Luke Robert Muggli

1927 - 2024

Luke Robert Muggli was born in Miles City, Montana on August 2, 1927. Luke was seventh of the ten children born to Joseph and Barbara (Schmidt) Muggli. Luke passed away Feb 9, 2024, surrounded by his family at the Holy Rosary Resident Living Center in Miles City.

His early childhood consisted of helping his dad and older siblings on the 110 acre, irrigated home place located in the valley east of Miles City. As the farm grew in acres, Luke was needed to help with harvesting crops and farm animal care. Luke attended Sacred Heart School for 12 years and was granted time to attend Auto Mechanics at Custer County High School. He traveled to Helena on the train full of other able young men to go through a physical for military preparation.

In his youth, Luke enjoyed swimming in the irrigation ditches and Yellowstone River. Sunday afternoons in the summer were spent at the river or Bensley Creek flume. He assisted his brothers in making a swimming reservoir on the lower place which was widely known by most people in the valley and also enjoyed by his children in later years. He trapped skunks with his brother Francis and sold the pelts to Sears Roebuck & Co. They also purchased two bomber, trainer airplanes with radial engines that were in running condition. They were missing the wings but were able to be taxied in the farm fields for fun.

With the purchase of some used machining equipment from the Milwaukee Railroad round house for the farm, Luke took to machining as a hobby and a need for repair of machinery on the farm. He would make "blue prints" on bearing boxes that he cut up because of their thick card stock nature. He would always caution coworkers to stop and "make a plan" before moving forward with a new project. He worked with his three brothers on the farm to develop the Muggli Bros feed business. Long hours of toil shaped his work ethic and helped to make the business a success. Due to crop hail damage, he and his brothers worked for LP Anderson one winter trenching in lines for seismic wells north of Miles City.

On February 6th, 1961, he joined in marriage with Georgia Mockel. They built their home on farmland purchased from Henry Spiri and raised four children: John (Michelle) Muggli of Miles City, Ben (Brenda) Muggli of Miles City, Joe (Evelynne) Muggli of Dickinson, ND, Lucy (John) VanCleave of Bozeman, MT. He also was known as grandpa to TJ Muggli, Angie (Jake) Haxby, Nolan Muggli, Wyatt Muggli, Gracie Muggli, Isaac Muggli, Harlie Muggli, Andrew VanCleave, and Amber VanCleave.

Luke enjoyed a challenge whether it involved metal or wood working. He invested in a wide range of power tools to complete these projects. He assisted his son and his son's friend to make matching, wood gun cabinets one winter. Most winter Sunday afternoons found Luke out in his heated workshop engrossed in a project. He also enjoyed deer hunting with his brother Tom and close friends. Many stories were told on organized hunts and how they were successful. He was proud of his WW1 military rifle that he converted to a useful deer hunting rifle.

Luke planted a large garden every year he was able. He was challenged with finding solutions to poor growth and yields. In the later years, he got involved in apple and plum trees which produced some bumper crops on random years. He read up on procedures to minimize worm infestation and loss. He also enjoyed fishing at the river in search of large channel cat. He did go on a fishing trip with two of his sons to the Big Horn Mountains one summer that yielded some brook trout. He always talked about taking some canned beans along and spending a week in the mountains fishing.

Luke and Georgia enjoyed trips later in life to Alaska, Minneapolis, Vermont, Grand Canyon, and Branson, MO. They enjoyed visited grandkids when they could. Luke was intrigued with history and different ways of life in other regions of the country. Luke and Georgia were members of the Range Riders Reps.

Luke helped out people in need. He built a hand cart for the catholic missions one year. He was good at refurbishing special equipment or devices that needed repair. He was not afraid of modifying something to make it work better for the application. He always was open-minded and found a solution for the problem at hand. Luke is the last of a generation of true craftsman that is detailed and takes pride in the end product. He will be greatly missed by family and friends.

Luke is survived by his children and grandchildren, two siblings: Tom Muggli and Sister Agatha Muggli OSB and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Georgia, and his siblings: Hugo Muggli, Don Muggli, Anna Mae Miller, Gregory Muggli, Lorraine Kaiser, Francis Muggli, and Arthur Muggli.

A Rosary and Vigil service will be held on Thursday, February 22, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow in the Calvary Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.