John P. Poston, Sr., passed away at his residence near Helena on June 3 at the age of 85. A lifelong resident of Montana, John was born in Anaconda where he grew up with his three older brothers and three older sisters. A high school honor roll student and a member of the Chemistry and Social Studies clubs, he went on to earn his bachelor’s degree at the University of Montana as well as his Juris Doctor diploma. He was a member of the Montana State Bar for decades and an avid Grizzly supporter. John was the first member of his family to attend college and receive a graduate degree. John then moved to Helena and worked at the Highway Department before setting up his own firm with two friends from law school, Tom Harrison and Jerry Loendorf. In the early 1980s, John, along with his first wife, Joan Stenger Poston, helped found the Valley Bank of Helena. He served as the bank’s Chairman for several years.
John was a highly respected member of several national conservation organizations, including Ducks Unlimited, where he served in many leadership roles at the national level, and the Boone and Crockett Club, where he was elected an Honorary Life Member.
An enthusiastic fisherman and hunter, he proudly displayed his “Grand Slam” of mounted sheep. John was a high school weightlifter and took up distance running later in life. He ran the Governor’s Cup Marathon, both individually and on relay teams, and served as a member of the organizing committee for the Cup for many years.
In 1998, John married a second time, his high school sweetheart, Joan Duffy. They were together until Joan’s passing in 2022. John enjoyed the later years of his life at his home at Hauser Lake with his dogs and cats.
He is survived by his two daughters, Kaye and Sandy, and his son, John; his step-daughter Helen, his four grandchildren, Sandra, Sean, Katka, and Max; his step-grandchildren Bo, Josie, Ellie, Charles, and Angus; his step-great grandchildren Rainier, Penelope, and Oliver; numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; his three dogs, Duffy, Purl, and Elway; and his two cats, Conrad and Knot-tail.
A graveside service will be held at 1pm on Saturday, June 28, at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 120 S Daho St., Anaconda, MT 59711. A reception will take place at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort, 1500 Fairmont Rd., Anaconda, MT 59711 immediately following the graveside service.
The family requests in lieu of flowers please consider making a contribution to the University of Montana.
Service Schedule
Graveside Service
1:00pm
Saturday June 28, 2025
Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery
5001 Crackerville Road
Anaconda, MT 59711
Reception
Following the Graveside Service
Saturday June 28, 2025
Fairmont Hot Springs Resort
1500 Fairmont Rd, Anaconda, MT 59711
, 59711
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Michelle McGuire says
Kaye, Sandy, & John,
I am so sorry for the loss of your father. I have so many wonderful memories of all of us at Swan Lake! Especially the summer we helped your dad build the floating dock! 🙂 My deepest sympathy & prayers to all. 💗 Michelle
Bill Coddington says
John was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor. I spent many hours with him on the Governor’s Cup committee. We did good things and had a lot of fun together. RIP John.
Bob and Dawn McCullough says
John was truly an honest and honorable man. He was good friends with my wife’s dad and helped us navigate through some legal issues, refusing any pay. I enjoyed the many hunting stories he shared with me over the years. May he rest in peace.
Bruce Mihelish says
Thanks to John for leading and mentoring many of us on the Valley Bank Board of Directors. We all appreciated his great sense of humor and respected tough, honest “Anaconda-like” persistence.
Joe Loendorf says
John was a great friend and we shared some special days on the fishing and hunting trails. John always provided a good laugh with his unique sense of humor. My condolences to the family.
Greg Duncan says
John was my mentor and partner for years. Not only were we partners but friends. We shared many good times and I am proud to have been able to call him my friend. He will be missed.
Jim Arnold says
in my early years of Boone and Crocket, John helped me a lot walking me thru the history of the club and the responsibility i took on being a member of that organization. John was a special guy to all club members and will be sorely missed. This world is a better place because John was here. RIP
Jim Arnold
Dale Zeigler says
I was honored to share some incredible adventures with my close friend, like the time we hunted caribou in Saskatchewan—I was fortunate to have him with me when I got my caribou that went into the Boone and Crockett record book as the 3rd largest at the time.
Our friendship wasn’t just about the outdoors—Alaska fishing trips, ice fishing on Hauser Lake where we lived across one another, and countless elk hunts where we froze our buns off waking up to a jug of frozen orange juice in the sleeping bag. He was a feisty lawyer, a true peacock who loved the thrill of trial, and despite the “no-no” nature of a friendship between an insurance adjuster and a lawyer, we connected back in 1970s through work and built a bond that lasted decades. Our offices sat just across the street, and for years we met regularly for lunch, sharing stories, laughs, and a friendship I treasured deeply, even when my own medical challenges kept me from seeing him this past year and I’ll be unable to attend the ceremony.
Goodbye, buddy. I’ll miss you a lot.
Dale Zeigler
Dean Retz says
What a shock! I got to know John when we were organizing Valley Bank years ago. I was instrumental in helping John to start running/racing. Although I have not been able to see John much these past years, I saw him about a month ago and told him that I weas looking at the Governor’s Cup brochure of the twentieth year, and noted his name as one of the Board of Directors. He smiled and said that there were many memories of the Governor’s Cup. GOD BLESS.
Jennifer Bogut says
We were so sorry to hear about John’s passing. He was such a kind man. Sending love from Idaho,
Jennifer, David, Elise, and Iain
Tony A. Schoonen says
I’m very proud and honored to have known John. He was a leader and an inspiration. John was deeply committed and passionate about the Boone and Crockett Club and conservation. Our organization would never be where it is today without his wisdom and dedication. He will be missed but never forgotten.