Harold Richard Myrstol

Harold Richard Myrstol, 80, passed away Saturday, July 28, 2018 at his home in Clyde Park, MT.A funeral service will be held at the Livingston Christian Center (1400 Mount Baldy Ln) on Friday, August 3rd at 11 AM, Sandy Williams will officiate. Interment will follow the service at the Clyde Park Cemetery where he will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife, Mary. Veterans honors will be presented. Please join the family after the interment for a luncheon at the Shields Valley Community Center. Dad was born in Big Timber, MT on December 23, 1937 to Carl and Ellen (Hess) Myrstol. He was one of seven children and was raised on a sheep ranch on the Yellowstone River (there was never a dull moment). He attended Big Timber area schools and graduated from Sweet Grass County High School in Big Timber. One week later he married his high school sweetheart, Mary E. Cosgriff on June 2, 1956. Mom and Dad lived in an old stone house on Elk Creek off the East Boulder River near Big Timber where he worked as a farm hand. He also worked off and on for his brother "Pinky" Ralph Myrstol logging near Clyde Park. They started their family in 1957 with the birth of their daughter Deborah. Around 1959, they took a job at the Burnt Leather Ranch on the West Boulder, where Dad worked as foreman and Mom cooked. Dad had been a member of the National Guard since 1955 and served as an Air Compressor Operator and Construction Machine Operator. He was discharged in 1961 with the rank of Captain. In 1963, they moved their family to Big Timber and Dad went to Chicago to study television repair. One of the major highlights of his trip was catching a glimpse of JFK while walking down town. He never pursued television repair as a career. In 1967, the family moved to Clyde Park where he continued logging with his brother. In 1973, he started his own logging business by purchasing a log hauler. As his four sons grew up they joined him in the business and Myrstol Logging was formed. Dad worked with his "boys" until he was 75 years old building logging roads.He loved his family and little kids. Seeing his grandchildren was the highlight of his days. He thoroughly enjoyed going to Yellowstone Park and exploring the back roads of Montana, the state which he loved. In his early years he hunted with his best friend and brother-in-law, Jerry Cosgriff. He enjoyed creek and river fishing now and then and panning for gold. In his later years, he could be seen taking his daily drive on the country roads around the Shields Valley looking over all the crops and livestock and seeing what everyone was up to.Dad is survived by his daughters, Debbie (Tom) Bailey, Lori Younge and Jo Ann (Dean) Flatt; his sons, Brian (Debbie) Myrstol, Ken (Barb) Myrstol, Keith Myrstol, daughter-in-law, Carla Scantlebury; 12 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, brother, James (Judy) Myrstol of Buffalo, WY; and numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.Dad was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Mary, his son, Raymond Myrstol, granddaughter, Alyson Myrstol; his brothers, Donald, Elmer, Ralph "Pinky", David, and his sister, Ruth Peterson and their spouses.His seven children love him dearly; he was a loving husband, father and grandpa. He was a very generous soul-we will miss him greatly.Arrangements are under the care of Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory.