Joseph Birrer

Joe passed away peacefully in Billings on December 23rd, just four days after celebrating his 100th birthday. Born in Dillon, Montana, Joe was a long-time Billings-area resident where he ran Northside Lumber and Coal Yard for 20 years before moving to Absarokee. There he owned and operated the Cobblestone Garage, retiring in 1980. Upon retirement, he and his wife travelled throughout the U.S., including Alaska, as well as Canada and Mexico. Joe was an avid trapshooter who won both the Montana singles and doubles championships, and in 1965 served as captain of the All-State team representing Montana at the North American Clay Target Championships in Ohio. He won the inaugural Billings Marathon Trapshoot with a score of 494 out of 500, including 262 straight. He last shot 100 straight in Phoenix at the age of 73. Joe also enjoyed reading, fishing, playing endless games of cribbage with family members, and participating in numerous bridge contests in partnership with Mabel, his wife of 60 years, who died in 1994. rn rn Joe was a modest and well-liked man who never spoke of his accomplishments. He was friendly and courteous to everyone and could be relied on to honor his word. In his early years, Joe completed a correspondence course to earn a diploma as a mechanic, opening a garage in Dell, Montana, and, later, a Hudson dealership in Hamilton, before moving to Billings to go into the lumber business. rn rn Besides his wife Mabel, Joe was preceded in death by his eldest son, Nicholas Joseph Birrer, grandson Joseph George Birrer, and great- grandsons Benjamin Bermes, Tyler Birrer, and Cameron Birrer. Surviving family members include his daughter, Beverly Bermes and her husband John of Billings, and sons Eddy (TerryKay), Spokane, WA; Mike (Carolyn), Poplar, MT; John (Chun), Atlanta, GA; Dan (Karen), Parachute, CO; and Doug (Celia),Nescopeck, PA; 22 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. The family is grateful for the loving and dignified care and treatment of Joe by the staff of the Eagle Cliff Nursing Home in his final years. Cemetery: Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery. Service: A funeral service will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church on Wednesday, December 29, at 11:00 a.m.