David George Rigler

David Rigler passed away July 13, 2022, at the age of 90, surrounded by his family. He was born to Dave and Ethel (Bassett) Rigler on May 26, 1932, at Chico. He attended Upper Mill Creek School and graduated from Park High School in 1950.

David married Rose Pierce on January 22, 1955. Alongside family, they worked on the Mill Creek Ranch, caring for livestock and as stewards of the land. Throughout his life he endured the many changes of ranching and farming life. The ranch evolved from shipping thousands of sheep via rail out of Emigrant, to raising short-horn cattle that were shipped via truck to the Midwest, while raising fewer sheep that were hauled to Billings in a double-decker stock truck. When David was young, they flood irrigated and fed the livestock by horse-drawn wagons in the winter. By the late ‘90s, they had improved ranch operations including more modern irrigation and farming techniques. David and his brother Paul were instrumental in the development of the Mill Creek Canal which crossed the full length of their ranch, and improved irrigation throughout the Pray community.

David was also very active in the community. He served as School Board Trustee for 8 years in the Rosedale district and was on the Board of Directors of Park Electric for nearly 3 decades. He was a member of the Vestry at St John’s Episcopal Church, as well as the Stockgrowers, Park County Pioneers, and many other service organizations over the years.

David and his brother Paul were inducted into the Livingston Chamber of Commerce Ranchers Hall of Fame in 1998 and received the Ranching Heritage Family Award in 2019.

David was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Paul. He is survived by his wife, Rose; son, Gordon (Cyndy), grandsons, Josh (Mindy), and Jay (Junior); great-grandchildren, Dustin, Haley, and Kendra Rigler; sister-in-law Kay Rigler; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

A funeral service for David will be hosted at the Livingston Christian Center, 1400 Mount Baldy Drive, in Livingston, on Friday, July 29, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. A reception will immediately follow the service and burial will then be held at Mountain View Cemetery.

The family asks that memorial gifts be directed to St John’s Church, Paradise Valley Fire Department, or the Shining Mountain Scholarship Fund.

Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.