John "Johnny" Rathbun

April 6, 1930 - February 8, 2020

John "Johnny" Clair Rathbun, 89, of Glendive, MT went to be with his Lord and Savior and rejoin the love of his life on February 8, 2020 at the Eastern Montana Veterans Home. Visitation will be Thursday, February 13, 2020 from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, February 14, 2020 at the Silha Funeral Home with Pastor Charles Rushing officiating. Interment with military honors will be held at Dawson County Cemetery. Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. John was born on April 6, 1930 to John Samuel and Mary Jane (Byer) Rathbun in the Westerheim Community of Golden Valley County, ND. He was baptized in Beach, ND just before entering the military. John attended schools at the Westerheim country schoolhouse and the Sentinel Butte High School in Sentinel Butte, ND. He then received his high school diploma while serving in the United States Navy during the Korean War. John was always a tough country boy and even fought in the Golden Gloves boxing program. He worked for various farmers and ranchers in the Sentinel Butte area, followed by jobs in the oilfield, service stations, and eventually went to work for the Northern Pacific Railroad as a fireman back when they still had the steam engines. His work there was interrupted when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve as a Seabee in the Korean War for four years. Upon his return home, he became an engineer for Northern Pacific Railroad. He was always helping friends and family in his spare time and was always happiest when he was staying busy. After being laid off, John started the Union 76 station, which he managed until the gas crisis in the 70’s. He then returned to work on the railroad as a machinist in the roundhouse, where he worked until his retirement. Even after retirement, John always loved telling stories of his time on the railroad and farming in North Dakota as a young man. After moving to Grandview in 2014, he could often be seen sitting outside watching the trains leave town. John first met Helen Schieffer when she was a young girl. He’d occasionally see her walking to school and give her a lift. Several years later, after the war, they dated and were eventually united in Holy Matrimony on September 7, 1955. To this marriage were added a son, Steve, twin boys, Jon and Jan, who passed away shortly after birth, daughters Janie and Mary, and son, John. The family moved to their forever home just below Hungry Joe in 1963. Many memories were made and many potatoes were grown. Although a variety of vegetables and flowers grew in John and Helen’s large garden, John became known as Glendive’s “potato guy” for the special potatoes he grew and sold at the Friday Farmer’s Market. He even fulfilled Helen’s long-time wish of putting a real windmill in the garden. It took five trips to North Dakota to get it home due to North Dakota’s famous windy weather. Once they became empty nesters, John retired early to spend more time with Helen. He accompanied her to auction sales, worked together with her in their garden and was very active in the Farmers Market. Their time together was not to last, however, as Helen passed away in 1999 from cancer. Steve followed in 2005, also from cancer. John made many transformations in his lifetime. He began to show his soft side at the birth of his first grandchild in 1985, and an even softer side after his wife passed in 1999. His greatest joys were his family, gardening, and visiting with everyone he met. John was preceded in death by his parents, wife Helen, sons Jon, Jan and Steve, brothers: John W., William, James, Charles, Thomas and Dennis and sisters: Mellisa, Meryl, Vivian and Kristee. He is survived by his children Janie Rathbun, Beach, ND, Mary (Michael) Lee, Glendive, MT, John O. Rathbun, Colstrip, MT, granddaughters Eryn (Thad) Rule, Amy Lee, both of Glendive, Karlee (Will) Waddington, of Hysham, MT, and Ellen Rathbun of Billings, MT, great-grandsons, Colin Rule, Sawyer Rule, and Ian Waddington, soon-to-be-born baby Waddington, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Glendive Medical Center Hospice program or the Glendive Community Cancer Fund. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silhafuneralhomes.com.