By HDN Staff
CHINOOK John Stuker, 77, passed away Sunday, Oct. 28, 2001, at a Havre hospital due to natural causes.
Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Saint Gabriel's Catholic Church in Chinook. Mass will be recited at 11 a.m. Thursday in Saint Gabriel's Catholic
Church with burial following in Kuper Memorial Cemetery with military honors.
Stuker was born July 17, 1924, in Paradise Valley in Blaine County to John and Sophie (Rausch) Stuker. He attended Paradise Valley School and lived in Blaine County all his life, except for the three years (1945-1948) he served in the U.S. Army working on the Berlin Airlift. He was very proud of his discharge as a staff sergeant. Before and after his military service, he worked for Agorrita Prunes on Prunes' ranch.
John married Fay Vercruyssen on July 29, 1950, in Chinook. In 1951, they moved north, close to the Canadian border, first leasing several places and then buying the Art Morin ranch. In 1967, they also bought the Mitchell place on West Fork and resided there ever since.
John was a director of the Milk River Production Credit Association for 15 years, a director of the Federal Land Bank Association in Havre for 17 years, and director of Interstate Federal Land Bank of Spokane for six years. He was president of Silver Bow Grazing District for 20 years, director and president of Cherry Ridge Grazing District for many years, a director of the Sweet Scholarship Committee, member of the VFW and American Legion, and 4-H judge for many years. In 1967, he was named the Outstanding Conservation Farmer of Blaine County.
John enjoyed working on his ranch with cattle and horses. He especially liked raising his registered Belgian horses. He was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchild .
Stuker was preceded in death by his brother, Jacob Stuker, and his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Fay of Chinook; sons, John H. (Elena) Stuker of Dupuyer, Ken (Becky) Stuker of Helena, Richard (Rose) Stuker of Chinook; daughters, Jerri Ann (Stene) Willman of Pasco, Wash., Ruth (Ernie) Smith and Marion (Mike) Colling, all of Havre, Leslie (Lee) Burroughs of Lavina; brother, Joe Stuker of Havre; sisters, Ruth Brekke of Orlando, Fla., Berta Robinson of Cascade; 14 grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.
Memorials may be sent to Gift of Life Housing in Great Falls.
Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook.
