Myles William Carpenter took his last ride through the old homestead in the lowlands, his

favorite place, the day before his passing on Friday, September 18. He spent his final ride

surrounded by the land that had been part of him since childhood, a place filled with family, hard

work, memories and a lifetime of stories. Myles was born at home in Walkerville, Montana, on

June 3, 1941. One of ten children, Myles spent his summers at the family ranch on Hail

Columbia Gulch in the lowlands and his winters in Walkerville. Some of Myles’s best days were

spent alongside his brothers and sisters, working with their parents on the ranch and in

town—building fence, logging, tending cattle, and selling Christmas trees throughout

Walkerville and Butte. They worked hard and considered it their “fun”. Those early days gave

Myles more than a strong work ethic; they gave him a lifelong appreciation for hard work,

family, and the simple joy of doing things together.

He attended Sherman Grade School and graduated from Butte High School before going on to

earn both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Montana College. His teaching

career actually began before he had obtained his degree, when he was asked to teach a college

course to use a lathe that he had learned as a machinist, a skill he had learned while working for

the Anaconda Company. Not long after, he began what would become a thirty year teaching

career at Butte High School, where he taught Industrial Arts. It was common to hear Myles say

that receiving his teaching degree was one of the best life decisions he had ever made, a path he

recommended to his children and many nieces and nephews over the years. His students still tell

stories about their days doing errands for Myles during the school day: taking a trip to Town Talk

for donuts, loading hay, picking up a load of cattle at the stockyards, making a bank deposit, or

picking out his infamous green Toyota truck. What they may not have realized at the time was

that they were learning lessons from him that had little to do with a textbook. The grand finale of

Myles’s teaching career came years later when he was honored at The University of MontanaWestern’s Night of the Stars with an alumni teaching award recognizing his years of service and

the lasting impact he had made on his students.

In the summer of 1963, Myles met Rosalyn “Rosie” McEwen at her sister’s wedding. The two

married in 1966 and shared thirty-seven years together. Their life together was built on

partnership, hard work and a willingness to take on whatever came next. Hand in hand, the two

built a life through hard work and perseverance. Rosie was the steady hand beside Myles;

intelligent, strong and practical. Together, they raised five children who inherited their

determination, work ethic and love of ranch life. The children grew into successful adults while

remaining closely connected to one another and to the life their parents built. Their home in

Melrose was filled with numerous large extended family gatherings and a revolving door of

nieces and nephews experiencing ranch life with the constant support of Myles and Rosie.

Rosie’s passing in 2000 was a devastating loss for Myles, but the life they created together

continues through their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and their large extended

families. The strength of their partnership and the family they built was considered Myles’s

greatest accomplishment.

During those thirty-seven years, Myles and Rosie successfully owned and operated several

ranches, started The Butte Meatblock, bought and sold land, made logging and timber sales,

continued a successful Christmas tree business and raised five children. Together they navigated

the successes and setbacks of building a life around ranching and business, creating a family that

inherited their determination, independence, love of family and connection to the land.

Myles seldom vacationed, but found great enjoyment hunting, fishing, gathering cows on a good

horse and keeping everyone entertained with stories about the trouble he and his brother used to

get into when they were kids. He even had a brief rodeo career in college, riding broncs and once

taking on the challenge of riding a buffalo, earning the top score.

After Rosie’s passing, Myles was fortunate and blessed to meet Ann Palmer, who became his

partner and love for the next twenty-five years. Ann brought lightness, laughter and joy into his

life, along with new friendships, family and a rekindled faith in God. When they met, he told her

he was retiring, but he never did. The rhythm of ranching was in his blood and he never stepped

away from it. Myles remained a fixture every Tuesday at the Montana Livestock Auction. It was

there that he would patiently put together a mixture of cattle that “needed to be bought”. It was a

talent he had spent years perfecting with instinct and knowledge that was uniquely his. He knew

cattle, he knew ranching, and somehow he always seemed to know what would work for a profit.

His goals were limitless, and he had the incredible ability to see opportunities where others might

not. By the time one goal was achieved, the next was already in the works.

