Bradley Gabel

Bradley Ed Gabel passed away on March 07, 2024, at St. Vincent's Hospital (Intermountain Health) due to complications of renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer).

Brad was born June 27, 1963, to Edville Orville and Lois Ann (Benter) Gabel in Crosby, ND where he joined his two big brothers, Bruce and Brian.

He would recall growing up with them and looked up to his brothers starting at an early age until his death. The first person Brad considered for his best man when he got married was Bruce, and he would even talk about how Brian coached his basketball and wrestling teams.

It is also important to know that Brad was a faithful Minnesota Vikings fan from the age of three until the day of his death. He was also a Minnesota Twins fan of which he and his son-in-law bantered back and forth.

Brad was at the ripe old age of six weeks when the family moved to Minot, ND. He attended elementary and junior high school and graduated from Minot High School in 1980. He loved playing football in high school and intermural sports, basketball, and softball, as an adult. He started work at Piggly Wiggly and finished working at Miracle Mart before moving to Montana.

Brad's life drastically changed when he accepted the bakery manager position at County Market in Miles City, MT in February of 1992 and lived with his aunt in the Pine Hills Ranchettes. In just over a year and a half, Brad moved to another state, married, and became a father. He met Tracy Lynn Wheeler on August 14, 1992, at a McDonald's birthday party held for his 32-year-old coworker. They married on April 02, 1993, at Grace Bible Church with a wedding to be remembered for all its mishaps. He became a father on September 04, 1993.

He loved living with his aunt Donna with the horses in the ranchettes. He did not ride any, but he cleaned up after them and enjoyed every minute of it as long as he was helping. He looked forward to the horse races every year to help his aunt.

Brad is a very proud father of two children, Amber Cheyanne born September 04, 1993, and Steven Gregory born August 09, 1996. They are the love of his life.

This is when Brad quit playing sports and started coaching. He began by coaching a junior high basketball team at Sacred Heart Catholic School and a Babe Ruth baseball team in Miles City. His best coaching job lasted 10 years when he coached Amber and her teammates in softball. He was so proud when Amber played softball in college in North Dakota.

Brad never missed one of Steven's Forsyth High School football games or wrestling tournaments. He was so proud when Steven chose to attend the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, ND, where Brian and Brad attended school.

Brad accepted the assistant manager position at State Avenue IGA in Billings, MT in 1997. Shortly after taking the position, Van's IGA bought the store. Brad offered to manage Van's IGA – Forsyth in 2004, and we moved to Forsyth. Brad worked for the Van's group for a total of 18 years before buying his own store in Joliet, MT, in 2016. He owned Joliet Foods until his death.

Brad met many people in his life and could remember all their names. However, he met his closest friends in Forsyth, MT when he started throwing darts and playing golf regularly. Lyle Newman reintroduced him to throwing darts, and Brad started Lyle in playing golf.

Brad, Amber, and Steven had a special bond built from long talks, working at the grocery store together, and having things in common. He will be missed dearly by them.

Brad is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents John Gabel and Leona Redding, maternal grandparents Elmer and Laura Benter, parents Ed and Lois Gabel, sister-in-law Joyce Gabel, brother-in-law David Wheeler, uncles Clarence Benter, Robert Benter, Harvey Petermann, Henry Hudson, Marvin Gabel, Orville Gabel, and Melvin Gabel, aunts Alice Shefstad, Shirley Petermann, Helen Hudson, Berniece Gabel, and niece Marcy Huntress.

Brad is survived by his wife, Tracy, of Joliet, MT and children, Amber (Larren) Foust of Sidney, MT and Steven Gabel of Quincy, MA, soon to be Helena, MT. He is also survived by his unborn grandson, who is due in April 2024. He is survived by his brothers, Bruce Gabel of Minot, ND, and Brian (Lynne) Gabel of Lake Kiowa, TX, nephew Scott Gabel and niece Lindsay Gabel. He is also survived by his aunts Dorene Anderson and Donna Looman and many cousins and friends. In-laws surviving him are father-in-law and mother-in-law Pat and Becky Wheeler of Fairview, MT along with sisters-in-law Mandy (Evan) Nagel of Bismarck, ND, Erica (Kevin) Bakke of Moorhead, MN, and Sarah (Bill) Farrow of Sidney, MT, brothers-in-law Richard (Paul Chet) Wheeler of Fort Collins, CO, Shawn (Jenna) Wheeler of Fairview, MT, Cory (Rhonda) Wheeler of Fairview, MT, nieces Quinn and Micah Nagel, Rylee Mikkleson, Kambree and Reese Wheeler, Regan Samson, Andrea Farrow, and nephews Austin, Gavin, and Gage Bakke, Nicolas Farrow, and Kase Wheeler.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Project Hope in Joliet, MT, or a charity of your choice. Brad was a strong believer in shopping locally. Wherever you are, please honor Brad by shopping locally.