Jeff Sutherland

 

 Jeff made his entrance into the world to the beating of drums on May 16, 1953, as the

Whoop-Up Parade passed by St. Mary’s Hospital. He grew up in Conrad, attending local

schools and graduating from Conrad High School in 1972. After high school, Jeff attended

Montana State University but returned home to work and save money to complete his college

education. It was during this time that he met his future wife, Connie, who was a regular at

Farmer Supply Co-op where Jeff worked, filling her gas tank & eventually getting the confidence

to ask her out.

 Jeff and Connie married in June 1977 in Conrad, where they would continue to live, and

eventually spend summers, until his passing. Throughout his life, Jeff was a true

jack-of-all-trades, working in a variety of roles. Managing the fertilizer plant at MMI, overseeing

Western Furniture in Shelby, before moving on to Ben Taylor’s Farm Store. In 1989, when Jeff’s

parents, Pike and Doris Sutherland, decided to sell their small restaurant, The Main Drive-In.

Jeff jumped at the chance to buy the business. Although Connie was initially reluctant, she

eventually agreed to support his dream—though not without some hesitation. She never had

any desire to own a restaurant, but she stood by him.

 Jeff and Connie purchased The Drive-In in the winter of 1989, and Jeff couldn’t have been more

excited to open its doors in the spring of 1990. Jeff wanted to rename the restaurant to "I Like It

Like That," but Connie wasn’t sold on the idea—she couldn’t quite imagine answering the phone

with a cheerful, “Good morning, I like it like that!” Together, they ran the iconic spot from 1990 to

2015.

 After hanging up his apron, Jeff worked for Ray Stoetzel before eventually landing at the Conrad

Building Center. In 2018, Jeff & Connie retired, and Jeff often joked that he was “heading south”

whenever the first snowflakes of the season fell. That summer, they bought a mobile home in

Mesa, beginning what would be Jeff and Connie’s annual winter journey.

 Soon after, they became actively involved in their new community, especially at Christ Church,

where they made many lifelong friends. Jeff and Connie loved their new life and often expressed

gratitude for finding a place where they felt so welcomed and connected. Jeff eagerly

participated in everything his community had to offer—whether it was coffee hour, bocce ball,

shuffleboard, or, of course, his favorite: pickleball. Even after losing sight in his right eye, Jeff

still gave his signature wicked curveball a try.

 He was a proud Bobcat through and through, often walking into the local pharmacy singing the

MSU fight song, knowing full well the pharmacists were Griz fans. Jeff's love for music knew no

bounds. In the early 1970s, he played drums in the local Phantoms band, built an impressive

vinyl collection, and could outwit anyone when it came to oldies music trivia.

Jeff had a remarkable talent for fixing anything—whether it was an emotional difficulty, a

challenging English paper, or a tangled wire. He was often the first person people turned to,

both for wise advice and for his expert skills fixing and repairs.

 With a heart full of patience and compassion, Jeff had a unique ability to bring people together.

He truly had no enemies, as his kindness and understanding made him a friend to all. We often

joked with Jeff that he should hang up his “counselor in” sign, as his wisdom and listening ear

were cherished by everyone who stopped by.

 Jeff is survived by his wife, Connie; daughter Heather and son-in-law Jonathan Carpenter;

grandchildren Karrington, Kaleb, and Kypton; and daughter Courtney, and her husband Mike

Anderson, along with grandsons Samuel and Ezra. He is also survived by his brother, Terry, and

sister-in-law Denise, and their children Wendy, Heidi, and Timothy, along with their families. Jeff

was preceded in death by his parents, Pike and Doris Sutherland, and his in-laws, Mr. Ade and

Jane Vandyke.

 A Celebration of Life will be held at Conrad Mission Church on Friday, November 15th, at 7:00

PM. Funeral services will take place on Saturday, November 16th, at 2:00 PM, also at Conrad

Mission Church, with a reception to follow at the Pondera Shooting Sports Complex.

 Memorials can be made to Conrad Splash Park or Conrad Parks & Rec for new playground

equipment.