, and homesteaded near Columbus, then to Red Lodge and finally, Boyd. George was a hard worker all his life. He sought employment in Venezuela, South America, in April of 1940 at the age of 28, where he was employed as a road engineer. Later, he returned to Montana and worked on the Fort Peck Dam Project and briefly on the Cooke City Highway on the Beartooth Pass. George met Helen Bell at Fort Peck, where she was employed as a waitress. They fell in love and married in Billings on Oct. 28, 1943, in the Lutheran Parsonage. They had no honeymoon due to the fact that George had to bale hay the next day. George and Helen stayed in the Northern Hotel in downtown Billings on the night of their wedding. They returned to Boyd and lived briefly at George's parents on the homestead outside of Boyd. Later, they purchased the still existing home ranch at Boyd. Here, they started one of the best Polled Hereford herds in the state. In October of 1973, George and Helen joined the American Angus Association, and started a registered Angus herd, after learning Angus cattle out-performed other breeds in this harsh climate. One of their very first consignments to Midland Bull Test at Columbus sold as one of the high sellers to Cedar Hills Angus, John Hamilton, Manhattan. Son Douglas and his family operate the ranch to this day as a fourth generation Angus ranch. Later, a ranch at Fox was purchased with son Dennis and family operating this ranch, going on a third generation ranch. George and Helen raised sheep and hay as well as cattle and together raised five children.
George and Helen enjoyed dances, being the very best dancers on the floor, and attended many Fiddler Jams throughout the years. Their son Dennis accompanied his daughter Deanne on the fiddle at many events that brought much enjoyment to George and Helen.
George loved fishing and camping at Cooney Dam with Helen in later years and trips fishing below the Clarks Fork Canyon, near Clark Wyoming with Ed and Dorothy Jakkola. He loved family outings, trips to Cooke City and listening to Lonnie Bell on Sunday mornings. George always had a joke and loved teasing a person. The girls from Tender Nest loved George, as he kept them entertained on a daily basis. George had a strong love for ranching and was very proud of his family. He was loved and will be missed by many family and friends.
George is survived by his five children, Janeice Mydland (Paul, deceased) of Joliet, Lou Anne Jones (Bob) of Billings, Douglas Harrison (Gladys) of Boyd, Dennis Harrison of Fox, and Lowell Harrison (and friend Audrey) of Boyd; 13 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren; one sister, Slyvia Chupp of Billings; numerous nieces and nephews and cousins. George was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Harrison, three sisters, three brothers and his parents.
Funeral services for George will be held on Monday, Aug. 30, at 1 p.m., at Dahl Funeral Chapel, Red Lodge. Burial will follow at Rockvale Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Sunday, Aug. 29, from 2 to 5 p.m. at Dahl's in Red Lodge. Memorials may be made to the Beartooth Hospital and Health Care or to the charity of your choice.