Reid Connell

1944 - 2021

Reid Connell

April 29, 1944 to Nov. 16, 2021

Missoula, Mont. -- Reid Connell passed away Nov. 16 in Missoula, Montana.

Reid Curtis Connell was born on April 29, 1944 to Jack and Mildred (Gunkel) Connell. Both the Gunkel and Connell families were among the earliest pioneer families in Billings County. Many descendants of both families still reside in Western North Dakota including brother Fay Connell who lives in Bismarck. The family moved to the Rafter J Ranch on Blacktail Creek when Reid was two. His sister, Sandra, was born in 1946. The ranch was isolated with no phone or electricity during early years of Reid's childhood. Travel was on a forty mile dirt road that was impassable much of the year. As a toddler Reid had health issues but as he approached teenage years he became a strapping young man that was equally at ease breaking a young horse or singing solos at high school events and in the school choir.

In that time with no phones and impassable roads many rural kids, including Reid, had to "board out" to go to high school. Reid lived in Belfield all four years with his maternal Aunt Helen and her husband Andy Lindbo and their five children. For Reid living with "all those cousins" was like having an extended family of stepbrothers and sisters. Friendships formed that lasted through adulthood. Although school was easy for Reid and he was quite popular the call of the "road" sounded loudly in his veins as he grew into manhood. While still going to high school he hired on to drive truck on the weekends when he couldn't get home to help on the ranch. Summers were spent working as ranch hand for his Uncle Les Connell.

After graduating from high school, Reid joined the Army. Although it was the Vietnam era and the family was terrified he would be sent to "Nam" he was assigned to the Honor Guard instead. As such he was stationed near Washington, D.C. and participated in many high level funerals as well as a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. While in D.C. Reid met and married a Scottish lass, Valerie Mitchell. After they moved back to Medora their daughter Joanne Olive was born. When she was less than one year old the mother disappeared with the baby and Reid nor his family knew what happened to her until a few years ago. This left a heartache for family members.

Reid later married Norma Jean Aipperspach in 1968. Norma was the daughter of Dan and Esther Aipperspach of Bismarck. Again, this is a family with many descendants in North Dakota. Reid and Norma had three daughters Kelley, Shauna and Shahara. Shauna lives in Halliday and owns S&F Trucking. Kelley lives in Nevada and Shahara in Watertown, South Dakota.

In 1979 Reid married Josephine (Jody) Ann Monroe. Candyce and Mark joined the family in this union. Reid worked for years at Missoula Cartage and other companies until his retirement. He was active in the political arena on issues affecting truck drivers and also competed successfully in truck driving competitions as evidenced by many awards he won. The highlight was when he advanced to compete in the National Truck Driving Competition representing Montana. He and Jody raised Thoroughbred race horses that were well known in the Missoula area.

Reid lived most of his life in Missoula with a short hiatus in Las Vegas. Despite the healing effect of the warmer climate on his rheumatoid arthritis, when his wife Jody passed away, Reid "hightailed" it back to Missoula. Because he was always up for cup of coffee and good conversation and never was shy about calling up old friends and relatives he enjoyed life until COVID restrictions grounded him and his social set. Reid was an avid reader and especially liked and knew history. Before his hands became so crippled from the arthritis Reid created some of the most beautiful leather work. He also was viewed as an expert by friends and families on rodeo, especially bull riding, events and competitors.

Survivors include siblings Fay (Lynn) Connell of Bismarck and Sandra (Ed) Holsten of Alaska. Surviving children include Joanne (Tom) Falsetta, Kelley (Dan) Dosch, Shauna (Freddie) Gentry, Shahara (Nathan) Roe, Candy Dahlman, Mark (Candice) Hayes, and Karen Edwards. Fourteen grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren also survive him as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Reid's wives and two nephews preceded him in death.

Arrangements are under the care of Sunset Memorial Funeral Home of Missoula. Cards and remembrances can be sent to daughter Shauna Gentry, 149 93rd Avenue NW Halliday, North Dakota 58638-9263