John Allan Birkeland

John Allan Birkeland passed away peacefully from old age and dementia in his home on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024.

John was born in Opheim, Montana, on January 20, 1940, on a bitter cold morning. The family was snowed in, no doctor available. John's father, Ingvald O. "Ing" Birkeland, and grandmother, Mary Stellflug, helped Mary Lorine Birkeland deliver her baby.

John went to grade school at St. Raphael school. He graduated from Glasgow High School in 1958. In 1962 he signed up with the Montana Army National Guard. He went through Advanced Individual Armor Training. After active duty, he returned to Billings, Montana, where he attended Billings Business College and earned his degree in Business Management, While he was in business college, he met the girl he would spend the next 60 years with. He and Linda Dolores Pekkala married in 1965. The couple were blessed with a tiny son who was sick from birth. Whom died after 11 agonizing months on New Years Day, 1967.

John and Linda lived in Gardiner, Bozeman, and Lewistown, Montana before settling in Billings. John started his own painting and paper hanging business out of his home. John worked 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, for years. He taught himself to paint, hang paper and vinyl wall coverings, tile floors and tub walls, hang sheetrock and texture walls. He installed doors, windows, baseboards, shingled roofs and put on siding. John did most of the finished work on an addition to his and Linda's own home.

John worked every bit as hard to be a good husband, father and friend. He bought cross country skis for the family. He and his family were taught by the Maheras family to ski, camp with the kids, cook trout and bacon on a camp stove. They would take the 6 little kids on hikes up the canyon at Woodbine Campground where they waded in Sioux Charlie Lake in their skivvies.

The Capser family would go downhill skiing with John and the family. Mike Capser remembers John's spectacular "Yard Sale" crashes. John always wanted to beat Mike down the mountain, so he crashed a lot. Dale Moritz used to laugh at John's escapades on their river float trips. The Moritzes helped John and Linda get tickets for a trip to Hawaii with the rest of the gang. John's oldest best friend, Schroeder, talks about John being mugged in Mexico. Still in their teens, the two decided it would be great fun to drive all the way down to Mexico from Glasgow, Montana. They stopped in a bar and John went to fetch something from his car. He woke up in pain and a gash on his chin from brass knuckles. He and Schroeder also shared a passion for motorcycles and fishing boats. John taught his son, Tyler, to be an expert marksman, fish, hunt, ski, swim, canoe and to paint. He went on Boy Scout trips, karate competitions and T-ball games. He taught Tyler the satisfaction of a job well done. John adored his daughters. He taught Janna to be fearless (except of spiders). She got her love of travel, camping, hiking, and the love of adventure from him. John instilled a work ethic that has served her well. Lisa learned to ski, swim and hike from John, but absolutely hated gopher hunting trips. She was blessed with his courage and good sense. She got her love for singing, dancing, and acting from John too.

John retired at 62, due to chronic lung problems. By then, John and Linda were able to spend more time with the kids and were blessed to see more of them. They loved their many trips to New York. Janna and Corey were impressive tour guides and hosts. John and Linda were always thrilled to see Lisa and Terry in the many places they had lived. They did river floats, ski trips, and soaked in hot springs. On John and Linda's favorite trip, they saw all three of their kids and their spouses enjoy watching the sun set over Flathead Lake.John loved playing games. He sat up all night playing cribbage with his favorite competitor, Mark. He played chess, pinochle, poker, and board games. His pool game was wicked, and he was a bit of a hustler! John and his big brother, Chet, shared a special bond. They were very competitive, and each one always tried to be the best; but they loved, respected, and always looked out for each other.

John was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Chris Daniel Birkeland, and his nephew, Barry Birkeland. He is survived by his wife, Linda Birkeland, his son, Tyler Birkeland, and daughters, Janna (Corey) Tunney and Lisa (Terry) Cito, his brother, Chet (Claire) Birkeland, and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a Celebration of Life and family reunion with a picnic style reception at the home of John and Linda Birkeland on June 17, 2025, starting at noon. Please send memorials to Riverstone Hospice or a charity event of your choice. Remembrances may be shared.