Gary Dennis Poling

Gary Dennis Poling, 76, of Livingston, Montana passed away on Tuesday, May 30th, 2017 at his home. A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, June 9th, 1 P.M, at the Franzen-Davis Chapel (118 North 3rd St, Livingston) with Pastor Steven Paugh Leuzinger officiating. Graveside committal and burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to the Stafford Animal Shelter. Gary was born on September 7th, 1940 in Williston, North Dakota to Lyle Poling and Kanzie L. (Kappadahl) Poling. The family eventually relocated to Minot, ND. Kanzie later married Paul Lulai and Gary earned a father in Paul. His maternal grandparents, John and Anna Kappadahl, also helped raise him and his siblings. Gary attended high school in Minot and graduated in 1960. Gary and his soon to be wife of 52 years, Anna, went to high school together; they were later set-up through a friend, Vicky. The couple dated for a couple years. On June 23rd, 1963, Gary was united in marriage to Anna Marie Wolff, in Minot. This marriage was blessed with two children, Steven and Bethany. Gary and Anna resided in Minot until Gary took a job with a plumbing and heating contractor in Dickinson, ND. After about a year there they moved to Puyallup, WA where they spent about eight years. They later moved to Missoula, MT where the couple started their own flooring business, Carpet Craft. They operated the business together; Gary was the boots on the ground doing all the hard labor and Anna running the books and the storefront. In 77 they came to Livingston. They continued to operate the business from Livingston until 1990. Gary then took work with the Livingston School District as their Chief Custodial Engineer and Boiler Operator. He was a member of the union representing boiler operators and participated as a negotiator with the union. Gary also served on the Park County School Board from 1982-1988. He belonged to the Masonic Rite and was a former member of American Lutheran Church. At home Gary was the master irrigator for the garden he and Anna kept. He loved to make the water go where he needed; he also enjoyed tending to his pigs and chickens. As a younger man, Gary hunted with Steve, a memory they both have cherished. Gary and Anna both bowled in leagues in Washington and here in Livingston. Anna passed Oct. 25th, 2015 and Garys love for her is ever flowing. He has missed her so much; we are blessed to know they are once again together. Gary is survived by his: Son, Steven Poling od Idaho Falls, ID and his children, Marcus, a 2nd Lt. in the Army and living in Texas and Megan, who is attending Westminster College in Salt Lake City, UT. Daughter, Bethany Tipton and her husband Terry of Billings, her children Dylan McDermott in Billings and Sarah McDermott, in Missoula, both recently graduating from college. Brothers, Ronald Poling of North Dakota and Daryle Poling and his wife Ginger of Lead, South Dakota. Nieces, nephews, cousins and many other relatives and his best friend, "Bob the Cat". Gary is preceded in death by his parents and step-father, and wife Anna, who passed in 2015.