Kelly Earl Mothershead

Kelly Earl Mothershead was found dead in his home on July 29, 2021.  He was born to Ralph L. Mothershead and Annette “Toni” Johnson Mothershead, March 1, 1956 in Glendive.  He was the youngest child with 4 brothers and two sisters.  The Mothershead family lived on a ranch in Brockway, MT.  Kelly and his mother would stay in Circle during the school year as they had a trailer home there.

After Kelly graduated from Circle High School worked on many ranches.  He spoke highly of and worked many years for CM Coffee.   He loved to tell stories of working for Junior Brown, John McKerlick and the Glasgow Livestock Auction Yard.

Kelly also had a passion for rodeo and bronc riding.  Even while he worked other jobs, he would help Bud Geer of Geer Rodeo haul his rodeo stock around the country.  He was going to go to the rodeo and ride broncs so he might as well get a free ride and paid.

In about 1996 Kelly “Knute” Mothershead moved from Eastern Montana to Shelby to work at the horse feedlot run by Bouvry Export.  He worked as an employee for a few years and later worked there as a Brand Inspector for 18 years.

On October 12, 2001, Kelly, a long-time bachelor and barely house broke, married his then partner, Maggie Nutter in Methodist Church, Sunburst.  It was a private ceremony that took all of seven minutes and was witnessed by good friends, Dick and Sunny Steinhoff.

Kelly Mothershead was a cowboy and stockman through and through. He is survived by his wife, Maggie Nutter; brothers, Gene (Linda Moore) Mothershead,   Milton Mothershead, Nick (Joey) Mothershead; sister, Angie (John) Heitz;  nephew, Sparky (Dixie) Ross and his children, Trever (Randa), Mason, and Jake; niece, Darcie ( Brody) Killen; brother-in-law, Jack Hinnland; nephews, Quinn Hinnland and RJ Mothershead; nieces,  Wendy Newby and  Lavonne Mothershead; nephew, Casey Heitz; and niece, Twyla Heitz Bond.

Kelly was prceeded in death by his father and mother, Ralph L Mothershead and Annette “Toni” Johnson Mothershead; brother, Stewart “Butch” Mothershead; sister, Evalyn “Pudge” Mothershead Hinnland; sister-in-law, Sherry (Milton) Mothershead; and nephew, Zane Hinnland.

Thursday evening from 4:00pm until 9:00pm there will be a public viewing/wake in the Parlor at his home Certain Creek Ranch, 72 Sweetgrass Hills Rd, Sweetgrass MT.  The funeral will be Friday, August 6th, 10:00am at the Lutheran Church in Sunburst with a luncheon in the parish hall to follow.  Kelly will be laid to rest on the ranch in a private burial ceremony.