Jacob Reichert

Jacob Reichert, Jr., 86, passed away Thursday morning, August 6, 2009, at Rim Shadows in Billings, Montana. The son of Jacob and Mary Reichert, Jake was born in Fort Collins, Colorado on November 17, 1922.

Jake married Ruth Helen Hein on January 29, 1944 in Laurel, Montana. In 1952, they purchased a homestead and moved into their first home, a Heart Mountain Relocation Center barracks, on the Heart Mountain Project west of Powell, Wyoming. They cleared 160 acres of sagebrush and rocks to build an irrigated farm. Farming was Jake's whole life. He was the original "Green Acres" man. Nothing made him happier or brought him more joy than watching his crops grow. He was known area-wide for his honesty and living by the Golden Rule. He had his own language, a unique sense of humor, and was a wonderful storyteller.

He is preceded in death by his father and mother, wife Ruth, sisters Emma, Rosalie, and Rachel, and brothers Robert, Edward, and Harold.

Survivors include his sister Esther Becker of Alliance, Nebraska; his four children, Lynnette (LeRoy) Feusner of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Jack (Sandy) Reichert of Johnson City, Texas, Patti (Steve) Reichert-Dalby of Libby, Montana, Timothy (Carrie) Reichert of Billings, Montana; and family pets, Ridge and Czar (little sweetie).

He also leaves behind nine grandchildren: Kristi (John) Warden of Fort Worth, Texas; Heidi (Brad) Lane of Kalispell, Montana; Katreena (Joe) Mullican of Huntsville, Alabama; TyAnn Robinson of Austin, Texas; Adam Close of San Diego, California; Alisha (Elie) Soueidi of Billings, Montana; Zachary Reichert of Denver, Colorado; Bethany (James) Wiesner of Billings, Montana; and Dustin Reichert of Twenty Nine Palms, California; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place in Powell. A memorial service will be held at Hope Lutheran Church, Cary Street and Avenue H, in Powell, Wyoming at 1pm on Monday, August 10. Interment will be at the Crown Hill Cemetery. The family wishes to thank Martha and Tiffany Elliott and Linda Rogers of Cody, Wyoming and Mary Dietrich of Rim Shadows in Billings, Montana for their loving care. The family requests that any donations be made to Hope Lutheran Church in memory of Jake Reichert.

"My farm to me is not just land,
Where bare, unpainted buildings stand.
To me my farm is nothing less
Than all God's hoarded loveliness."