John H. Weathered

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John Hunter Weathered, 90, passed away at Kalispell Regional Hospital on October 1, 2018. Between his life on his family farm in Kansas, his time on the grain harvest trail , and his life ranching and farming in Montana, John was able to live a with  freedom and independence  until the very end .

John Hunter Weathered was born to Charles and Matti Hunter Weathered on January 19, 1928.  He was born 4th in a line of seven siblings all of whom were born in a family farmhouse: Paul, Marie, Fern, John, Martha, Barbara, and Mary.

After his marriage to Barbara Ann (Bare) they moved to Montana.  One of their first Montana adventures included spending a summer and fall with a 1 year old on the top of Houseman Hill, in a 8 x 20 trailer without running water.   Eventually, they were fortunate to purchase their current beloved ranch on the Canadian Border in the shadow of the majestic “Chief Mountain”.  John and Barbara had two children:  Ann Marie and Richard John.

For the past few decades, John led his ranch life with his best friend and beloved companion, Marge Ady.  Marge passed away in June of 2017.

John has been surrounded by a “one of a kind”, generous ranching community in Glacier County, a supportive range of business people in the nearby towns of Browning and Cut Bank, an international contingent of Canadian friends, as well as a scattered but loving immediate and extended family group.

Everyone knew John as the one to ask to sing at a funeral, a wedding, or simply at any given impromptu or inspirational event.  As Paul Harvey said, “….so God made a farmer.”  John was a farmer at heart and loved to work the soil and produce enough feed for his “one brand “herd of cattle. A long day on a tractor or in the calving barn was a day well spent.   His signature herd of cows was a genetic mixture that resulted in a uniform, high producing, and hardy herd.  A good conversation, a strong cup of coffee, a change in the weather, the first robin, a view of Chief Mountain, and a list of other simple elements of life were some of his favorites.  He would always be so happy to return home with a greeting, “Hello, little house”.

John would look forward to phone calls from his friends from Florida to Montana, from occasional hunters to immediate family and friends, as well as from salesmen and mechanics to the border patrol.  As much as he loved the solitude of his ranch, he welcomed all visitors with equal enthusiasm.

He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Paul, Barbara, and Marie, and, his longtime companion, Marge Ady.

Survivors include siblings:  Fern Tilson of Norwich Kansas, Martha Christenson of Powell, Wyoming, and Mary Beth (Marvin) Simpson of Fort Collins, Colorado; children, grandchildren: Richard,( Mary Ann) Weathered, Natalie Weathered-Smith(Matthew Smith)and Logan, Jennie Weathered, and Matthew Weathered;  Ann (Alvin) Lunak , Jimi (Ray) Champ, Talvin and Rance Champ, and Megan Lunak; and first wife, Barb.

Services to be held at 1st Presbyterian Church on Saturday, October 6, 2018 in Cut Bank at 1:00 on, with interment in Crown Hill Cemetery, and a meal at the Elks Club to follow.

Visitation will be Friday, October 5, at Whitted Funeral Chapel in Cut Bank from 5 to 7pm.