Dusty Gilger

Dusty Gilger, age 74 of Boyes, Montana, died Wednesday, July 12, 2023 following sudden complications with his fight with cancer.

The funeral service will be held 10:30 AM on Wednesday, July 19th, 2023 at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fouche. Pastor Samuel Smith will officiate the service. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place in Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche.

The funeral will be live-streamed on Dusty’s obituary page, located on the funeral home’s website: http://www.LeveringtonFH.com

Douglas Dustin Gilger II was born March 2nd, 1949, in Belle Fouche, South Dakota. He was the son of Fidelia (Tope) and Douglas Dustin Gilger I. His first years were spent on the family sheep ranch north of Belle Fouche, SD. Around the age of 12, Dusty and his family bought an additional sheep ranch near Boyes, MT. Where the family moved. He attended Power River County District High School in Broadus, MT where he graduated. He later attended University of Minnesota in Crookston, MN where competed in track and graduated with his 2-year Ag degree.

Dusty met Ellen DeCock through his sister Gayla. Ellen and Gayla were friends & roommates at college. The Gilger and DeCock families became intertwined as Gayla first married Ellen’s brother Carl DeCock, and then later, Dusty married Ellen on June 6, 1976. Dusty and Ellen settled on the Montana ranch near Pilgrim Creek. There they focused on ranching with Dusty’s folks as well as raising 4 children. Flying planes, riding horses, fixing fences, welding machinery, hunting coyotes and chasing sheep down on foot, Dusty would figure out a way to accomplish what needed to be done. He was also quite inventive. His children remember riding a mock bucking bronco made from a metal barrel with a saddle. Rigging the barrel to a metal frame with large springs attached, his kids experienced the full up and down motion of a bucking horse. Besides toys, Dusty invented his patented “Super Sweep”, combining a windrow rake with a dump rake and his Jeep converted to a “Ewe-haul” grain dispenser.

Aside from the ranch and his family, Dusty’s faith was of utmost importance to him. Years of service as Vice President and Trustee of Caldwell Springs Camp, and teaching Sunday school at Biddle Wesleyan Church. Many a time he would ask a probing question so that others could express the depths and truths of their faith.

In March, Dusty was delighted to have Sandra join him in marriage after grieving the loss of Ellen. They enjoyed working alongside each other outdoors.

Dusty is survived by his wife, Sandra of Boyes MT; children Truston Gilger (Boyes), Elissa Gilger, Gaiton (Jasmynn) Gilger (Caney, KS), and Gideon Gilger (Belle Fourche); grandchildren Jane, Jonah, Joya, and Joseph (Jojo) Gilger all of Caney, KS; brother Dan (Jan) Gilger (Belle Fourche, SD); plus, numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Ellen; and sister, Gayla Gilger DeCock Fredrickson.