Earl A. Lindgren

JOLIET - Earl A. Lindgren went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. He was 81.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 5. Pastor Rick Green will officiate at the service at Joliet Lutheran Church; interment will be at Rockvale Cemetery.
Earl was born on June 15, 1926, to August and Harriet Lindgren. He was raised in the Edgar/Joliet area and lived there all his life, graduating from Edgar High School.
Earl served in the Army as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne. During his lifetime, Earl assisted on many committees on a county, state and national level. He served as President for the Carbon County Farm Bureau, President and Director of the Montana Beef Council, President of the Montana Cattle Feeders, and President of the Joliet Senior J Club, Secretary of the City-County Airport Board and Carbon County Republican Central Committee from 1956 to 1988, Commander of American Legion Post #7, and at Memorial Day for 20-plus years Earl placed flags on veteran's graves at Rockvale Cemetery. He was also a Board of Director for Montana Stockgrowers (serving on the Executive Committee from 1986-¬1990), a member of the NCA to present NCBA serving as chairman of the Grading Committee in 1992, Advisory Board of the Southern Agriculture Research Center, Carbon County Soil Conservation, Edgar School Board, Masonic Lodge #65 and Joliet Lutheran Church. Earl and his brother, Leonard were in partnership farming and feeding cattle for 49 years.
Earl married Jane Dietz on Nov. 5, 1948. Together, they raised two sons and a daughter on the farm, teaching them all a strong work ethic. Earl and Jane traveled extensively together, serving on their different committees for the beef industry.
Earl passed on his love of birds, golf, fishing and sports to his grandchildren, whom he loved dearly. He also passed on his wisdom of the correct way to irrigate to his grandsons. In later years, he also enjoyed the company of his great-grandchildren.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Lula Peterson and Faith Cole; and two brothers, Theodore Lindgren and John Blackford.
Earl is survived by his wife of 59 years, Jane. He is also survived by his two sons and their families, Wally and his wife Debbie of Joliet and their children Carrie, Brent, Brad, Tiffany and Danielle; Terry and his wife Pam of Malta and his children Jacy, Nikki and Scott. One daughter, Linda Elrod of New Boston, Texas and her daughter Kelli also survive him. Earl is survived by seven great-grandchildren, Travis, Brandon, Dalton, Dylan, Jaden, Shayanna, Hunter, Kylee and Kaden; two brothers, Leonard Lindgren of Joliet and Charles (Marty) Lindgren of Indianapolis; and one sister, Alberta Bartell; along with many nieces and nephews survive him.
We will miss you Earl, Dad and Grandpa. Rest in peace, the cows have been fed. See ya.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested, in memory of Earl, to Joliet Lutheran Church, Joliet Ambulance, Edgar Fire Department or the Joliet Community Center.
Smith Funeral Chapel-Laurel assisted with arrangements.

This obituary was originally published in the Billings Gazette.