Donald Philip Harrington
1925 – 2013
Longtime Pepsi bottler, Donald Philip Harrington, 88, passed away at his ranch home in Dillon on September 30, of natural causes. He was born to Philip and Dorothy (Rooney) Harrington in Butte on April 20, 1925.
Raised in Butte, Don graduated from Boys Central in 1942. While serving our country for four years in the Navy during WWII, he was able to travel around the world. He graduated with a business degree from the University of Montana in 1950. After gaining experience in odd jobs, he went to work for his father at the family Pepsi bottling business in Butte in 1953. His family started the first franchise for Pepsi-Cola in the state of Montana in 1937. Don managed Harrington Bottling Company until this summer, often commuting from the ranch in Dillon. He treasured and thought of his faithful Pepsi employees as his extended family.
Don’s love of horses, ranching and rodeo began in his teens with visits to Hugh Murphy’s ranch in Brown’s Gulch. Helping start the Univ. of Montana Rodeo Team, he competed in bareback riding and calf roping. He started announcing rodeos when another announcer didn’t show up and often announced while competing at the rodeo. He announced rodeos from California to Canada, including the National High School Rodeo Finals, the National College Rodeo Finals, and the NFR. Known as Mr. Pepsi, Don had many colorful friends from the rodeo world. They were friendships that last forever.
Don was inducted into the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City in 2002 as the recipient of the Ben Johnson Award. This year, Don was honored by the American Quarter Horse Assn. for registering Quarter Horse foal crops for 50 consecutive years.
Don and his family owned and operated a ranch in Sheridan before expanding to the current location in Beaverhead County. He enjoyed his time at the ranch working with his cattle and horses. He loved working with the horses and seeing the new colt crops each spring. He took great joy in seeing the horses he raised succeed in the rodeo, horse show and ranch worlds. He donated young horses each year to the MSU, UMW and 4-H to help their equine programs.
Don’s generosity and kindness was known country wide. He supported many colleges, schools, clubs and organizations with his expertise, time, donations and Pepsi products. He donated the property for the Butte Saddle Club and also for the future Veteran’s Home in Butte. He helped many people and organizations without anyone knowing about it and never sought recognition.
Don was a member and served on the boards of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Assn., the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, the National Bottlers Assn., the Montana State Bottlers Assn., The Pepsi-Cola Bottlers Assn. and others. He was also a member of the Montana Quarter Horse Assn., BPOE and Exchange Club, along with serving on bank and other organization boards.
Don and Shirley took many trips through their rodeo and Pepsi-Cola connections. Traveling to China, Japan and many locations in Europe with friends in the soft-drink industry, they enjoyed seeing the world and the U.S. in their travels together.
Preceding Don in death were: his parents, Phil and Dorothy; his brother, John; and his sister, Dorothy Jean Holguin. Don is survived by: his wife of 58 years, Shirley (Davis); brother-in-law George Davis; daughter Lynn (Fred Hirschy); and granddaughters Murphy, Brooke and Cate Hirschy; son Mark (Barb); grandson Matt (Alli); and granddaughters Anne and Becci Harrington.
There was a Memorial Mass on Friday, Oct. 4 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Butte. Interment will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to: Dillon Home Health/Hospice, 600 Highway 91 S., Dillon, MT 59725; Shriners Hospital Travel Fund c/o Bagdad Temple, 314 W. Park St., Butte, MT 59701; Butte Salvation Army, 1229 Harrison Ave., Butte, MT 59701; or to a charity of the donor’s choice. A guestbook is available online at www.brundagefuneralhome.com.
August John Schreiber
1920 – 2013
August John Schreiber, 93, of Dillon passed away on the morning of September 30.
Funeral services will be on Friday, Oct. 11, at 2:30 p.m. at Brundage Funeral Home, with Pastor David Andrew officiating. Graveside services with military honors will immediately follow.
There will be a visitation at the funeral home tomorrow 6–8 p.m.
Gus was born in May1920 in Aurora IN, where he graduated high school. In 1939, he enlisted in the Marines and served his country with pride in the Pacific on Guadalcanal with the 1st Marine Division. He achieved the rank of Technical Sergeant and was released from the military in 1945, along with many others from “America’s greatest generation.”
In 1941, he married the love of his life, Virginia, and they had two wonderful daughters who blessed Gus and Virginia with five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, as each one is a blessing.
Gus moved back to Indiana and opened a sporting goods store and fell in love with the Western part of America while hunting. Later, he moved his family out West as he had dreamed of doing and bought a small farm in Dillon. This small farm was a huge part of his life, as he loved to watch what he worked for grow and flourish. Gus loved to hunt and fish and was exceptionally lucky to be able to enjoy these activities until the last few years of his life.
As most farmers do, he had to have a second job to afford to farm. Gus helped keep Montana’s roadways safe and open to the public working for the highway department until he retired. Throughout his farming and employment on the highway, he made many great friends.
Aside from work and family, Gus loved God, as could be seen easily if the time was taken to spend with him. Gus enjoyed reading the Bible and fully understanding the messages. It was obvious that he understood the messages, as talking religion and politics were some of his favorite pastimes.
Gus’s wife, Virginia Schreiber, sister Alberta Lee and daughter Theola Watkins preceded Gus in death. His surviving family will cheerfully carry on his legacy.
Frances Giudici Richardson
1930 – 2013
On Monday, October 7, Frances Joyce Giudici Richardson passed away from complication of Alzheimer’s at Parkview Acres, where she had lived for the past six and a half years.
Frances was born on April 16, 1930, to Carl and Jessie Giudici, in Dillon. She was the older of two daughters. She was raised on the family ranch, attended local schools and graduated from Beaverhead County High School.
She married Charles Richardson on Nov. 24, 1949. They had two children, Don, who lives in Bigfork, and Carleen Chaffin (Dick), who resides in Dillon. Charles and Frances lived at Maiden Rock Mine for many years while Charles worked as an electrician at the mine. During this time, Frances was known for her delicious and beautifully decorated cakes. She made cakes for many functions and birthdays in Melrose.
Charles and Frances moved back to Dillon in 1964 and purchased the Gambles Store. After selling the store, Frances worked as a bookkeeper for the Dillon Tribune and J.C. Penney’s. For the next 15 years, she served as cashier in the business office at Western Montana College (Univ. of Montana Western).
Frances loved to follow her grandchildren in all their endeavors, traveling across the state to watch football, basketball, horse shows, dance recitals and fiddle contests.
Frances was preceded in death by: her parents, Carl and Jessie Giudici; and her sister, Bobbi Jeanne Scott.
She is survived by: Charles, her husband of 63 years; her children, Don and Carleen; grandchildren Jami Bay (Aaron) of Missoula, Juli Devlin of Missoula, Kevin Richardson (Christy) of Whitefish, and Jessica Mischke of Kalispell. Frances also is survived by 10 great grandchildren: Dayton and Carson Bay; Bridger and Branson Devlin; Brayden, Abree and Kayla Richardson; and Mackenzie, Kadance and Nicole Mischke.
Services will be held at the Brundage Funeral Home on Thursday, October 10, at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Frances’ name to: Hospice c/o Home Health and Hospice; Parkview Acres Auxiliary; The Presbyterian Church of Dillon; or to an organization of the donor’s choice.
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