K. GRANT JEPPESEN obituary

CHESTER K. Grant Jeppesen, 78, of Chester died early Monday morning, July 31, 2006, at his home.

His funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Chester. Burial will follow at the Chester Cemetery. Grant was born March 25, 1928, at Great Falls to Karl and Lillian (Houske) Jeppesen. He grew up in the Chester community and received his education here, graduating from Chester High School in 1946. He continued his schooling at Bozeman, where he attended college for two years, then returned to the family ranch 25 miles north of Chester. Grant married Carol Brown on Nov. 13, 1949, at Great Falls. They made their home on the Jeppesen ranch. Grant was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1952. After serving a year, he received his honorable discharge and returned to Chester to help with the ranching operations. In 1973, Grant was appointed by the county commissioners to finish Terry Stoppa's term as Sheriff of Liberty County. He served in the capacity as sheriff and coroner until 1980, then decided not to seek re-election. Grant and Carol were divorced in 1981. A few years later he took a job as a jailer for Toole County. Grant eventually became a North Toole County deputy sheriff and made his home in Sunburst. He worked for Toole County for about 10 years, then retired. Grant moved back to the ranch in 1993 and lived in the Chester community from that time on. Even though he had openheart surgery four years ago and suffered from chronic lung disease, Grant continued to get out and about town as best he could.

Grant had been a member of the Montana Sheriff's and Peace Officer's Association. When he retired as a North Toole County deputy, he was recognized by fellow officers with a special plaque which declared him an honorary member of the R.C.M.P. Grant was a classic Montana horseman. He loved horses and enjoyed working with horses his entire life. He studied horse bloodlines and read every horse magazine he could find. Whether he was shoeing horses or riding horses in area cattle drives or packing horses into the mountains/ wilderness, he was an equestrian extraordinaire. Grant also enjoyed working with cattle. He was an amateur veterinarian and did a lot of Csections on birthing cattle over the years. He was one of the early innovators of artificial insemination of cattle in northcentral Montana. Although he didn't do much hunting, he did collect a few guns and enjoyed his shooting guns. Related to his police work, he liked to research gun calibration and bullet ballistics. In his quiet time at home, Grant loved to read, especially western and detective novels and ranching magazines. He also enjoyed amateur photography. Grant had an excellent memory for people, places, dates and events. He loved to visit with friends and share his stories, experiences, and memories from days gone by.

Grant was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Mary Seidlitz in 1983; one niece; and two nephews. Survivors include his sons, Karl G. “Butch” (Melissa) Jeppesen Jr. Of Hamilton and Bruce Jeppesen of Chester; daughter, Karlene Jeppesen of Great Falls; sisters, Gladee Jewett of Phoenix, Ariz., and Donna Goodbar of Cheyenne, Wyo.; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; friend, Carol Jeppesen of Hamilton; and numerous nephews and nieces. Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel, Chester.