IRVIN BRANDT obituary

RUDYARD - Irvin August Brandt, 88, died Thursday, April 8, 2004, at a Havre hospital.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard. Burial will follow at the Rudyard Cemetery.

Irvin was born Nov. 6, 1915, at

Hingham to Ernest C. and Hertha (Krueger) Brandt. Irvin grew up on the family farm and received his education in town. He graduated from Hingham High School in 1934.

In those early years he worked for the Civil Conservation Corps in western Montana. In addition, he farmed with his family in the Hingham and Rudyard communities throughout his life. He officially retired in 1982, but remained active in the farming operations until this past year.

Irvin made his home in Rudyard since 1957. In December of 2003 he transferred to the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre for rehabilitation of injuries from a fall. He was recovering well and was making plans to move from the nursing facility when he suffered a stroke.

Irvin never married, but considered his nieces and nephews as his family.

Irvin loved all sports, especially baseball. He was a loyal fan of the New York Yankees and had traveled to many World Series games over the years. As a related hobby, he collected numerous baseball pennants.

Irvin also enjoyed local high school and college basketball. He traveled to many tournaments throughout the state and was an avid Grizzly fan. Watching his nephews and nieces participate in their sports brought him great joy. His radio became his constant companion when he was no longer able to travel to the games.

Irvin always looked forward to his trips to Illinois to visit his brother Wilmar and Wilmar's family. He also made many trips to Glacier National Park and other parts of the state on fishing expeditions.

Irvin was a longtime member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard. He often spoke of those fond memories of chaperoning a church youth group in his earlier years. He also had a unique ability of remembering people by what year they graduated from high school.

In his quiet time at home, Irvin loved to spend time in his yard and his flowers. He also enjoyed cooking and baking for family gatherings. He liked to drive around the local countryside to look at the fields and check things out. Irvin loved his life as a Montana farmer and talked about the wheat and crops, even in his last days.

Irvin was preceded in death by his father in 1953; mother in 1978; brothers, Loren in 1948, Wilmar in 1995, and Robert in 1996; and niece Kathleen.

Survivors include his nephews, Loren Brandt of Missoula, Terry Brandt of Evanston, Ill., Bob Brandt of Clinton, Clyde (Toni) Brandt of Havre, Darryn Brandt of Havre, Gary (Margaret) Brandt of Great Falls, and Jim (Theresa) Brandt of Great Falls; nieces, Maureen Cicon of Chester, Sherry Phillips of Blandinsville, Ill., Marilyn (Bill) Henry of Havre and Karen (Dave) Watson of Rudyard; sisters-in-law, Katherine Brandt of Rudyard and Florence Johnson of Chester; and numerous great-nephews, great-nieces and great-great-nephews and great-great-nieces.

Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.