Ted passed away on the morning of May 8, 2017. Ted was with his five children when he passed, he was 82 years old. Theodore (Ted) Birkland was born in Billings Montana on May 13, 1935. He was the second child, and the first son, of Dorthy and Thelmor Birkland.
He grew up in Silesia Montana and attended Laurel High School. He served in both the Navy and the Air Force. Ted and Shirley were married and had 5 children. They farmed south of Laurel until the early 80’s. Ted moved to Peerless Montana where he was a pillar in the local community working for the local schools for more than 30 years. Ted enjoyed the outdoors and loved hunting and fishing. His best bud was his cat Dude.
Ted was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sisters June Hood and Trudy McArthur, and brother Noel Birkland; his children Janet Erb, Debbie Schreiner, Wayne Birkland, Darryl Birkland, Mike Birkland; his grandchildren Amanda Bouma, Alex Schreiner, Adam Schreiner, Alli Birkland, and Ted Birkland.
There will be a memorial service at the United Methodist Church in Laurel Montana on October 16, 2017 at 11:00. Following the service Ted will be buried with Military Honors at the Yellowstone National Cemetery in Laurel.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Share
Dorothy Thomas says
My condolences to Janet, Debbie, Wayne, Darryl, Mike, and all your families. Uncle Ted will be deeply missed.
With all our love.
Brad, Dorothy and family
Kay Banks says
Our thoughts and prayers are with each of you. We had many good times with Ted. He was a great guy and will be missed. Love, Kay and Shari
Kathy Larson says
Janet , Debbie, Wayne, Darryl, Mike, and all your families. Sorry to about Uncle Ted. Your don’t remember me. I am one of your cousins Kathy (Brunmeier) Larson. I was reading The Billings Gazette and saw this about Uncle Ted. You are in my thoughts and prayers.
Tammy Frickel-Connard says
My deepest sympathy to the Birkland family♡
Billie Ronan says
My thoughts and prayers are with all of you. Ted and you five meant more to us than you ever could have known.
Love, Billie and Ann Marie
Anita Worden says
Janet, Debbie, Wayne, Daryl and Mike I am so sorry for your loss. I have many fond memories of you and your family. I’m keeping each of you and your families in my prayers. My deepest sympathy to you.
Eileen sain says
Thoughts and prayers, I drove bus with Ted in Scobey, he will be missed by kids and fellow drivers. I loved his dry sense of humor.
Frank and Kathy Loehding says
Sincere condolences to Ted’s family. He was our neighbor many years ago in Peerless.
Connie Andersen says
Sending condolences to all of Ted’s family. All 4 of our children grew up with Ted as their bus driver and I worked at the Peerless school as a cook and he was always such joy to have around. If anything went wrong in the school all a person needed to do was call on Ted and he was there to take care of it. We will always remember him and know he was a good friend. Rest in Peace Ted.
shirlee mcarthur says
We are so sorry for your loss of Uncle Ted. Stuart and I are praying for you. We will miss seeing all but will be thinking of you on Monday. Much Love to you all Stuart, Shirlee, Joshua, Natasha McArthur
Karis Blank says
My condolences to the Birkland family. My thoughts are with you through this rough time.
Dina Trang says
Ted I will always have you in my ❤️ You were a great boss, mentor and friend. When ever I needed help, you always reached out your hand. Prayers for the Birkland family?
Paula Ferguson says
To all of Ted’s family: I am so sorry for your loss. Ted was my good friend, as I live in Peerless and worked with him for years while the Peerless school was open. He was always helping out with anything that any of us at the school needed. When my class got a mini greenhouse, Ted installed wheels on it so that we could move it around the room. He dug out a “PHS” flowerbed on the front lawn so that we could plant our marigolds in it each spring. And he watered them and trimmed around them all summer so that everyone who drove by could enjoy them. I learned a lot of gardening tricks from Ted through the years. All of us at Peerless will miss him. He was a good man.
Phyllis Anderson says
My thoughts are with the Birkland famlies. Rest in peace Ted
Joseph Anderson and family says
Melissa and I send our condolences to Ted’s family. He was a good Peerless neighbor. I will miss waving at his yellow bus on 248. Steady Ted will be missed.
Reese Puckett says
I’ll miss you Ted. My first and best boss. I’ll remember you always for teaching me so much stuff from woodworking to stripping floors, and occasional gopher hunting on the job 🙂 Takes an amazing guy to take his time with a young man to teach him about the finer things in life.
Lawrence BRESE says
I went to school with Ted.He made me a notebook out of plywood and leather in grade school.He made them for others too.My condolences to the family.
Marilyn Erb says
I know Ted will be greatly missed by his very dear family. My sincerest condolences to you all.
Cindi Meccage says
Janet, Debbie, Wayne, Daryl and Mike I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your Dad. I know that you all have many wonderful memories that will carry you through this hard time. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Ken Boyd says
Janet, Debbie, Wayne, Darryl, and Mike (and Penny and Craig). Sorry for your loss, wish I could be there with you today. Growing up with you as my brothers and sisters is an incredible collection of memories I wouldn’t trade for anything. Ted was a good man, he taught me many of the skills I use in everyday life. Seems like there wasn’t much he couldn’t do, from rebuilding a transmission to stamping out a decorative leather belt. I feel so lucky to have been able to grow up on the farm and learn from him.
I am sure it was quite a chore to keep all 8 of us kids occupied, and keep the farm running. I remember so many trips to Cooney Dam, waterskiing, so much time spent hunting, fishing, target shooting, reloading. We may just hold the record for the family that has consumed the most deer jerky ever!
I am very thankful to have grown up with Ted and all of you. I always thought I was the oldest kid in the family, but looking back on how much fun Ted always had with us and his seemingly endless energy, maybe I was just the second oldest kid in the family 🙂 Love you all.
Ken Boyd