Duane Demars

Duane Leo Demars, 81, reached his hand up to the Angels on December 7, 2017 with his loving wife and family at his side. He was born February 20, 1936 and had the good fortune of growing-up on a Montana cattle and wheat ranch in central Montana. In the early years he was educated in Coffee Creek, Denton, and Lewistown MT before joining the Army and serving overseas in Germany. Upon returning to Lewistown, he met the love of his life Joanne Homberger. Duane always said, "She chased me for two years until I finally caught her". They married June 14, 1958. From this union two daughters were born and a foundation was laid for his family to grow upon. Duane believed in hard work and would do anything to provide for his family. A cowboy and rancher at heart Duane, held jobs ranging from ranching to sales to educator to entrepreneur. He formed Net Profits Food Brokerage in 1994, he served on the Board of Directors for Alternatives Inc./Passages and the Billings Federal Credit Union. Upon retirement he pursued the other love of his life, classic cars. He rebuilt his first 1947 Willys Jeep that ignited a passion for restoring old cars. From this passion came his pride and joy, a 1950 Chevy Deluxe Bustle Back. He and Joanne were "Relivin' the 50's". Having had nearly 90 cars in his lifetime, he was inspired to become both a professional photographer and author of two books; Classic Cars,Of Montana & Wyoming, Volumes 1 & 2. In 2010 he and his business partner and good friend Monty Wallis purchased the website CMYRYD. Together they shared their love for great cars and trucks; they accomplished this in a four state region with classic car shows and "Car of the Week". Duane was a strong man in every sense of the word, however, even the strongest succumb to the sands of time. He fought a long and brave battle with his health. Duane leaves behind his beautiful bride Joanne (Jody) of 59 1/2 years, daughters Sheri (Demars) Lahti, & Brandi Demars, his two granddaughters Stacey (Lahti) Barbeau and her husband Eric, Kelsey (Lahti) Payne and her husband Chad. Great-grand children who were his ultimate joy, Trevor and Kylie Barbeau. Sister Maureen Bokma and several nieces and nephews. Duane is reunited in heaven with his parents, Frank and Pansy Demars and his in-laws John and "Toots" Homberger. Our family would like to extend our heartfelt thank you to the nurses at the Billings Clinic Dialysis Center, Dr. Kim Trostel, Dr. Heather McGuire and Dr. Shellye Burrows for their compassionate care and friendship. A special thank you to the doctors and nurses at Billings Clinic Emergency Department and ICU. Cremation has taken place with a Celebration of Life to follow in January; date unknown. The Autumn of My Life By: Duane Demars Now in my 80's It seems like just yesterday that I was young, only 22, married and living on our family farm with my new bride. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where the years have gone. I know that I have lived them well. I have glimpses of how it was back then and with all my hopes and dreams, but here it is ... the Autumn of my life and it catches me by surprise ... how did I get here so fast? Where did the years go and where did my youth go? I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were light years away from me and that autumn was so far off that I could not fathom it or imagine fully what it would like. But, here it is ... my friends are retiring and most of them are gray or even bald, they seem to move slower as I see an older person within me. Some are in better health and some are in worse shape than me ... but, I do see the great change. Not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant, but like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we'd be. A nap looks better all the time, if I sit down I find myself falling asleep so easy and remembering the long hours in the fields and the rewards of bringing in the harvest. And so, now that I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and the ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did. But at least I know, that though my autumn has arrived, and am not sure how long this will last, this I know when it's over on this earth, it's not really over, a new adventure will begin in Heaven. Yes, I have regrets, there are things I wish I had done and many things that I hope to finish within this lifetime of mine. Life goes by so fast, don't delay any longer, tell your wife you love her and do so with each of your children. I have never missed a day that I have not kissed my wife and told her that I loved her as we are now going on 59 years and counting. Should the day ever come that I do not return home, I will have lived my life with my very best friend.... my wife