Bill Johnstone

Funeral Service for Albert William Johnstone, 89, of Ekalaka, MT will be 2:00 p. m. on Thursday, May 26, 2011, in the Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka. Interment will follow in the Beaver Lodge Cemetery at Ekalaka with full Military Rites by the Ekalaka VFW Post #7885, Ekalaka American Legion Post #60 and the Montana Army National Guard Honor Guard. Visitation will be 11:00 a. m. on Thursday until the time of service at 2:00 p. m. Bill passed away on Sunday, May 22, 2011, at Dahl Memorial HealthCare in Ekalaka. Albert William Johnstone or Bill, as he was known to all, was born April 30, 1922, to James and Inga (Senrud) Johnstone at the family homestead on Spring Creek southwest of Ekalaka. Bill grew up on his parents’ ranch in the Spring Creek community with the exception of a couple of years when his parents lived on a farm in the Webster area in southern Fallon County. He attended the Spring Creek country school through the eighth grade. Following school, Bill worked for his parents on their ranch along with his younger brother, Johnny. He would break horses for five dollars apiece giving him his spending money and in his spare time, he trapped coyotes. On November 16, 1942, at the age of 20, Bill joined the United States Army where he faithfully served his country during World War II. Following his Honorable Discharge on September 13, 1945, Bill was awarded the Purple Heart, three Bronze Stars, and the Oak Leaf Cluster. Following his discharge from the Army, Bill returned to the Spring Creek community where he ranched with his father and brother, Johnny. While he was in the Army, a buddy of his dared a girl back home in Ekalaka to write to Bill. This dare and a courtship brought Bill and Loretta F. ?Pete? Pierce together, and on May 11, 1946, the two were married in Baker, MT. Bill and Pete were blessed with 61 years of marriage and two children, Margie and Jim. In 1973, the ranch was divided up and Bill and Pete ran their share until 1990 when they retired and moved into Ekalaka and turned the operation of their ranch over to their son, Jim. Bill and Pete enjoyed family outings and he was known for his sourdough pancakes. Throughout his life, Bill loved to work with his horses and liked to drive his teams. He was a great horseman. He served many years on the Spring Creek school board and was a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Survivors include a daughter, Margie (Tom) Blair; a son, Jim (Lois) Johnstone; a sister-in-law, Dorothy Johnstone, Ekalaka; five grandchildren, Barry (Sheila) Blair, Ekalaka, Justin (Kris) Johnstone, Laurel, MT, Deann (Craig) Miller, Miles City, Dee Johnstone, Bridgeport, TX and Brandi Jo Johnstone, Miles City; four step-grandchildren, Vicki (Randy) Fix, Ekalaka, Delbert (Regina) Jardee, Killdeer, ND, Dean (Melissa) Jardee, Great Falls, MT, and Glen Jardee, Talkeetna, AK; six great-grandchildren, Thomas, Hadleigh, Tyree, Talon, Tristen and Tucker; and six step-great-grandchildren, Kahla, Brent, Tiana, Kathryn, Addy and William and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Loretta, two brothers, James and Johnny and his sister, Sarah Johnstone. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in Bill?s memory to either Dahl Memorial Nursing Home Activity Fund or the Beaver Lodge Cemetery both in Ekalaka.


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Burial Date: May 26, 2011
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

Funeral Service: Thursday, Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home, Ekalaka, MT