Nathaniel Tranel

Nathaniel (Ned) Nicholas Tranel, 82, died peacefully, surrounded by his family, at RiverStone Hospice House in Billings on April 14, 2016. Ned was born December 5, 1933, the 11th of 13 children born to Lucille and Edward Tranel who farmed outside East Dubuque, Illinois. During the Great Depression the family was sustained by their faith, the produce from the farm, and the hard work of each person. His father died of cancer when Ned was just 4, a loss he felt deeply throughout his life. Ned's first classroom was a one-room country schoolhouse. He attended Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, on a football scholarship. In May of his senior year he met Virginia Holmberg, who thought she was getting a “no strings” date to her college prom but found a young man who quoted Wordsworth and won her heart. After his graduation from Loras in 1955, Ned spent the summer following the wheat harvest through Nebraska, where he fell in love with the grandeur of the West. That fall he began graduate work at the University of Notre Dame and completed his MA in mid-January 1957. On January 26 he and Virginia married. The young couple honeymooned to Pullman, Washington, where Ned entered the Ph.D. program in clinical psychology at Washington State University. He completed an internship at the Menninger Clinic in Topeka, Kansas, was awarded his doctorate in 1960, and accepted a position as an assistant professor at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. In 1963 he began work as a research psychologist at the Veteran's Hospital in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the family settled on a small ranch in the foothills of the Bighorn Mountains. From that point on the West would be their home. Ned later worked with the Northeastern Montana Mental Health Center in Miles City and St. Labre Mission in Ashland, before establishing a private practice in Billings in 1976. His work took him all over Eastern Montana, often as the pilot of a small plane. Ned's goal as a psychologist was to make others' lives better, particularly those of children struggling at home or in school. When empathy and professional intervention allowed a child to shine in a new way, or helped a family become more healthy and whole, he experienced his deepest reward. Ned delighted in the 10 children born to him and Virginia between 1957 and 1978. Through them, he became the father he missed. With them, he engaged in the childhood activities he loved: riding horses, playing “touch” football and softball (“every pitch is a strike!”), riding a three-seated bike, sledding, ice-skating on the Musselshell River. His optimism convinced his kids that work like stacking hay and fixing fence was fun. Indoors, he promoted games of Euchre, checkers, chess and Monopoly (he was the banker and kept everyone in the game). Central to these activities were the lessons of Ned's own childhood: Be positive. Contribute. Use your gifts. For a man who was tone deaf, Ned's deep passion for music, whether classical or cowboy, was inspiring. He missed no opportunity to gather his family around the piano to sing, especially at Christmas, and consistently declared their efforts “masterful.” His off-key vibrato was legendary. Ned and his son Ned Anthony built a large ranching operation north of Billings. Ned was deeply moved by the beauty of the seasons, the miracle of the life cycle, the majesty and freedom of a soaring eagle. He loved the outdoors, enjoyed a brisk walk, and set a fast pace until the end. Ned is survived by his wife of 59 years, Virginia, and their 10 children and 29 grandchildren: Dan Tranel (Natalie Denburg) of Iowa City, IA (Thomasin, Courtney, Sidney, Alexis, Darin); Mike Tranel (Mary Tidlow) of Skagway, AK (Kelsey, Abigail, Olivia); Elizabeth (Jim) Halverson of Billings (Ben, John, Eric); Ned Anthony Tranel (Dana) of Billings (Nathanial, Nicholas, Gabriel, Samuel, Madeline); Alane Tranel (Christopher Smith) of Iowa City (Kazimier, Gisela); Monica Tranel of Helena (Zara, Miariah); Paul Tranel (Angela) of Missoula (Quinn, Gavin); Jennie Tranel (Mike Neeley) of Bozeman (Isaac, Elena); Ben Tranel (Yunjin Seong) of San Francisco, CA (Adelaide, Ignatius); and Adrienne Tranel (Ben Davis) of Los Angeles, CA (Alexandra, Emilia, Abraham). Four great-grandchildren have arrived so far (Kennedy, Jude, Matilda, and Walter). Ned is survived by siblings Richard, Norita, Betty, Marge, Jean and Bert, and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by siblings Danita, Ralph, Howard, Dorrance, Dan, and Roger. Special thanks to staff at St. John's Langemo Cottage and RiverStone Hospice for their compassionate care, and to Ned's friends who were a source of strength and comfort especially in the last years. A gathering to celebrate Ned's life will be held on Monday, April 18, at 7:00 p.m. at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Ice cream will be served afterwards in honor of a man who loved few treats more than hand-cranked ice cream. A few children may be running around. The Funeral Service will also be at St. Pius X, on Tuesday, April 19, at 11:00 a.m. Please join us. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to a children's cause of your choice. Dad, thanks for teaching us to live with courage, humor and compassion. You empowered us with your intrepid optimism and belief in the goodness of people. We will carry your lessons with us always.