Clifton "Cliff" Booth,
98, of Big Timber died Dec. 19, 2009, surrounded by his family and friends at St. Vincent Healthcare in Billings following a brief illness.
He was born Jan. 26, 1911, in Cainsville, Mo., to Clellie and Chloe (Summers) Booth. At the age of 3, Cliff moved to Montana with his family. In 1921, his mother married William "Bill" Langford of Reed Point, and the family moved there. Cliff would live most of his adult life in the Reed Point area.
On Sept. 19, 1931, Cliff married Lois Todd, and they were blessed with a son, Lloyd, in 1933 and daughter, Carol, in 1939. For many years, Cliff and his family ranched in the Reed Point area, raising prized Herefords. After 47 years of marriage, Cliff lost his wife, Lois.
In 1978 he married Lillian Laubach. A few years later Cliff retired from ranching and they moved to Big Timber after selling the ranch in Reed Point. Cliff and Lillian were very active in the Senior Center in Big Timber for many years. Lillian passed away in 1995.
In 1997, Cliff married Fay Long, and they split their time between Big Timber and her home in Pennsylvania. Cliff was very fortunate in his life to have found and married three exceptional women.
Throughout his ranching career, Cliff always had a great love for horses. In his younger years, he broke horses and rodeod. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and dancing. He raised Hereford cows and won several trophies for his prized steers. In his more than 98 years of life, he had many stories that he loved to tell.
Cliff loved his immediate family and the large extended family that came to be his over the years.
Cliff is survived by his wife, Fay; son, Lloyd; and daughter, Carol; and many beloved grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cliff cherished living in Montana and he loved life. He will be greatly missed by many friends and family.
Viewing will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 27, at Stenberg Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, at Big Timber Lutheran Church. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. in Reed Point Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Cliff's name may be made to the Big Timber Senior Center, Box 298, Big Timber, MT 59011; or to a charity of one's choice.
Arrangements are by Stenberg Funeral Home.
Published in Bozeman Daily Chronicle on December 23, 2009