Verle Graham

Funeral Services for Verle Alvin Graham, 77, of Baker, MT will be held at 11:00 a. m. on Saturday, January 15, 2010, at Plevna Baptist Church in Plevna, MT with Pastor Ernie Lambright officiating. Interment will follow at 2:30 p. m. in Bonnievale Cemetery in Baker with full Military Rites. Visitation will be at 3:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m. on Friday, January 14, at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p. m. Verle passed away on Sunday January 9, 2011 at Fallon Medical Complex in Baker, MT. After a courageous 3 year battle with cancer, Verle was called to the heavenly home he longed for where he is now perfectly healed in the arms of his Savior. Verle Alvin Graham was born on May 31, 1933 to Tillman Arthur and Emma Irene (Lorash) Graham in Hardin, MT. He attended school in Hardin and Bridger, MT graduating in 1954 in Bridger. During and after high school, Verle pipelined. When he entered into service to his country by joining the U. S. Army, Verle attended basic training at Ft. Carson, Co. After completing A. I. T. at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO where he trained to become a combat engineer, Verle was assigned to a Drill Team Color Guard at Ft. Campbell, KY and attended special events and military funerals in the Tennessee area until he was Honorably Discharged in January of 1958. After spending some time in Bridger upon being discharged, he moved with a drilling rig from Red Lodge, MT to Baker where he rough necked for approximately 6 months. It was here during the spring of 1958 that true love began to grow when he met Arleen Kusler in Baker. Verle and Arleen were married June 7, 1959 at Emanuel Congregational Church in Plevna, MT. They were blessed with two children, Scott and Sheila. In March 1960 Verle started his career with MDU after receiving a job tip from his future brother-in-law LeRoy Kusler. Verle worked at the Cabin Creek compressor station and later transferred to Baker where he was assigned to the gas field south of Baker. Verle retired in January of 1998 after 38 years of dedicated service to MDU and Williston Basin Interstate Pipeline. Verle was very proud of his wife, children and grandchildren and was happiest when he was mowing grass, hunting for petrified wood, and watching or listening to his grandchildren in their school activities. Because of his third love ? rocks ? Verle met people from across the US. He always had a rhyme or a joke for everyone he met and if you gave him five minutes, you were instantly his friend. Whenever any of the nieces or nephews brought someone special home for a family gathering, Verle had that special knack of making them instantly feel like they were one of the most important and special people in the family. In 2010, Verle was recognized as the 2009 volunteer of the year by the City of Baker for his years of volunteering his time and efforts to improving the aesthetics of the City of Baker. Verle is survived by his loving wife of 51-1/2 years Arleen, his children, Scott (Paula) Graham of Lincoln, NE and Sheila (Jerry) Woolington of Baker, grandchildren Ashley and Taylor Graham of Lincoln, NE, and Bailey and Arika Woolington of Baker, brothers, Cliff (Shirley) Graham of Lolo; Paul (Alice) Graham of Odessa, TX; sister Ada (Dick) Dede of Billings; and several nieces and nephews who were all a very important part of his life. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Peter, James and Tillman; sisters, Ida Foust and Jo Thormahlen. Rom 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.


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Burial Date: January 15, 2011
Funeral Home Baker, MT

Funeral Service: Saturday, First Baptist Church, Plevna, MT