Rudolph Lee Pfister

Rudolph Lee Pfister, 93, passed away from natural causes at his home in Veyo, Utah, on April 28, 2015.  He was greeted on the other side by his loving wife Barbara; he will be greatly missed by those family and friends he has left behind in this mortal life.  Rudy was born on the family homestead near Sun River, Montana on January 31, 1922, the son of Edward Ernest Pfister and Katherine Marie Aldinger Pfister.  He was the 4th child in a family of 8 living children. Rudy grew up on the family farms in Sun River, Simms, and the Bitterroot Valley (Charlos Heights), Montana.

Rudy graduated from Simms High School in 1941, and worked for a time on the Great Northern Railroad.  He joined the Army in 1942 after WWII began, and was sent initially to Ft. Douglas, Utah.  As an Army Engineer, he was eventually sent to India to build the Burma-Ledo Road from Assam, India, linking Burma (now Myanmar) with southwest China.  After his discharge in June, 1945, he returned to the family farm in Montana to find his father supervising German prisoners of war hoeing sugar beets. 

He dated a high school acquaintance, Barbara Jean Porter, and they married on September 7th, 1947 in Lewistown, Montana. They were sealed for eternity in the Provo Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) on June 3, 1977. Rudy and Barbara settled in Roundup, Montana shortly after their marriage, and they lived in Roundup until they moved to southern Utah in 2003 to escape the cold Montana winters.

Rudy worked for the Fergus Electrical Cooperative (REA) from 1946 until his retirement in 1987.   His work ethic was legendary, as he always had many projects he was working on.  Rudy was a skilled carpenter, electrician, and craftsman; it seemed as though he could fix or build anything.  Following in his father’s footsteps, he set up his own basement butcher shop.  Over many years he and Barbara processed many sides of beef for friends and relatives.  Even in his 90’s Rudy kept busy crafting picture frames and other items for family members. 

Rudy and Barbara raised 6 children in Roundup.  Rudy was a hard-working and devoted father and husband.  He loved to fish and hunt in the streams and mountains of Montana, and he was a skilled marksman and outdoorsman.  He was baptized into the LDS Church in 1976, and was a faithful member, serving in a number of leadership positions and providing many hours of volunteer service along with Barbara.  After retirement, he and Barbara traveled much of the United States by car, visiting family and friends, and of course fishing wherever possible. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Barbara, his siblings baby Katherine, Ernest (WWII), Marguerite Townsend, Walter, infant Thomas, Julia Deason, and grandson Teigen Vander Esch.   He is survived by his children Polly (George Ochenski), James (Roxane), Dale (Jill), Rex (Linda), Rozell (Arlin Hughes), and Lujean (Ivan Vander Esch), 33 grandchildren, 59 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.  He is also survived by his brothers Fred (Celeste), Bill, and a sister Jo Ann (Don) Tomlin. 

Visitation will begin on Monday morning at 9:30 am at the LDS Chapel at 176 East Center Street, Veyo, Utah, with services provided by Heideman Hughes Mortuary.  Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am at the Veyo Chapel, with military honors and interment at the Veyo Cemetery directly after the service.  The family suggests contributions to Nepal Earthquake relief in lieu of flowers.