Paul Stahl Jr. died Feb. 27, 2009, just 23 days short of his 96th birthday. Born to Paul Stahl Sr. and Mida Mitchell in the family home on what was known as Dutch (Deutsch) Flats, just east of Dillon, he grew up on his family's dairy farm. He graduated from Beaverhead County High School in 1930, just a month after turning 17. He enrolled at Montana State Normal College in Dillon, was an honor student who played football, and dropped out after one year to help support his parents and his younger siblings during the Great Depression.

He was drafted into the Army in 1942, married Suzanne Gilbert while home on leave in April 1944, and then shipped out for Europe where he fought for General Patton in the Battle of the Bulge, returning home in 1946. He worked in the family bakery until he was offered a position as employment officer/manager of the Dillon office of the state employment service. He encouraged employers to create jobs and to hire those down on their luck. He convinced those seeking work they could do the jobs he found for them. He received awards and was nationally recognized for his efforts. He remembered everyone's name. He treated everyone with respect. The favorite part of his job was what he called "ranch visits," where at least once a year, he visited every ranch and farm in Beaverhead and Madison Counties. He retired in 1975.

From the time of his marriage to Suzanne in 1944, until 1986, when the ranch was sold, he and his brother-in-law, Duke Gilbert, spent every spare moment away from their day jobs working on the Gilbert Family Ranch, located on the upper Ruby River and in the Centennial Valley in Beaverhead and Madison Counties. He thought the ranch straddling the Snowcrest Mountains was the most beautiful and peaceful place in the world. After retirement he and Suzanne built a home there.

No one worked harder. He took one vacation in his life. He taught his children the value of hard work.

He served more than 20 years as trustee on the Beaverhead County High School Board. He was, for more than 60 years, a member of the Dillon Elks, the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was a Mason in the Dillon Lodge 16 AF & AM for almost 70 years.

His passion was the trombone. He played his horn in the 1932 Olympics, and he had a small orchestra in the 30s, 40s, and 50s that played Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey swing music for dances. He was a baker par excellence.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Suzanne; brother, Jud (Dorothy and Betty); sister, Ernestine (Ivan) Ledbetter: brothers-in-law, Vince Gibbons, Bruce Gilbert, Don (Pat and Vera) Gilbert and Duke (Florence) Gilbert.

He also is survived by his sister, Fern Gibbons of Alberton; and sister-in-law, Barbara Gilbert of Fort Benton.

He is survived by his daughters, Jeri Jo (Jerry) Clark of Spokane, Wash., and Margaret (Jim) Johnson of Alberton; son, K. Paul Stahl (Judy Morgan) of Helena; grandchildren, Rachael Clevenger, Erik Johnson, Nathan Clark, Emilee Testa, Kendra Brush, Marci Iverson and Paul Morgan; great-grandchildren, Sam, Natalie, Jack, Sophia and Kaden.

No memorial service will be held. His ashes will be scattered on the family ranch among those of his wife of 54 years.

Contributions may be made to the Shrine Hospital, 911 W. 5th St., Spokane, WA 99204 or to The Food Pantry, 131 E. Helena Ave., Dillon, MT 59725.