Lloyd Webber

Lloyd J. Webber of Laurel, MT, passed away on June 25, 2021, at St. Vincent Healthcare after a weeklong battle with Covid-19. “I could lick it,” he told his family, “if it just weren't for these lungs.” The third of eight children born to Guy and Dorothy Webber, Lloyd learned early on the grit it takes to work hard and love well. After graduating Joliet High School, Lloyd went to a heavy equipment school in Weiser, Idaho, before returning to Montana and marrying his best friend, Gerry Altman. Because they were always involved with livestock, and cattle were their passion, the two decided to build on their numbers. This was made possible through Lloyd working for Montana Power Company (MPC). Lloyd was able to retire early from MPC, but he never retired from ranching. For Lloyd, ranch life was inseparable from family and community. His son and daughter learned to ride horses, feed bum calves, and put up hay, among other chores. The sweat and calluses were always balanced by the bumps and bruises gotten from floating the river or riding horses (mishaps!). (Regarding those horse accidents, Lloyd and any other rancher would tell you to make sure the person is okay before the laughter begins.) At the end of Webber brandings, folks would grab dinner, tell stories and jokes, and listen to harmonica or guitar music. Lloyd's grandchildren loved going to rodeos with him and four-wheeling in the mountains where he grew up. They even convinced him to break the mold and go ziplining with them. In later years, Lloyd and Gerry attended Cowboy Church and extended their already-large community to the fellow Christians who go there. Lloyd appreciated the companionship of all sorts of critters, be it a good horse, a good dog, or recently a couple of goofy cats that loved to follow him all over the place. But as much as Lloyd loved to ranch, it couldn't rival his love for people. If you needed help, you could count on Lloyd; he would drop whatever he was doing to come right away. If you made a deal with him you knew that his word—and his handshake—were more reliable than most people's signature. If you or your family grew up in Montana, Lloyd would figure out some way he's connected to you. Lloyd enjoyed going to local basketball games to support the kids, even if he didn't know anyone playing. He and Gerry liked going to breakfast or lunch with friends or just shooting the breeze on the porch. Lloyd could strike up a conversation with anyone anywhere he went—which was saying something, considering he and Gerry traveled the world from as far south as Panama, north as Alaska, and east as Ireland. Lloyd thought there wasn't anywhere east of the Mississippi for him, but he ended up being delighted by all the places he traveled. Though Lloyd and his partner-in-crime loved these big trips, they loved just as much to grab a bag of pork rinds and a carton of Pepsi and hit the back roads on a Sunday afternoon. To some people, Lloyd was a stranger who made their day just by his friendliness and the reminder that there are good people in the world. To others, Lloyd was a dear man, loved beyond description, who is already sorely missed. Lloyd is predeceased by his parents, Guy and Dorothy Webber, and brothers Bill and Dan. He is survived by his wife, Gerry Webber; children Lee (Amanda) Webber and GayLynn (Mark) Robertus; grandchildren Sadie (David) Barry and Seth Robertus, Sari Robertus, Shay Robertus, and Hunter Skov; great-grandson Finn Barry; and siblings Phyllis-Jean of CA, Mary Ann of Billings, Patti of Helena, Tom of Roundup, and Jim of Shawmut. Lloyd's funeral will be 1:00 pm Thursday, July 15, at the Joliet Gym in Joliet, MT. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Gateway Christian Center in Hardin or to the Special K Ranch.