Keith LeRoy Lewis

Keith LeRoy Lewis, age 81, of Wolf Point, Montana died peacefully on Tuesday May 24, 2016 at Faith Lutheran Home in Wolf Point. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 2, 2016 at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive, Montana. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 P.M. at the Silha Funeral Home with Jeff Harada officiating. Interment will follow in Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Keith was born May 25, 1934 at his grandparents’ house in Glendive to John K. Lewis and Mary Alice (Buttelman) Lewis. He grew up at the 52 Ranch south of Lindsay, Montana on Bad Route Creek, home of his grandfather, John G. (Grace) Buttelman and great uncle, Nicholas H. (Mary) Buttelman. Four generations have lived on the ranch since it was founded in 1889. He attended elementary school at a nearby rural schoolhouse up until 8th grade. He graduated from Dawson County High School in Glendive in 1952. He then went on to graduate from Rocky Mountain College in 1957 with a Major in Physical Education and minors in Mathematics as well as in Social Studies. While at Rocky Mountain College he played football and was a member of the 1955 Hall of Fame team. He began his teaching career at Bainville High School in Bainville, MT from 1957 to 1959 where he also began his coaching career. During his time in Bainville he met and married Leona Joyce Hinz in 1960. He then moved to Wolf Point to teach Mathematics and coach football, basketball, track and cross country. He coached football until 1962. He was Head Track Coach from 1962 to 1975 winning 3 divisional titles and captured a 2nd place title at State in 1968. From 1965-1972 he coached cross country with a 4th place finish at state in 1970. He was assistant coach for many basketball seasons, including the 1968 “Big 32” state champion Wolves. From 1978-1980 he was Head Basketball Coach with a 3rd place finish at state in 1979. During the summers he would help out on the family ranch where he grew up. He received his Master’s in Mathematics from Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan in 1970. Keith taught school for a total of 31 years, retiring in 1988 from Wolf Point High School. Prior to retiring from teaching he returned to his roots purchasing a ranch south of Poplar, Montana, which was often referred to as the “Big G” or Big Gamble ranch. He also purchased ranches south of Wolf Point near Red Water River and another west of Wolf Point. Keith achieved the perfect balance between teaching/coaching and farming/ranching, often joking about the need to keep teaching so he could support his “other job.” Keith was perhaps most widely known for wearing boots and a straw or felt cowboy hat, and as his family will remember him most, walking in the corrals with his sorting stick working his cattle. In 2000 after the passing of his brother George Lewis he took over operations of the family ranch on Bad Route Creek (52 Ranch). Keith was also a member of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. He loved ranching and cattle and was at his happiest when doing so. He also had many friends in the cattle business that he truly enjoyed being with. Survivors include his former wife Leona Lewis, of Wolf Point; his sister, Jean Gubser of Billings, Montana; his son Craig Lewis and his wife Jane and their children Nick and Joe of Billings, MT; his daughter Ann Lebsock and her husband Jeffrey, and their children Paige, Brian, Nathan, Noelle, Daniel, and Mark, of Frenchtown, MT along with 12 great-grandchildren; His daughter Kristi Lepper and former husband Bob and her children Casee and Owen of Wolf Point; his son Kirk Lewis of Devils Lake, North Dakota; his nephew John C. Koch and his children John and Gracie of Helena, Montana; his niece Kathrine Murphy and her husband Greg and their children Megan, Brian, and Allison of Billings; several cousins and many friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother George Lewis and sister Florence Mae Lewis. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.

Keith LeRoy Lewis

May 25, 1934 - May 24, 2016

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Keith LeRoy Lewis

May 25, 1934 - May 24, 2016

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support