Richard Merrill Ostrum; 1940-2026

Richard Merrill Ostrum was born March 5, 1940, in Columbus, MT. He was the oldest son of Richard and Cora Ostrum. He joined his older sister, Coral Jean, and years later his younger brother, Robert, was born. The family made their home on the banks of Butcher Creek raising cattle, sheep and hay.

He attended Absarokee Elementary School and graduated from Absarokee High School in 1958. On Dec. 4, 1953, at age 13, he lost his mother to cancer, which had a profound impact on his life.

On Aug. 18, 1958, he married Kathleen Pelton, and they had a love story that would last 68 years. With a broken heart, he made it 17 days from her passing.

After marriage, they made their home on a small lease on Fishtail Creek. From there, they settled on the banks of the West Rosebud River behind the town of Fishtail. Their daughter, Venessa, was born, along with their son, Terrill, a year and a half later.

Merrill had a true passion for merchandising livestock utilizing the auction method. In the mid-70s to the mid-80s he launched a ranch production sale under the name of R.M. Ostrum Ranch Co. With his mom at his side, he was a force in the industry. They sold registered and commercial Angus cattle, registered and commercial sheep, ranch geldings, work horse teams and stock dogs! He truly loved hosting those events and entertaining people across the country.

To stay engaged, he later partnered with Joe Goggins on many cow and bred heifer projects, marketing them in the J&L sale. There is one more to go that he will be watching from above.

Merrill served on the board of the Northern International Livestock Exposition (NILE) and was president. NILE was a true passion of his for the people he met and the opportunity that it gave to young people in agriculture.

Merrill led a great life filled with faith, family and friends. He enjoyed swinging Kathleen around the dance floor and trips with friends. But he enjoyed, most of all, his family, and was so proud of them.

Merrill is survived by his daughter, Venessa (Ken) Monson; son, Terrill Ostrum; grandchildren, Brande (Clayton) Young, Dustin (Nikki) Ostrum and Jenessa (Adam) Sawyer; great-grandchildren, Caitlin (Tyler) Fowler, Keara Young, Tysen Young, Preston and Stetson Ostrum, Augustus and Truett Sawyer; great great-grandchildren, Delaney Fowler and Baby Fowler; brother, Robert Ostrum; and many nieces, nephews, extended family members and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Cora Ostrum; wife, Kathleen; and sister, Coral Jean Delger.

Memorials may be made to the Absarokee Fire Department (P.O. Box 743, Absarokee, MT 59001), Absarokee Senior Center (P.O. Box 92, Absarokee, MT 59001) or Museum of the Beartooths (P.O. Box 1, Columbus, MT 59019)