Obituary for Monte Gale Streeter
On Monday, February 1, 2021, Monte Gale Streeter (79) passed away at home surrounded by his family in Big Timber.
Monte was born on April 5, 1941 in Glendive, Montana to John and Bertha (Kramer) Streeter. He was the youngest of four boys joining Clair, Ron, and Ray. When John left shortly after Monte’s birth, Bertha moved her boys briefly to Billings and then to Colstrip where they ranched northeast of town. Monte grew up on the ranch and attended school in Colstrip. He graduated from Colstrip High School in 1959. He joined the army shortly after graduation and was sent to serve in Germany. After his service, he attended Eastern Montana College in Billings for two years. He then went to work for several large ranches in southeastern Montana including the Quarter Circle U, the Kluver Ranch and the Stanley Sloan Ranch. Monte loved the ranching lifestyle. He kept a horse most of his life and was always ready to help ride or brand. In 1964 he returned from a ride to find a beautiful young rodeo princess in his front yard. Bette Ringo had traveled to Montana from Spokane, Washington with Monte’s brother, Ron and his wife and children. Bette and Monte quickly bonded over their love of horses and the outdoors. Bette returned to Spokane, but they kept in touch through letters and phone calls. On August 6, 1966 they were married in St. David’s Espisocal Church in Spokane. Monte attended Spokane Community College for two years while Bette worked at Garland Veterinary Clinic. In 1968 Monte transferred to Washington State in Pullman. In 1969 their first daughter, Kathryne Marie was born. She was followed 18 months later by Christine LaRae. The family moved to Idaho Falls, ID for a medical technician internship, then to Livingston, Montana where Monte was hired as head of the lab at the hospital. The pull of Rosebud County was strong, however, and in the summer of 1973 the Streeters moved to the Floyd Waters ranch west of Lame Deer. While living along the banks of Rosebud Creek, Clinton Ray was born in 1974. He was followed by Katrina Lyn in 1975, making the family complete.
In 1979 the Streeters moved to Ashland where they built a home in the bend of Otter Creek. Monte continued to commute to the clinic in Lame Deer every work day. He worked for the Indian Health Service in Lame Deer for 28 years, retiring in May 2001. In 2006 Monte and Bette moved to Big Timber where he built a shop that housed his many hobbies and showcased his many talents. From restoring cars to refurbishing horse-drawn wagons, playing the fiddle to breaking horses, making furniture to carving clay and wood, Monte was a man quietly capable of doing anything he set his mind to. His children fondly remember time spent with Dad in the shop as well as countless fishing excursions, camping trips, visits to the cabin and nightly bedtime stories. He always had plenty to do, but consistently made time for others. He was a man whose actions spoke louder than his words.
He is preceded in death by his mother and father and brother Ray Streeter. He is survived by brothers Clair of Bridger; Ron (Anneke) of Tucson, Arizona; his wife, Bette of Big Timber, children Kathy (Kent) Morgan of Big Timber, Christine Donnelly of Miles City, Clint (Sara) Streeter of Dickinson, ND and Katrina (Shawn) Auger of Spirit Lake, Idaho; grandchildren, Makenzi (Seth) Johnson, Ryan (Nohely) Morgan, Marissa Morgan, Payson Morgan, Austin (Joby) Donnelly, Ashley Donnelly, Alex Donnelly, Peyton Streeter, Teytum Streeter, Tyler Lancaster and Abbie Auger.
A memorial service will be held April 9 at the Evangelical Church in Big Timber. For more information please visit www.stenbergfuneralhome.com
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