George Joseph Mastel

St. Ignatius-George Joseph Mastel, 84, passed away Sun. June 9th at St. Patrick Hospital. George was born June 24, 1928 in Bismarck, ND to Eugene and Effie Mastel. The family resided in Yakima, WA where George went to school and raced his hot rod car, while his parents worked in the orchard. The Mastel family moved to Stevensville where they farmed; growing sugar beets.
George met La Verne they were married March 1, 1949 in the original St. Mary's church. George also helped on the construction of the new St. Mary's Church.
George served in the army, after receiving an honorable discharge in 1955 he returned to the family and helped with the farming operation. Becoming good friends with "Por" Deschamps they moved to the Grass Valley west of Missoula. Where George purchased the property on Deschamps Lane with a hand shake and started his own farm. As a birthday present La Verne surprised him with a calf. The start of the cattle herd "Bar M7" brand, soon became a 100 pair before the 1980's. George also raised sugar beets, wheat, oats, alfalfa, grass hay, horses, chickens and a few pigs.
Proud of his German heritage, George made his own recipe of German sausage. George was always a hard worker, farming was in his blood, but took time and interest in his son Greg's science and research projects, pursuing a number of family adventures searching for the elusive "Bigfoot" in the northwest. George's daughter Geanene soon began to help with the family farm, and along with tradition helped raise cows, horses, chickens, pigs and selling eggs to the Good Food Store.
George was preceded in death by his parents, sister and brother-in-law Rose and John Filcher. George is survived by his wife La Verne of St. Ignatius; brother Tom, and sisters Shirley and Loretta; daughter Geanene and Mark of Missoula; son Greg and Lois; and grandchildren Alexander, Caroline and George of Washington, DC.
Visitation will be from 5:00p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday June 13th at Garden City Funeral Home, with a Rosary service at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday June 14th at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church at 10:30 a.m. with Father Rich Perry as Celebrant. Burial at St. Mary's Cemetery Annex will follow with a reception at Reidy Hall back at the church.
Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com

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