Earl Schrock

Earl Albert Schrock Jr. (Bud), age 98, passed away on April 6th, 2025, in Billings, Montana. Bud was born on September 3rd , 1926, to Earl & Opal Schrock in Terry, Montana, where they raised sheep. The family moved to the Fairfield bench in 1937 where they farmed sugar beets, wheat, hay and barley. Due to an injury, Bud was 4F for military service during World War II and instead did his part by transporting German prisoners of war between Fort Benton and farms where the prisoners worked in the sugar beet fields. Bud went to work with his uncle for Morris-Knudson and spent time in various states in the southwest. This is where he developed his mechanical skills on multiple sizes and types of equipment. When Bud returned to Fairfield, he went to work for Mills Motor Company eventually becoming their head mechanic. In 1949 he met Esther Wolhart when she was hitchhiking from East to West Glacier and he picked her up. They married in October of that year and were happily married until her death in 2011. Bud left Mills and went to work for Sunriver Electric in 1976 where he maintained their fleet of trucks and equipment while also working on the ‘lines' when needed. Bud and Esther owned and ran B & E Clothing in Fairfield from the mid-1970's until they sold it just before Bud retired from Sunriver in 1989. Shortly after his retirement Bud and Esther became Arizona snowbirds with a home in Whittman AZ for the winter months. Bud was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Bob, and sister, Evelyn (Cote). He is survived by his sister, Ida (Stanley), brother Gene, his daughter Janet, his son Dave, daughter-in-law Jan, his granddaughters Samantha and Emily (husband Drew Drinkwalter) and his great grandchildren, Nolen, Jessie and Ruby, along with various nieces and nephews.

Bud was always involved in his community, serving on the volunteer fire department (as chief for a number of years), pivotal in getting an ambulance for Fairfield and being one of the first trained EMT's on the volunteer crew, a member of Fairfield City Council, a member of the Fairfield School Board and an active member of the Fairfield United Church of Christ for more than 70 years. He delivered meals to seniors and opened/closed the Senior Center on a regular basis. In 2017 he received the Senior of the Year award from Fairfield's Senior Center. Bud's hobbies included making wooden clocks, restoring old ATV's and fishing.

A celebration of life will be held in Fairfield later in the year. Condolences can be shared with the family at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com. Memorials are suggested to the Fairfield United Church of Christ, 605 1st Avenue North, Fairfield, MT 59436.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU FROM BUD'S CHILDREN: On March 1st Bud left Fairfield, which he had called home for almost 88 years, to move to Billings to be closer to his family. To mark the occasion, the community of Fairfield (organized by Darryl Flowers), lined the streets, rang the community siren, and gave him an ambulance & firetruck (lights & sirens on) escort to the edge of town. Many tears were shed, he & his family felt the love of the community that we will always call home. Seldom are people lucky enough to SEE the appreciation of their community and you gave that to our Dad. We cannot thank you enough!