John Vincent of Canyon Creek, MT was born September 25, 1926 and passed away Monday, November 3, 2014 at the age of 88.
In the early years he walked to a couple of country schools finishing at the 8th grade to help his family at the home place. At the age of 16, John dumped his first load of Ore at the Empire Mine. This began his adventure in mining. During this time, he drove ore tucks from Empire Mine to Seattle, Washington. After driving truck, he tried his hand at driving tour busses at Yellowstone National Park.
John married Geraldine Jenson in Helena, MT on December 6, 1952. Ranching and building a life together, they had their first daughter Donna on September 1, 1953. Three years later on June 9, 1956 Alice came and October 15, 1959, Joan arrived. John and Gerry worked very hard as a strong team to build the ranch life their daughters grew up enjoying and still enjoy today.
From that point forward they were busy ranching, logging, hauling cattle, and helping the neighbors with one thing or another. John really enjoyed all the years of trucking cattle with his white stock truck license plate “Silver Fox”. One of his proudest hauling moments was when he rescued the Budweiser Clydesdales in Deer Lodge. He got the call after their truck broke down on the way to a rodeo. John was able to pick them up and deliver them safely to the show.
In 1978, daughter Alice and her husband Bob Anderson moved to the home place. Helping on the ranch and building their family, their daughter Karea Rae arrived September 17, 1977 and her brother Dustin John was born November 9, 1980. Now John and Gerry had a great crew of helpers!
John saw a lot of changes throughout the years starting as a youngster with horse drawn equipment to his latest pickup showing tire pressures on a computer screen in the dash. He loved starting his day out by hopping on his “bug”, the 4-wheeler, and driving down the lane to the barnyard to check on the cows. We will forever miss his cheery grin and “Haulin’ Ass” hat he wore proudly every day.
John was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Beatrice, sister Ruby, and brothers George, Billy, and Donald. He is survived by his wife Geraldine Vincent, sister Rose Gehring-Kurth, daughters Donna (Mike Brown), Alice (Bob Anderson), Joan Vincent, grandchildren Karea Anderson, Dusty (KimAnderson), great-grandchild Kruz Green, and numerous nieces and nephews. John was a legend and will be greatly missed.
If you have any thoughts, stories, or memories about John you would like to share with his family, please email moses070403@gmail.com
There will be open visitation hours from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Sunday, November 9th at Retz Funeral Home, 315 E. 6th Ave, Helena, MT 59601. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Monday, November 10th, at Retz Funeral Home. The Burial will immediately follow the service at Sunset Memorial Gardens with a reception to follow at the American Legion, 3095 Villard Ave., Helena. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of John.
Service Schedule
Visitation
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday November 9, 2014
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th ave
Helena, MT 59601
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Monday November 10, 2014
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
Burial
Immediately following
Monday November 10, 2014
Sunset Memorial Gardens
7100 N. Montana Avenue
Helena , MT 59602
Reception
Immediately following
Monday November 10, 2014
American Legion
3095 Villard Avenue
Helena , MT 59601
Service Schedule
Visitation
12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Sunday November 9, 2014
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th ave
Helena, MT 59601
Funeral Service
1:00 p.m.
Monday November 10, 2014
Retz Funeral Home
315 E. 6th Avenue
Helena, MT 59601
Burial
Immediately following
Monday November 10, 2014
Sunset Memorial Gardens
7100 N. Montana Avenue
Helena , MT 59602
Reception
Immediately following
Monday November 10, 2014
American Legion
3095 Villard Avenue
Helena , MT 59601
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Marsha Ogle says
we will miss seeing the Silver Fox driving a stock truck full of cattle,it has been a part of the valley for so many years
You are all in our thoughts a prayers.
Ogle family
Kori and Steve Dee says
Steve and I offer the family our condolences. We will miss our neighbor and remember in particular a very cold and snowy day when John gathered our horses up for us after they decided to take an unsupervised walk down Lost Horse Creek Road. Prayers and blessings to all of you.
Deziah Gilliam says
I am so sorry for your loss, we will miss seeing cruise down the road. And ALWAYS had that smile.
The Gosinks says
John was a Canyon Creek icon and will be greatly missed. He came to our rescue a couple times, notably after Pam got a vehicle hung up on our gate while trying to exit the driveway in the snow. Johnny came upon the scene but waited until Jim arrived a bit later and the towed the vehicle off the gate for us 🙂 He kept an eye out for all of us part-time residents, and we loved having him as a neighbor for many reasons. Rest in peace, Mr. Vincent, and condolences to the family.
Richard Grady says
I always enjoyed his smile and that great laugh. My friends from Iowa who came the past few years for hunting enjoyed the time they had in their visits with him over the years. The stock truck was well known and is a icon to the history of the valley, of the many long term established families in the community. Rest in peace John and from my family, our condolences to your family.
Cheryl Reichert says
How Charles and I will miss that man! If we were on a deserted island and could only take a handful of people with us, John would have been on the list. I can’t count the number of times over the years he came to our rescue…like the time the wind caught a tree as it was being felled and ended up suspended over the power line to our cabin. John always knew what to do and how to it, and he did it with a smile and a twinkle in his blue eyes. Our little valley will never be the same without him.
deb stansberry crum says
Gerry, Alice , Donna, Joan,
So very sorry to hear of John’s passing. Never did I see him without that smile. I remember him as a gentle person, and a dad to everyone. God Bless all of you, you are in my prayers.
He will be greatly missed
Marty Matiskainen says
Gerry, Donna, Alice, and Joan,
How time flies. Seems like only yesterday that a couple of towns folk, Drew Anderson and myself, would spend summers on the Vincent Ranch chasing water, setting dams, and then gathering in the fruits of that labor as hay was being baled. To look at the mountain tops and celebrate the arrival of summer as the last bit of snow disappeared from them to be followed the next day by new snow appearing.
John was always a gracious checker player. When there would be a move that would seal the game and other moves were available he would take the path less traveled , thereby imparting the wisdom that is checkers to his less experienced opponent. It was things like that that made John a mentor to others even if he wasn’t trying to be.
Gerry and Girls, I still remember fondly those days on the ranch and will keep them in my thoughts and prayers.
Your Ranch Hand,
Marty
Tracy Grove says
sorry for your loss. John was such a wonderful person. He had a great smile. He will be missed. God Bless; love tracy and christopher
Luanne Matiskainen Romasko says
Gerry, Donna, Alice and Joan….
Like by brother, I have fond memories of Canyon Creek and the Vincent’s. Great memories. My sympathies to all.
J Johnson says
Dear family of John F. Vincent – I am sorry to hear of your loss. May the Creator give you peace through his sure promise to comfort us (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4). Cherish all your happy memories and I hope you are consoled by Bible promises (John 17:3).