Glen Harper

Our Dad, Grandfather, and friend passed away December 22, 2023, at the age of 89 after a long battle with dementia. He was born in a log cabin outside of Roundup, Montana, on July 13, 1934.

            He had an extraordinary life. He was a high school sports star, he worked the oil fields in Eastern Montana, he was drafted into the Army where he worked in the motor pool and played football for the Army in Germany. After he was discharged, he went to college on the G.I. bill at the University of Montana Western in Dillon, where he was total jock. He was the first to be inducted into the Dillon football hall of fame for playing both offensive right tackle and defensive right end, never leaving the field. He was a carpenter, plumber, electrician, mechanic, millwright at stone container, and teacher at both Hellgate and Big Sky, where he taught P.E., small engines, woodworking and drafting. He was a fabulous dancer, winning jitterbug contests with his daughter.

            Dad did not cuss in front of ladies. Ever. He married a fiery red-head, Evelyn, who did love to cuss. He adopted her two daughters, Kim and Lesa, who much to his consternation, learned how to properly cuss from their mother.

            He was the absolute best dad and granddad ever, along with being a great friend.

            He pitched for the under-thirty Paradise Falls softball team until he was 70 years old! He loved partying with the team and many friends. He was a total sports jock.

            His dear loyal friends, Dan Gilman and Ron Stickney, picked him up at his assisted living and took him to breakfast every Sunday to Paradise Falls for 5 years until he became physically unable to leave his assisted living home. They didn’t care how scrambled his stories became due to his dementia. We should all be blessed with friends like those.

            He was our rescuer and staunch supporter through all our triumphs and heartaches.

            He was loved.

            He is predeceased by his parents, wife Evelyn, grandchildren Blaze Helmer and Chad Belcourt and 9 siblings. He is survived by his daughters Kim Cox and Lesa Matheny, grandkids Kit Helmer (Jen), Dusty Helmer (Melina), Kari Winder (Tyrel) and 6 great grandkids.

            We would like to thank Edgewood Memory care for their compassion, kindness, and loving care.

            He was a good man.

            He was loved.

            He will be sorely missed.