Vernon Walter

Funeral Services for Vernon M. Walter, 77, of Ekalaka, MT will be at 2:00 p. m. on Friday, September 10, 2010 in the Chapel of Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka with Tom Stieg officiating. Interment will follow in the Beaver Lodge Cemetery at Ekalaka with Masonic rites by the Ekalaka Lodge #120. Visitation will be 6:00 p. m. to 9:00 p. m. on Thursday, September 9th, at Stevenson Funeral Home with a Prayer Service at 7:00 p. m. Visitation will continue on Friday, from 10:00 a. m. until the time of service. Vernon M. Walter passed away on September 6, 2010. He was born July 3, 1933 to Perry and Nancy Goodwin Walter at the homestead 9 miles northeast of Ekalaka with Anna Frye Carroll as the midwife. Vernon attended various country schools and he was fortunate to have one of his sisters, Diana, as his teacher. During his high school years Vernon and his sister, Virginia, ?batched? in Ekalaka during the week. Vernon enjoyed playing football and basketball and made many lifelong friends with his schoolmates and coaches. Vernon graduated from Carter County High School in 1951. On June 28, 1958 Vernon married Bernice Strait. With this union Barton James Burdick and Berdie Von Thompson became part of the family. On July 20, 1963, twin daughters Jule Jan and Jitt Jill, joined the family. In December 1957, Vernon purchased the Scotty Hunter place and in 1971 Vernon and Bernice purchased the homestead and land from the Nancy Walter Estate, the Ben Williams and Herb Alberts place. Dutch Moellor served as their banker with a dollar down and a handshake. Ranching included the purchase of registered Beau Donald Hereford cows and bulls, as well as registered horses from various local horseman. The registered studs were leased to others in the community. In 1997, Vernon and Bernice, along with their daughter, Jitt, made the move from registered Herefords to registered Angus. Vernon loved ranch work, from feeding and calving, to riding horses and haying. He never had a desire to leave the ranch and wanted all of his children and grandchildren to care about the ranch as much as he did. Vernon served on the Carter County Fair Board and Ekalaka Track and Arena for numerous years. He also served as the worshipful master of Lodge #120, Eastern Star Charity #60, Baker; and a lifelong member of the American Hereford Association. Vernon was an avid hunter. He loved to take hunting trips and to take others hunting on the ranch. He was a dedicated LA Lakers fan and made ?arrangements? to watch every game. He even made it to watch the Lakers at the stadium twice!Vernon enjoyed each of his grandchildren–from teaching them to farm, ride horses, play cards, hunt, or to play basketball. The older ones have fond memories of their porcupine hunting excursions with Grandpa. Vernon is survived by his wife of 52 years, Bernice; children, Bart (Maralee) Burdick; (Robert) Berdie Wulff; (Norton) Jule Walker; Jitt (Tod); ten grandchildren and seven great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; sister, Wilma Oxford, Miles City; brother-in-law, William Kay; and foster family, Dave Zinken, Bob and Carole Bickley. He was preceded in death by an infant brother, Albert; brother, John (Ruth) Walter; sisters, Diana (Bernard) Bauer, Sarah (Mac) McIntosh, Mava (Warren) Johnston, Virginia Kay, and brother-in law George Oxford; and grandson, Bullet Wulff.


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Burial Date: September 10, 2010
Funeral Home Ekalaka, MT

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