Robert Lutts

Funeral Services for Robert R. Lutts, 79, of Wibaux, MT will be 2:00 p. m. on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 in the Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker, MT with Pastor Sheldon Sorenson officiating. Interment will follow in the Lutts Ranch Family Cemetery. Visitation will be 2:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m. on Monday February 16th, and continue from 9:00 p. m. till the time of the service on Tuesday, at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker. Robert passed away on Thursday, February 12, 2009 at the Fallon Medical Complex in Baker, MT. Robert R. Lutts was born on August 5, 1929, in Baker, MT, the son of Rudolf and Gulnare (Stark) Lutts. He grew up on the family ranch near Carlyle, where he attended the Eureka Country School. He began his lifelong ranching career at an early age, quitting school a few weeks into his freshman year of high school to go gather loose range horses on Cabin Creek for Chan Randall. When Robert was 14, he ran the family ranch by himself for an entire winter when his parents were stranded in Chicago for nearly six months after delivering a load of cattle there by rail. Robert first met Jean Gail Morton of Baker at a Farmer?s Union Meeting when he was 19 or 20 and she was nine or ten. They began going together in 1954, and announced their engagement at the Walt Spriggs home in June of 1957. The two were married on December 1, 1957, at the Community Church in Baker, MT. Twins Mary and Kenny came into the family in 1967, followed eight years later by daughter Amy and two years after that by son Roy. Robert was always happiest when he was outdoors. He loved breaking horses and was always at home on a horse with a long stride and a fast walk. He also enjoyed working his Hereford and Saler cattle from horseback. Robert especially enjoyed attending community brandings and similar events where he could work cattle and visit with all his friends and neighbors. Hunting and shooting were some of his favorite pastimes, and he took great pride in his marksmanship and enjoyed many deer, elk and rabbit hunts through the years. As a way of life in his early years, and as a hobby later on, Robert enjoyed draft horses and driving teams. Another favorite activity in his younger years was traveling to the Long Pines to cut fence posts with neighbor Ronald Schouboe and father-in-law Robert Morton. At only five-foot-six and 135 pounds, Robert could out-lift many larger men and was always very proud of how strong he was for his small size. Robert enjoyed kids and was known for giving many of the neighborhood children their first horseback ride, in addition to always offering piggyback rides and generally leading them astray into whatever mischief there was to be found. He very much enjoyed having his nephews Steve and Gerald Spriggs around the place during the several summers they spent out at the ranch beginning in 1958. Robert served on the local school board for several years, and was a member of the Farmers Union and served as a president of the local chapter. Robert was active in the Ollie Community, helping with projects at the Ollie Cemetery and Ollie School, and was a member of the Ollie Community Club. Robert belonged to 4-H and helped his own children in 4-H for 15 years. He also served as a Volunteer Fireman with the Baker Rural Fire Department. He built many reservoirs in the area with and for neighbors using a farm tractor and dirt scraper, and also worked as a pumper for a local oil company. Known to many friends and neighbors by a variety of nicknames including Stub, R. R. , and Bob, Robert loved being a rancher and living the cowboy way of life ? he was truly the authentic Western Cowboy. Robert was always upbeat and easygoing, and could give you a smile and a good laugh in any situation. He was there to offer a helping hand to his neighbors whenever they were in need. Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Jean; his children Kenneth (Sonya) Lutts of Springfield, Oregon, Mary Waggoner of Billings, MT, Amy (Wade) Skartved of Billings, MT, and Roy (Erin) Lutts of the family ranch at Carlyle; and grandchildren Kenya Lutts, Brandon and Tyler Waggoner, Chance Skartved, and Ashlyn and Riley Lutts. Robert is also survived by three sisters, Juel (Don) Baker, of Indianapolis, IN; Marlys Spriggs of Baker; and Shirley (Fred) Nunberg of Wibaux; and by two very special nephews Steve and Gerald Spriggs. Robert was preceded in death by his mother and father, his two very close friends and brothers-in-law Walt Spriggs and Orren Lindstrom, and an infant sister Lolita Hazel Lutts. Arrangements are under the care of Stevenson Funeral Home of Baker, MT.


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Burial Date: February 17, 2009
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Service: Tuesday, Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home, Baker, MT.