Timothy Lee West passed away on September 12, 2018 after a long battle with cancer.
Tim was born March 2, 1947 in Sheridan County in Montana, the second son of Maurice and Jane West. Tim attended high school at Saint Mary’s Catholic School in New England, North Dakota, where, according to him, he was the star of the football and basketball teams. After high school, he attended Dickinson State College and then Dawson Community College, where he earned an Associate’s Degree.
After college, Tim enlisted in the Army for two years, where he was stationed in Germany. Much of this time was spent racing cars and drinking German beer.
Tim moved around and explored a variety of professions for several years. He worked as a carpet layer in Alaska, a landscaper in California, dock builder on Flathead Lake, and on the oil rigs in Eastern Montana.
Tim married Mary Jane Bantz on December 29th, 1973 in Outlook, Montana. They moved to the Glasgow Airforce Base, where they started their family. While living there, Tim stopped his patrol car one day to reprimand his daughters for being in the street. A few other children in the neighborhood saw this and ran home to tell their parents how ‘tough’ the police were. Tim and Mary Jane moved back to Outlook, MT for several years. They eventually settled in Helena, MT, where Tim started his 26 year career with the Lewis and Clark County Sheriff’s Department as a Detention Sergeant. He retired in 2012.
Tim loved hunting, fishing, and camping with his family. He was an avid fan of the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Braves. Tim loved to tell a good story. Some of his favorites included; climbing a windmill at age 2 and having his older brother yelling at him to ‘jump’ as his mother, who was terrified of heights, was climbing up to get him. He would tell the story of losing three of his fingers in a pump-jack and his father threatening the doctor until he surgically reattached them. After that, he spent his time outdoors tied to the clothesline.
When Tim started school he was taken to a specialist, as they believed he was hard of hearing, only to find he had broken the erasers off his pencils and stuffed them into his ears. His friends also spoke of a raccoon hat he loved to wear and claimed he frequently boasted of being tougher than his classmates on the playground….all of them.
Retribution came for Tim in his six children. They sometimes tested his patience and had him questioning his own sanity. He would sometimes become so angry he lost the ability to speak English or call them by the correct names, but they always relied on his advice and constantly sought his approval. He loved being a grandfather and family man.
Tim is preceded in death by his grandparents, parents and numerous aunts and uncles, his son, Patrick West, his father-in-law, Lawrence “Penny” Bantz and brother-in-law, Larry Bantz.
He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Mary Jane and his children, Yvette (Lee) Keller, Tina West, Melissa West, Kevin (Dayna) West, Aaron West and son-in-law, Bill Billman; mother-in-law Gerry Bantz; grandchildren, Sydney West, Tyzan Billman, Tamer Billman, Quill Keller, Rayden West, Gavin West and grandchildren by marriage, Amber, Jared, Devin, Ashley, and Elaine. He is also survived by his siblings, Don (Theresa) West, Bob (Shirley) West, Rita West, Nici (Bob) Wallis, Pam West and Jim (Cindy) West and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be at St. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in East Helena at 11 am on September 18th. The burial will be at Fort Harrison with lunch/reception to follow at the Service Club.
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Arlyn Greydanus says
Mary Jane,
I am so sorry to see that Tim has past! My condolences to you and your family. You are in my prayers.
Arlyn Greydanus
Sherri Anderson says
Lit a candle in memory of Timothy “Tim” West
Sherri Anderson says
Melissa
I did not know your dad, but I have worked with you for many years and my heart goes out to you during the time of loss and sorry. May all the memories of your dad give you comfort in the days ahead. If you ever need anything you know right where my desk is.
Kenderesi family says
Kenderesi family purchased the Beautiful in Blue for the family of Timothy “Tim” West.
Dena Lenhardt says
I knew Tim in high school at St. Mary’s and was sorry to hear of his death and just wanted to express my sympathy to the family.
I will always remember him as an outstanding athlete in football and basketball but more importantly as a gentle and kind person under that tough exterior.
I hope his years after St. Mary’s were filled with much love and happiness and that you are comforted by knowing he is singing Irish tunes in heaven.