Roy A. Baeth

Malta- Roy A. Baeth 91, passed away at his home on August 23, 2018. Visitation was Sunday, August 26, 2018 7:00 P.M. at Kirkwood Memorial Chapel. Memorial services were Monday, August 27, 2018 11:00 A.M. at Kirkwood Memorial Chapel. Internment at Malta cemetery. Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com.

Roy was born March 26, 1927, in a log house on Content Road, to Henry and Marie Kliewer Baeth. He spent his childhood on Sun Prairie and in the Larb Hills. He told stories about stomping wool in bags at the Baeth brothers shearing plant on DHS Coulee. After he graduated from 8th grade he herded sheep and worked for various farmers and ranchers. He joined the army in 1945 and was stationed on Adak Island in Alaska during World War II. After he was honorably discharged he returned to Sun Prairie and started doing general dirtwork with his brothers. He improved the lives of thousands of people by turning sagebrush into hay meadows and putting water where there was none. During the 1980's he expanded his work to Blaine County, working from Harlem to the Bear Paw Mountains.

Roy was known far and wide for his expert abilities and his honesty. He did his work on a handshake. No written contract was needed. Customers would wait in line up to three years for him to come do their dirtwork. He designed fields on the kitchen table using an adding machine and graph paper. All his kids took turns holding the "rod" while Dad took measurements with the transit. Roy instilled in his family the values he lived by; honesty, integrity and hard work. His life's work is as lasting in his descendants as it is on the landscape of Phillips County. One of the highlights of his long career was helping to unearth Leonardo, the Mummy Dinosaur in the summer of 2001.

Roy married Marlette Henry on Sept. 18, 1953, and they were blessed with five children. They lived their entire married life in and around Malta. He was proud to serve on the Church Council and as a Deacon of the Little White Church. They loved to dance and could be found at country dances and at the VFW jam sessions the first Sunday of every month dancing to "Waltz Across Texas".

Roy was preceded in death by his wife, Marlette, his parents, Henry and Marie Baeth, and by his siblings Helen, Florence, Walter, Calvin, Pauline, Ervin and baby brother Allen. Survivors include daughters Kathleen (Clair) Waters, Janet (Dale) Veseth, son Lloyd Baeth, all of Malta and sons Steve (Janet) Baeth of Townsend and Lewis (Donna) Baeth of Manhattan. Grandchildren Dan (Kathie) Waters of Shelby, Barb Waters (Mike Zent) of Billings, Greg Coughlin of Belgrade, Shannon (Bill) Zuelke of Belgrade, Marshall Baeth of Miles City and Ryan, Cora, Will and Emma Baeth of Manhattan. He is also survived by great grandchildren John, Clara and James Waters and Conrad, Grace and Emmy Zuelke of Belgrade.

A00013B2018AG24