Obituary: Ralph Spiller

Ralph Clarence Spiller, 88, was called home by his heavenly Father the morning of October 26, 2024 at Benefis West in Great Falls, MT. A Funeral Service is planned for Monday, November 4th at 11:00 AM at the Montclair United Methodist Church in Belt. Visitation will be available for 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will follow at Pleasant View Cemetery, with a luncheon to follow in the church hall.

Ralph was born in Belt, Montana on August 29, 1936 to Frank and Bessie Spiller. Ralph was a life-long resident of Belt and never left. He worked as a construction laborer in Great Falls for housing developments as well as for farmers and ranchers in the Belt area. He had the knack for remembering people and events, so was often called upon to be the local historian of days gone by. He remembered families and could name their children as well as many birthdays.

Ralph was a bachelor and lived a simple solitary life. He loved to fish and hunt and cut wood. His last trip fishing was to the "Ponds" as he called them which he thoroughly enjoyed. In his later years Gun Smoke and Wagon Train were his TV shows and he could tell you the story before it ever played.

Ralph greeted and talked to everyone he met. There were no strangers as far as he was concerned. He talked and visited 'til they were no longer a stranger. He loved his community and the people around him.

We would like to thank the Doctors and Nurses of the Clinic and Benefis for the excellent care he received during his short illness. He will be sorely missed.

Ralph is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Bessie Spiller; and by his sister, Roberta 'Bobby'. He is survived by his brothers, Wade Spiller of Missouri, and Leroy Spiller of Great Falls; as well as by nieces and nephews Daniel, Penny, Neinow, Sonia, David, and Kenneth.

Memorials should be made to the Belt Ambulance and the Belt Parks. Checks can be made to the Ralph Spiller Foundation, which is managed through an account at Belt Valley Bank and can also be mailed to PO Box 314, Belt MT 59412.