These years also brought him an abundance of joy and a deepening of his faith. Myles found

great comfort, community and peace in attending Mass where he and Ann had their dedicated

seats and the congregation knew exactly where to find them. Afterward they would have lunch

and celebrate with friends and family.

Above all, these last 25 years were defined by his role as a family patriarch.Together with Ann,

he cherished watching his family grow, delighting in every moment spent with his grandchildren

and great-grandchildren. They especially enjoyed attending rodeos and sporting events together,

as well as hunting at the Dollar House—creating countless memories along the way.

The void left by his absence is immeasurable, and our family is still in disbelief that a man so full

of life is gone. He was our anchor, and he will be missed beyond measure by every generation of

the family he built and loved. Myles believed in moving forward, never backward. He found a

way through every obstacle with optimism, determination and an unwavering belief that there

was always something more ahead. “I was just plain lucky” is what he always said. He was

kind and generous, extending himself to many and always willing to provide a helping hand, an

opportunity and a reason to keep going.

As we learn to move forward without him, we will carry those lessons with us. We will carry his

endless stories, his contagious laughter, his work ethic, his determination and his unwavering

belief in what was possible. Most of all, we will carry the love and strength he gave to his family

and friends. His life will continue through his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and

all those fortunate enough to have known him. For as big of a life that he led it was the people in

his life that were most important to him. He put people first and most of his ambitions were

based on what he could do or leave for the rest of us. And for that Papa… We Thank You!

Myles is preceded in death by his wife Rosalyn Carpenter, parents, Leighton and Theresa

Carpenter; sisters, Cora (John Mike) Dennehy, Phyllis (Rudy) Petritz, Tina (Lester) Else, Birdie

(Jerry) Mullaney, and brothers John Carpenter, Robert “Nick” Carpenter; Dale Carpenter and

brother in-law, Jim Dallaserra, and members of the McEwen family, Father and Mother in-law,

Fred and Ruth McEwen; Sylvia (Don) Eich, Bill Egan, Patsy (Mitch) Gasper, Janet (Mike)

McCarthy, Danny McEwen, Shari McEwen, Gary (Rhonda) McEwen, Buddy McEwen; Judy

McEwen, and Rex Pruitt and members of Ann’s family, Art and Peggy Krause

Myles leaves behind his partner Ann Palmer, children: Davee (Marlin) Mussmann, Stacey

Carpenter, Shelly (Jerry) Shea, Myles (Lara) Carpenter, Jan (Marcus) Carpenter, grandchildren,

Randi (Levi Hendrickson), Leighton Carpenter (Nicole Thompson), Aubrey (Lee) Goodwyn,

Marlee (Will) Powell, Garrett Mussmann (Molly Salmond), Kynsee (Christian) Deane, Brayden

and Aislyn Shea, Myles and Bennett Carpenter and great-grandchildren, Wyatt and Ketch

Hendrickson, Claire and Robert Goodwyn, and Davis Deane, members of Ann’s family, Lisa

(Sean) Purcell, David (Elaine) Kilpatrick and Jayne (Mike) Dean, and grandchildren Lauren

(Joey) Mata, Landon Lozoya, Ashley (Chris) Johnston and great grandchildren Calleum,

Cambrie, Kyria and Rayden, Lara’s children, Shelby Reynolds, Timmy and Conner Schrapps,

siblings, Marcella Dallaserra, Smiley (Betty) Carpenter, sisters-in-law, Roseann Carpenter, Jill

Carpenter and Ruth Carpenter, and members of the McEwen family, sisters in law, Marlene

Egan, Frances (Will) Wyland, Donna Pruitt, Carol (Steve) Mullaney, Teri (Scott) McBride, Diane

(Tom) Cannon, and brothers in law, David (Emelia) McEwen, John McEwen, Rich (Margie)

McEwen, and hundreds of very special nieces and nephews and numerous faithful friends. Myles

also leaves behind his beloved Honda Civic.

A funeral Mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception (IC) Catholic Church in Butte

October 3, 2026. Visitation begins at 10:00 followed by Mass at 11:00. Education was very

important to Myles. In lieu of flowers, consider donations to the Pat McCarthy Memorial

Scholarship at Montana Tech or a scholarship fund at the University of Montana-Western.