Harry Bandy

Harry Bandy passed away on February 18th, 2025. He was born in Wilbur, Washington on July 26, 1926 to Edward and Edna Bandy. He was the youngest of 7 children. When Harry was 3, they moved from Wilbur to Ovando, Montana. Harry attended High School in Deer Lodge, Montana, graduating in 1944. After graduating, Harry continued to work on the family ranch until 1954 after a family dispute that left Harry and his cows displaced. Dr Earl Pruyn let Harry place his cows on Earl’s ranch in Potomac. The start of a great friendship that evolved into a brotherhood. In 1960, Harry bought a ranch in Potomac. He had acquired a few friends including Jearrad and Folsch Bennett (original Pruyn Ranch), Henry and Pat Hays (Potomac), Floyd Cheff and family (Potomac), and the Iverson family, including Denny/Charlotte and Les/Sue Iversons, to mention and few. Harry worked for the Pruyns for the next 60 years. In 1981, Harry moved to Missoula to be closer to the ranch by the Missoula airport. Since Harry was never married nor had any kids, he adopted Earl’s family as one of his own. He enjoyed spending every morning having breakfast with Race and making Sunday dinners for Rollett and his family. 

Harry was preceded in death by his three sisters (Catherine, Hazel and Mayme) and three brothers (Robert, Edward Jr. and Harold). 

He will be sorely missed by his adopted family of Minot/Jan (Minott, Raina and Alta); Rollett (Rolin, Race and Alex) and Ruthanna/Mark (Caira, Lindsay and Brandon) and his biological families of Judy Lehman (Jacobson-daughter in law to Harry’s sister Hazel Jacobsen of Ovando) and her daughters Sandi/Mike, Kimberly/Courtney and Stacy/TC and Nephew Tom/Calli Baker and several grand Nieces and Nephews. 

Funeral Service will be held on Saturday March 8th at 1pm at Garden City Funeral Home with a reception to follow.