Murray Sterling

Murray Sterling

July 02, 1948 - November 12, 2022

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Obituary

November 12, 2022, Joe apparently tripped on his oxygen hose and fell at his home hitting his head and did not survive the fall. He was wearing an oxygen hose due to a heart blockage that he preferred to not have removed. It did not keep him from fly boarding this year - but not as much as usual. It did not keep him from being active and helping others use it. He found joy in taking people up fly boarding. He worked at his Church's Camp on the Boulder this summer, worked on the Yellowstone River Cleanup and worked cutting invasive buckthorn from Two Moon Park the first of November. He also hunted deer with two of his brothers and a niece the beginning of hunting season. Each year he delighted some friends by giving them some of his famous Carmel Cinnamon rolls.


Joe seemed to be happiest when he was helping others. Besides working at The Camp on The Boulder for a number of years, he was a ski and snowboard instructor at Eagle Mount. He was a mentor for Yellowstone County Veterans Treatment Court or (CAMO) Courts Assisting Military Offenders. He was a Life Member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, the National Rifle Association and the National Smokejumper Association.


Joe was born in St. Ignatius, MT July 2, 1948, to Bob and Clara Sterling. He grew up in Ronan, MT, attending school there through 8th grade when he moved to Oregon for one year and then back to Missoula, MT. He was a Special Forces Medic in The Army and Combat Medical Platoon Staff Sergeant 25th Infantry Division- Vietnam. He received Army Accommodation Medals for Meritorious Service and Heroism as well as the Bronze Star, which he never told his family about. After an honorable discharge from the Army he served 20 years in the Army Reserve and Montana National Guard.


He graduated from University of Montana in 1975. Summers during college, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service on a lookout south of Butte, Slate Creek Hotshot crew and was a Smokejumper for two summers, training in Missoula in 1973. He worked for Montana Power at the Corette Plant in Billings as Results Engineer in water treatment. He lived in Billings since 1976.


He was predeceased by his former wife Linda Zimmerman Coates and his son Dan.


He is survived by brothers Rob Sterling –Missoula, Jack (Carol) Sterling – Billings, Neil Sterling- Milwaukee, WI and sisters Mary (Tom) Moe- Idaho Falls, ID and Janet (John) Fine- Helena, MT. as well as numerous nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and greatgreats.


A service and celebration of his life will be on April 15 2023 at 11 a.m. at Faith Chapel in Billings. He had noted he desired memorials be directed to Billings YWCA- Gateway House, 909 Wyoming Ave., Billings, MT 59101 or a charity of your choice.

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Murray
CH
Chuck Hull
Other •
Joe was one tough guy. I worked with him on Smokejumper Trail Projects when he could barely put one foot in front of another. He would not give up and up the mountain he went. He also made the best cinnamon rolls for the crew.
PM
Patsy Martin
Other •
Please know of my support and love to a special cousin, all his siblings, and their families. Cousin Patsy Cornelius Martin
ES
Eric Sheckleton
Other •
I first met Joe when he paid for a snowboard lesson at Red Lodge in 2001. When I found out he was an Eagle Mount volunteer we started commuting from Billings and riding together during the breaks. Joe was always doing for others and wouldn’t take no for an answer if he thought you needed help. We were honored when he agreed to be Godfather for our youngest daughter Bella. While we lived in Billings we created lots of memories together. After moving to Bozeman, and thanks to Mary and Tom, Joe always set aside a week in the summer and invited us to play on the Flathead with him. Some of our favorite family memories were made there. While Joe was not technically family, he was Uncle Joe to us. We miss you Uncle Joe, but know you are fly boarding high above watching down on us.
GR
Greg Robbe
Other •
I rented a room from Joe back in the early 1980’s. We met in a park when he brought his little boy Dan over to hear me play bagpipes. We got to talking and I ended up living in his house for two years. He had a great sense of humor and was a very giving person. We both loved to cook and shared many meals together. Lots of venison and antelope! I saw him at some of his most down periods while he was going through his divorce and not being able to have Dan around every day. This afternoon (11/26/22) I for some reason got a feeling to see how he was doing and when I did a search for him this obit popped up saying he died just a few days ago. If that isn’t proof of a higher power or influence I don’t know what it could be.
CJ
Carolyn Joslin
Other •
Joe was a great dancer. I had lots of fun dancing with Joe at The Drifters. He was always a very kind considerate friend. Carolyn Joslin Coeur d Alene, ID
DW
Dennis Wamsley
Other •
It is hard to believe that Joe is gone and way too soon! I will always remember the great times that we all had growing up on Flathead and the antics that I still laugh about today. Playing almost nightly games of hide and go seek on land and in the water, eating apples from the orchards that used to be around, using the Sterling's little aluminum boat to fish down by Slack's dock or to hunt for treasure around the bay, and water skiing. Joe was the best water skier without question! Campfires at night with marshmallows were a hit with all of us. We even used to smoke driftwood when we could get away with it. I remember when your black boat sunk in a storm and how your dad and brothers and you were able to raise it and get it going again. I will always miss you, Joe! Rest in Peace my friend.

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