Melvin Price

Melvin (Shorty) G. Price, 74, died on Saturday, June 22, 2019 at his home in Troy, Montana, of natural causes. He was born March 8, 1945, in Jordan, Montana, to Gordon and Dora Price. He spent his younger years on the family ranch prior the family moving to Troy in January 1956. He attended Troy schools until he began working with his father harvesting short logs. Later he worked for the lumber mill in Libby in the plywood department. He was contacted by a drilling company in the 1960s and traveled the intermountain west as a core driller. Shorty began working for the City of Troy in 1978 and became a certified water operator in 1981. He worked as city maintenance foreman until he retired in 1996.

Shorty enjoyed any activity associated with the outdoors and spent many weekends camping with family and friends. Some of his best memories were those of sitting around a campfire cooking “hobo” dinners and joining in the “picking and grinning” sessions. It was always a contest to see which family member could create the tastiest meal. He liked being close to water and spent hours in his boat fishing area lakes. Shorty also enjoyed hunting and became proficient at using wild game for making various sausages and jerky. However, it was the arrival of ATV 4-wheelers that resulted in Shorty’s favorite activity. He could be seen riding on almost any area road or trail any time of the year. All of his children and grandchildren have enjoyed being pulled on sleds, with Shorty having the most fun of any one.

Shorty was preceded in death by both parents; an older brother, Gordon; and a grandchild, Kayla Eberly.

He is survived by his wife, Janine, Troy, children, Connie Stevens, Buffalo Springs, Montana, Bonnie (Dennis) Thibault, Sandpoint, Idaho, Colby (Paula) Paasch, Troy, and Tammy (Rick) Bragg, Troy; numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; a brother, Clayton (Bonnie) Price, Troy; sisters, Alma (Jay) Basham, Troy, Melba (Rob) Wiggins, Midvale, Idaho, Marlene Peterson and Twila (Bob) Berringer, Winnemucca, Nevada.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, July 12, 2019, at Troy Cemetery. Arrangements are by Schnackenberg Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.schnackenbergfh.com.