Obituaries - Reuben Harley Scheuerman Sr.

Reuben Harley Scheuerman Sr. was born Aug. 10, 1919, at home on a farm near LaCrosse, Kansas. He was one of eight children born to Jacob and Ella (Schaumburg) Scheuerman.

Reuben received his early education at the Mount Hope District 57 School northeast of LaCrosse. He finished his secondary education in LaCrosse, where he graduated from high school in 1937. During the next two years Reuben traveled with his father to Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas, where they worked on harvest crews. In the fall of 1939 they came to the Gildford community in northern Montana, a place Reuben loved. He returned to Montana the following year and began working on area farms.

Reuben met his wife-to-be, Shirley Arlys Hanson, and they were married on Dec. 16, 1942, in Havre. They lived in the Kremlin community for five years, then moved to a farm one-half mile east of Hingham, where they lived and worked the rest of their married life. The Scheuermans raised two children, Shirley Joyce and Reuben Jr. They were married almost 62 years when his wife, Shirley, passed away in December 2004. Reuben had turned the farming operations over to his son, but continued to live on the farm and help out whenever he could. When his health began to fail in 2013, he transferred to the Northern Montana Care Center in Havre for extended care. He died peacefully at the Havre nursing facility on the evening of Saturday, Sept., 19, 2015, at the age of 96 years.

Reuben was baptized as an adult at the Gildford Baptist Church and remained active in the church throughout his life. For several years he volunteered as the Sunday School superintendent and he served as a longtime member on the church council. His Christian faith was an important part of his life.

Reuben enjoyed many hobbies over the years, including fishing, bowling, horseshoes, bird-watching, reading and wood-working. In their retirement years, the Scheuermans loved to travel in their camper throughout the western United States (reportedly, they travelled everywhere between the southern tip of Texas to the northern tip of Alaska). They also enjoyed annual trips to Kansas to visit family and friends. Reuben loved to travel and he made many fond memories on these trips, but probably his most memorable outing was his "one and only family trip" as a youngster to Pike's Peak in Colorado.

Reuben was a very content man who loved his life as a Montana farmer and appreciated the blessing bestowed on him. He loved his family dearly and he will be sorely missed by all of them.

He was preceded in death not only by his wife and parents, but also by his son-in-law, Noel Preeshl; three sisters, Florence, Adaline and Ella; and four brothers, Kenneth, Raymond, Clarence and Wesley.

Reuben is survived by his daughter, Joyce Preeshl of Gildford; his son, Junior Scheuerman and wife, Karen of Havre; seven grandchildren, Noela Donoven (Jim Young), Steve (Kathy) Preeshl, Bryan (Jen) Preeshl, Bret (Jalena) Preeshl, Wendy (Rev. Craig) Schweitzer, Kari (Ryan) Riley, and Katy (Mike) Fritz; 16 great-grandchildren, including Nicholaus, Brianna, Jazlyn, Russhelle, Lauryn, Brayden, Kristin, Nolan, Tande, Thatcher, Ilia, Taegen, Trennis, Trayden Zoey and Xander; two great-great-grandchildren, Brycen and Tenley; and nephews.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 25, 2015, at Gildford Community Church, followed by a reception in the church hall. Graveside services will be 2 p.m. Friday at Highland Cemetery in Havre.

Arrangements are by Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester.

Memorials may be given to the Gildford Community Church or donor's choice.