Francis James "Peanuts" Joseph, 95

January 03, 1926 – August 14, 2021

Francis James "Peanuts" Joseph died on August 14 ^th , 2021. He peacefully left this world to be reunited with his parents and brothers on Saturday evening.

Peanuts was born to Joe and Annie (Thomas) Joseph on January 3 ^rd , 1926. He was the sixth of seven boys and was raised in a two-bedroom house on Harvard Street. As a young man, Peanuts got his nickname from a bartender at a local hangout in Butte because he would eat peanuts to cover the smell of alcohol on his breath. He helped run the family grocery store, the Hi-Way Food Market on Harrison Ave., as a kid and went on to own the business where he worked as a butcher for 26 years until the store closed in 1973. He later went on to work in construction and for Silver Bow County until he retired. After retiring, Peanuts drove every morning to McDonalds and to the Butte Plaza Mall every afternoon to eat and socialize with friends until he was 93 years old.

Peanuts was married in 1960 and had three children from the marriage, Bonnie, Frank, and Tammie. After his divorce he went through a slew of housekeepers/nannies where he found his long-time friend and close companion, Roberta Dawson, who stayed with him until his death. Peanuts was a family man and was extremely close to his brothers, his mother, and his children. He loved boxing, supporting the Denver Broncos, fishing, camping, and bowling. Peanuts was a shareholder in the Star Lanes Bowling Alley and bowled on many different league teams in the city of Butte where he made countless friends with his pleasant demeanor. He never met a person he didn't like and never knew of anyone who didn't like him. Peanuts was very giving and always put the people around him before himself.

Peanuts was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Mike, Tony, Ruby, Amil, Bill, and Mal.

He is survived by his daughters, Bonnie and Tammie Joseph; son, Frank (Sherrie) Joseph; loyal companion, Roberta Dawson and her daughter Yvonne (Greg & Family) Williams; his grandchildren, Jessica (Ivan) Hargadine, Kyle (Nicole) Carpino, McKenzie and Madison Joseph; and great-grandchildren, Ivy, Milo, and Hazel Hargadine.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Peanut's honor to the American Lebanese Peace Society.

Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 27 ^th at St. John's Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. followed by the Rite of Committal at the Holy Cross Cemetery.