William Vernon Daum

Bill Daum was born in Bridger, Mont., on Feb. 4, 1931. He was the oldest of eight children. He attended Joliet High School, where he played football. It was in high school that he met Irma Charlton, whom he married in 1947. They first settled in Winnett and then moved to Conrad to work on ranches. They moved to Pryor in 1955, where they built their own place. They lived there up until the summer of 2011 and then moved to Billings.

As a young man, Bill enjoyed hunting and fishing. He liked walking down to the banks of Pryor Creek there at the house and fishing for trout. Most of all though, Bill loved ranching. Through his business sense and hard work, he was able to accumulate a large number of acres over the years, which were planted in winter wheat, barley and alfalfa. He loved to ride and gather his cattle. Probably his least favorite chore was irrigating and moving ditch dams around the alfalfa meadows. Fortunately, there wasn't a lot of hay that needed irrigated at Daum Ranch! Bill worked well into his 70's and the ranch was his most enduring love, aside from his family.

He didn't particularly care to travel, although he did see most of the U.S. as Irma very much liked going places. If Bill was gone for more than three days, he would be anxious and itching to get back home to the ranch. He loved attending rodeos, whether to watch each of his children compete at various times over the years, or just as a pure spectator. He also liked going to football games and saw many NFL games in person. Bill was active in civic organizations, including the Elks, Knights of Columbus, Montana Stockgrowers, and NILE, of which he was a member for 50-some years.

Our beloved father passed away from natural causes on Feb. 18, 2013. Bill was predeceased by his cherished wife of 63 years, Irma; his parents, Jake and Emma Daum; and his brothers, Dick, Ted and Jack Daum.

He is survived by son Doug Daum (Connie) of Billings; daughter Vicki Leuenberger (Roy) of Billings; daughter Michelle Haskins (Ray) of Lee's Summit, Mo.; siblings Gene Daum of Grass Range, Ronnie Daum (Marilyn) of Lavina, Donna Raburn (Bud) of Winnett, and Mona Abrahams (Steve) of Brooklyn, Texas. Bill is also survived by grandsons Joshua Leuenberger (Danielle) of Bellingham, Wash., and Bowen Leuenberger (Sharee) of Billings; along with three great-grandchildren.

The family suggests donations to the NILE Foundation or the charity of your choice. Funeral mass will be held at St. Charles Mission in Pryor at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 1, followed by burial at the Joliet Cemetery. Afterwards, all are invited to join the family for a buffet at the Rockvale Cafe to celebrate Bill's life.

Michelloti-Sawyers is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be made online at www.michelottisawyers.com

Bill Daum