Neil W. Easter

Neil W. Easter, 75, passed away on Sunday, March 16, at the home of his son in Missoula after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

Neil was born Sept. 16, 1938, in Hamilton, Ohio to Samuel and Francis Easter.   He attended the University of Cincinnati, receiving a degree in business administration.

On June 1, 1962, he married the love of his life, Joyce Hecker, in Cincinnati, Ohio.  Working for Armco Steel, they raised two boys together, Kirk and Erik. He loved the outdoors, fishing, and camping so he and his family travelled every summer to Yellowstone National Park and fell in love with Montana.

In 1983, the family moved to St. Ignatius, Montana where he worked for the school district until the time of his death.    He and Joyce loved being part of the St. Ignatius community and spent many hours participating in school activities of all kinds.    Throughout his life, Neil had a love of trains.  He was responsible for saving multiple steam engines from the scrap piles at the steel plant, managing to find  museums interested in adding them to their collections.  As well,  being an avid collector of model  trains, he spent many hours working on his train layout in the basement with family.  During the last few years, he particularly loved playing with his grandchildren.  He was a devoted husband, father, uncle, brother-in-law, grandfather, and friend.  He will be fondly remembered for his catch phrase “Ah Doo,” used in greeting friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Francis Easter and by his wife, Joyce Easter. He is survived by his two sons, Kirk Easter and wife Alison of Missoula, and Erik Easter and wife Jeanette of Greeley, Colo.; one sister-in-law, Elaine Taylor and husband Ron of Eatonton, Ga.; two nieces, Karyn Taylor of Savannah, Ga., and Missy Milligan and husband Jim of Friendswood, Texas; four grandchildren, Kaydn and Kamron Easter of Missoula, and Liam and Aidan Easter of Greeley, Colo.; and two great-nephews, Connor and Logan Milligan of Friendswood, Texas.

A visitation will be held on the evening of Sunday, March 23 at the Foster Funeral Home.  A mass will be held on Monday, March 24 at 10 a.m. at the St. Ignatius Mission.  A  burial service will follow at the Catholic Cemetery.  A reception for friends and family will follow at the St. Ignatius Mission.

The family suggests flowers be sent to the Foster Funeral Home & Crematory, St. Ignatius, Mont. 59865.