Floyd LaBrant

Floyd LaBrant

Floyd was born at home in Mountrail County, North Dakota on a bitterly cold October night in 1932. He passed away peacefully in his sleep during the early hours of Friday, February 3, 2023 at home in Prescott, Arizona.

In his youth he lived in Mountrail County, North Dakota with his parents and four younger siblings until they moved to Creston, Montana in 1947. Floyd enlisted in the US Navy in December 1950 so that he could complete his high school education. He proudly served as a Seaman on the USS LST-1110 until September 1954.

After leaving the Navy he returned to Montana where he worked at various jobs in the Flathead area before beginning his career with the US Forest Service in 1955. A natural engineer, he studied at night and became a Certified Engineering Technician in 1967. His work with the USFS took him and his family from Kalispell to Helena, to Butte, to Missoula and finally to Bigfork. He retired from the USFS in 1985. After retirement he kept busy with his farmanch near Creston and was co-owner of the Destitute Cattle Company. He also worked for a while as a meat broker and took a number of special assignments with the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Floyd earned his private pilot license on October 18, 1953 and was a part owner of a Cessna plane for a time. He had a lifelong interest in aviation and had very fond memories of his time flying - particularly taking joy in having been able to take his grandfather for his first flight and in flying his fiancée to Spokane to pick out her wedding gown. He was also a life member of the VFW and B.P.O.E.

Floyd married the love of his life, Antonette (Toni) Ferguson on August 30th, 1957 in Kalispell, Montana. After the death of his father they purchased the family farm near Creston in 1972 and lived there until retiring to Corvallis, Montana in 2003. In August 2021 they moved yet again to Prescott, Arizona to be closer to family. This is where he celebrated both his 65th wedding anniversary and his 90th birthday with family in 2022.

Floyd was preceded in death by his parents, Duane and Virginia LaBrant, his younger brothers Harlan and Larry, his brothers-in-law Dale Lauman and Don Baker and nephew Darron Baker. He is survived by his beloved wife Toni in Prescott, AZ, daughters Karen (John) Benediktson of Silver City, NM and Jeanne (Jeff) Borer of Washington state, sisters Lois Lauman (Lakeside MT) and Ardis Baker (Prescott AZ.) He leaves his treasured grandchildren Sara (Allegany NY), Aidan (Quincy MA) and Marisa Borer (Phoenix AZ) and Anna Benediktson (Missoula MT). Other survivors include his brothers and sisters in law, a number of nieces and nephews by marriage, his nephews Mark, Eric and Paul LaBrant and niece Lynette Hoyt.

Graveside services will be held at Glacier Memorial Gardens, Kalispell, Montana at 11:00 am on Saturday, May 20th, 2023.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to Shriners Hospitals for Children or the Veterans charity of your choice in his honor.