John Nesbit

In Loving Memory of John Oliver Nesbit (Johnnie)

February 17, 1942 - March 3, 2024

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved father, grandfather, and friend, John O. Nesbit, 82 on Sunday, March 3, 2024. He was a devoted husband, a beloved father, grandfather and friend and a respected farmer in the Choteau area.

Born on February 17, 1942 in Choteau, Montana to David James Nesbit and Ellen Pauline Nordhagan Nesbit, John was the third of 6 siblings, he was raised with a deep appreciation for the land and the bounty it provided. From an early age, he developed a passion for farming that would shape the course of his life. He took immense pride in his work, tending to the fields with care and nurturing crops with a gentle hand. He also worked on the oil rigs around the area right out of high school, but it was farming that he loved.

John met his future wife Jane Burns at a high school dance. They married May 9, 1962 and remained inseparable for 46 years until Jane's passing in August of 2008. Together they had a son Scott in 1962 and son Ty in 1968.

John loved to play pool, golf, bowl, trap shoot and hunt. He spent many hunting seasons in the Bob with friends and would bring his boys with him when they were old enough to hunt. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and friends visiting places like Hawaii, Mexico, Pahrump, NV, and Jackpot, NV. He enjoyed gambling on the poker and keno machines and won quite a lot. Later in life after he retired, he spent a lot of time at the Choteau Country Club playing golf and helping out wherever he could. You could find him early in the morning on a mower cutting the fairways and trimming trees. He also served on the board there for many years.

As a father, John was a source of strength and inspiration to his sons, Scott and Ty. He instilled in them values of perseverance, resilience, and a deep respect for the land. His unwavering dedication to his family and his craft served as a guiding light, shaping the lives of those around him. His two granddaughters Carson and Miranda loved spending time with him and Jane during the summers. They were the light of his life.

Throughout his life, John was known for his kindness, generosity, and willingness to lend a helping hand to those in need. He was also known for being a jokester and had a way with the ladies, sweet talking them and always thanking them with a 'thank you honey'. He was a pillar of the community, offering support and guidance to fellow farmers and neighbors alike. His legacy of compassion and goodwill will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

In addition to his family, John leaves behind a legacy of hard work and dedication that will be remembered for generations to come. His love for farming and his commitment to agriculture will forever be cherished by those who were fortunate enough to know him.

John is lovingly survived by his son Scott, and his wife Michelle of Desert Aire, WA, grand-daughters Carson Nesbit-Connell and her husband Ethan of Valdez, Alaska and Miranda Nesbit and her fiance Tate Richards of Richland, WA., great-grandsons Jacob Francis of Desert Aire, WA and Jackson Francis of Shelton, WA and many dear close friends that he loved and loved him. John was preceded in death by his parents, his son Ty Nesbit, his wife Jane Burns Nesbit, grand-daughter Amber Francis and all of his brothers and sisters. He was the last of his Nesbit siblings to pass away.

A funeral service to honor and celebrate the life of John will be held later this spring in Choteau at a graveside service. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Choteau Benefis Hospital and the Choteau Lions Club Swimming Pool in memory of John O. Nesbit.

Though we mourn the loss of our beloved Johnnie, we take comfort in knowing that he is at peace, surrounded by the fields he loved so dearly and his family. May his soul rest in eternal peace, and may his memory continue to inspire us all to live our lives with purpose, passion, and love for the land.

John will be deeply missed but never forgotten. His legacy of hard work, dedication, and love for farming will continue to be celebrated for years to come.

"Say not in grief 'he is no more', but in thankfulness that he was"