Joseph Edward Bach

Joe E. Bach, 89, of Fort Benton, MT, passed away on December 31, 2020. Cremation has taken place under the direction of O’Connor Funeral Home. A memorial service will take place at O’Connor Memorial Chapel on Saturday, January 9, 2021 at 10 am. Joe was born in Fort Benton, MT on June 7, 1931, to Jack and Mamie Bach of Highwood. He attended school there, playing football, basketball and baseball. After graduation in 1949, he worked for a local farmer, Wes Lyons, until joining the Navy. He served during the Korean War on a hospital ship. In 1955, he began a career with the USPS and retired in 1986. Joe and Marlene Holmquist were married in Fairfield in 1958. They enjoyed 55 years together until her passing in 2013. The two of them raised 4 children, Alan (deceased 1985), Jennie, Teri, and Danny. After retirement, Joe spent many years at the ranch with Jennie and her husband, Ken working alongside them to bring in many hay crops, and they enjoyed many adventures together. Their animals and life became his as well. He never made a trip to Great Falls without bringing home a bag of biscuits for the Granddogs. He also found time for a hobby. His first project being to restore a 1967 Chevy pick-up that he used for transportation back and forth to Jennie’s place for many years. Next, he and his brother, Gary restored a 1929 International truck that he was very proud of. That truck was seen in every parade for several years. The back would be filled with nieces, nephews, and grandkids throwing out candy. Joe’s yard and Christmas lights delighted everyone in the Highwood community until 2010, when he moved to Fort Benton. When Joe’s eyesight started to fail him, he never complained or spent time feeling sorry for himself. He adapted his life to deal with what fate had handed him. He spent many hours with Kitty on his lap listening to audio books. This last spring, he discovered Sirius XM radio and the audio books took a backseat as he and Kitty scanned through their favorite stations. Last spring when life changed for everyone, Joe moved out to the ranch with Jennie and Ken. He and Ken spent days shopping together for a lawnmower. The new lawnmower became his new pastime. He was once again able to enjoy the yardwork he loved so much and mowed everything he could find to mow. Joe is survived by his daughters, Jennie (Ken) Ritland of Loma, Teri (Lance) Lankford of Hobart, OK; son, Dan of Fort Benton; 6 grandchildren; and 5 great-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Domingo Vasquez of Orlando, FL; and many nieces and nephews. Memorials can be made to the Dedman Animal Foundation in Fort Benton Montana