Vernon "Floyd" Kindle (December 14, 1936 - August 5, 2024)

Vernon "Floyd" Kindle is free of pain and rejoicing with family and friends.

Floyd passed from this earth on Monday, August 5, 2024, at the Malta hospital of natural causes.

He was born on December 14, 1936, to Roy and Laura (Baker) Kindle and was the third son to join the family. Brothers Aryln and Fred, then Floyd, and finally Ray completed the family.

Floyd's passion was the land, be it cattle or grains. He had a special touch with livestock in the way he could walk through a herd, and they would calm down and start mooing quietly.

He joined the Army but hopes of seeing action didn't happen as he remained state-side throughout his tenure. He was assigned the Lineman job during that time. He was also in the Signal Corp.

He ranched near Bowdoin, moving twice, then moved to Cree Crossing then on to Lewistown, Grass Range area, Billings, and eventually back to Malta always connected to the land.

While in the Army he met Emmy which ended in divorce as he said he didn't like Texas and Emmy didn't like Montana. Floyd went on to meet Judy Pearce and this added three children to the union: Tony, Tim, and Stephanie, which led to the adoption of the children.

Floyd worked with his cousin Richard Gilmore, and this resulted in the purchase of land by Ester Lake.

At that time Sharon came into his life, and they married on February 19, 1994, adding four grown children to the mix. They farmed side by side until retirement around 2015.

As the couple traveled, always Ag related, even hitting D.C. which Floyd said he'd never do, knowledge was gained from Trade Teams around the world. He could talk Wall Street markets and agriculture with the best of them.

He was a self-taught musician: playing the fiddle, guitar, and accordion, sometimes singing along as he played. To add to this, he thoroughly enjoyed dancing, especially a good two-step.

After he hung up his farming tools, he joined a group promoting BEEF when a 6040# burger was cooked on a propane-fired grill that fed hundreds. Planes flew over photographing this world event. The record still stands in the Guinness Book of Records of 1999.

The spin-off of this was the beginning of a drag strip south of Malta. It had to be built from the ground up. Floyd started up his trusty Massey tractor with a fork on it and put a culvert in then built a road, both of which still is in use today. He put in the same long hours and dedication as when farming.

Floyd was preceded by his parents Roy and Laura Kindle, brothers Arlyn and Fred, nephews Jack Kindle and Don Kindle, and granddaughter Jessie Crowder.

He is survived by his wife Sharon of 30 years, his brother Ray (Rose), children Tony (Debbie), Tim (Tammy), Stephanie, Carl (Lonna), Paul, Patricia (Don) and Joe (Eunice), and sister-in-law Mary Kindle. Numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews with two nephews: TJ and Bryan being special to him.

A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, August 16th at 7:00 p.m. at Wilderness Funeral Homes in Malta.

The Funeral Service will be on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Wilderness Funeral Home.

Cremation has taken place and services will include military honors at the Malta Cemetery. A luncheon will be served at Post 4067 VFW Club in Malta.

Wilderness Funeral Home has been entrusted with the services.