John Buerkle, Jr., was born on August 5, 1927, on the family farm north of Plevna, MT a son of William and Caroline (Krueg) Buerkle. He grew up on the farm and graduated from Plevna High School in 1944. Following graduation, John returned to the farm. John met Lorene Christine Freier, and the two were married on September 25, 1947 in Plevna, MT. John and Lorene made their home on the Buerkle farm where they raised their five sons, Lorin, Dale, Vernon, Sharold and Kevin. John and Lorene were blessed with 57 years of marriage. Besides farming, John also built homes in the surrounding area and did carpentry work. In 1998, he retired from farming, but continued to make his home on the farm until three years ago when he moved into the Fallon County Medical Complex Long Term Care Center. John was a member of the First Baptist Church in Plevna, where over the years he served as Treasurer and Trustee. John enjoyed visiting with people and sharing his faith and love for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was a good steward of the land. John loved spending his free time with his family, whom he was very proud of. John passed away on Friday, November 9, 2012, at Fallon County Medical Complex Long Term Care Center in Baker, MT. John is survived by his sons, Lorin (Carol) Buerkle, Baker, MT, Dale (Sharon) Buerkle, Plevna, MT, Vernon (Patsy) Buerkle, Glasgow, MT, Sharold (Melody) Buerkle, Belgrade, MT and Kevin (Darcey) Buerkle, Havre, MT; 11 grandchildren, Jodi (Bill) Miller, Ryan Buerkle, Josh (Darcy) Buerkle, Darin (Nicole) Buerkle, Scot (Nikki) Buerkle, Dana Buerkle, Stephanie (Shad) Croy, Sharona (Shane) Gilbert, Matthew (Alicia) Buerkle, Christa (Jake) Alford and Teresa Buerkle; 23 great-grandchildren; sisters -in-law, Norma Buerkle, Betty Buerkle, Edna Atkinson, and Agnes(Russell) Wiseman and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death are his parents, his wife, Lorene, his grandson, Michael Buerkle, his siblings, William, Fred, Art, Rose, an infant brother and infant sister and one great grandchild.

John Buerkle, Jr.FUNERAL SERVICE:

Tuesday, November 13, 2012 10:00 a.m.First Baptist Church

Plevna, Montana

OFFICIATING:Pastor Ernie Lambright

MUSIC:Pianist: Eleanor Aldinger

Soloist: Jill Shellhamer

PALLBEARERS:Jodi Miller Ryan BuerkleJosh Buerkle Darin BuerkleScot Buerkle Dana BuerkleStephanie Croy Sharona Gilbert Matthew Buerkle Christa Alford

Teresa Buerkle

HONORARY PALLBEARER:Michael Buerkle

INTERMENT:Community Union Cemetery

Plevna, Montana

ARRANGEMENTS BY:Stevenson Funeral Home

Baker, Montana

Lunch will be served at the Plevna Community Center following the interment service.

All are welcomed to attend.

Death is nothing at all . . . .

I have only slipped away into the next room.I am I, and you are you. Whatever we were to each other, that we still are. Call me by my old familiar name, speak to me in the easy way which you always use. Put no difference in your tone, wear no forced air of solemnity or sorrow. Laugh as we always laughed at the little jokes we enjoyed together. Pray, smile, think of me, pray for me. Let my name be ever the household word that it always was, let it be spoken without effect, without the trace of a shadow on it. Life means all that it ever meant. It is the same as it ever was; there is unbroken continuity. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? I am waiting for you, for an interval, somewhere very near, just round the corner.

All is well . . . .

Henry Scott Holland