Donald “Smokey” LeRoy Stover, 81, Nashua, MT passed away May 19 at Frances Mahon Deaconess Hospital, Glasgow, MT after having been recently diagnosed with cancer.
Born June 29, 1934, in Nashua, Smokey was the son of Raymond and Muriel (Keil) Stover. He was just 18 months old when his mother died, and his father died when he was ten. He was then raised by his grandparents, Jim and Alice Keil. Smokey attended Nashua schools, graduating in 1952.
Smokey began working for his uncle, Jim Keil, at age 16, in heavy equipment, a job he continued virtually throughout his life. He worked briefly in Texas as a seismographer when he was 19. He entered the US Army in 1957, serving two years as clerk/typist in Anchorage, AK. Following his discharge, he returned to his work with Uncle Jim. He held many road construction jobs, Valley County Road Department, self-employed contractor, Fort Peck Corps of Engineers, and, most recently, Kirkland Ranch Estates.
Smokey married Vivian Murch July 6, 1957, Nashua, and they raised their four children there. Smokey (nickname derived from the comic strip, Smokey Stover)
was very active in his community: longtime town council member, a chairman of the Nashua All-School Reunion committee since its inception, Nashua Sleighers, and a member of Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church.
A talented leather worker, Smokey was a lifelong New York Yankees fan. He was also a wonderful, loving husband, father, and grandpa, especially loving to tease those grands and great-grands. He was conversational and had many friends, who will miss him greatly.
Besides his parents and grandparents, Smokey was preceded in death by his brother Jim, and his in-laws, Dewey and Beatrice Murch, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Smokey is survived by his wife of nearly 59 years, Vivian. Also surviving him are his four children: Alice (Myron) Redfield, Karyn (Tim) Ahmann, Betty Barnett (Jim Gartside), and Larry (Tanya) Stover. His grandchildren are Logan (Justine) Redfield and Cole (Emily) Redfield; Nicole (Cody) Tofte, Chad (Jennifer) Cuddigan, and Brandon Cuddigan; Renee (Shawn) Sibley, Kyle (Cassie) Shipp, and Shaylin Barnett; Dawson and Houston Stover. Ten great-grandchildren also survive him, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family.