Garth Tooke

Funeral Service for Garth Tooke, 83, of Ekalaka will be held at 11:00 am Wednesday, February 25, 2026 at the Ekalaka Elementary School with Jesse Labree officiating. For those unable to attend the service will be livestreamed starting 10 minutes prior to Funeral.

Prayer Service will take place at 6:00 pm Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home Ekalaka.

Visitation will be from 4:00-6:00 pm on Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home Ekalaka.

Garth passed away on February 18, 2026 at the ranch.

I was born November 24, 1942 at the Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City, MT. With my cousin being born on the same day. I grew up on the family ranch, 13 miles west of Ekalaka, MT. My dad's family came from Ireland. My mother's family came from Scotland. My grandma was born in Scotland.

I grew up on the family ranch with my brother and several cousins. These growing up years were spent herding sheep, working cattle and helping my uncle with his horses. Along with other jobs like haying and fencing.

I spent a lot of time with my Uncle Feek and many hired men who worked on the ranch. Some of these guys were, Bill Wash, Pat Talkington, Elmer Anderson (commonly known as Prairie Dog) and Dell Dague.

I went to Schofield School through 2nd grade. The students were Brice Barrere, Gary and Donnie Harpster and Louise and Ernest Tooke. I went to school in Ekalaka for the remainder of my grade school years and stayed with my grandma. I went to Carter County High for four years, graduating in 1960. After high school I enrolled in Montana State University at Bozeman, Montana. I graduated with a degree in Agriculture Production. I belonged to Lamda Ki Alpha and was on several wool and livestock judging teams. I married Myrna Burch on June 13, 1964. We went to Mexico on our honeymoon, which was a learning experience. This was a study group sponsored by MSU.

After graduating from MSU I went to work for MSU County Extension Service in Culbertson, MT. Myrna and I moved back to the ranch in 1969. After moving back to the ranch we raised two boys, J.O. and Ryan. J.O. married Kim Keller and have 3 daughters, Kennedy, Kenzie and Kendra. Ryan married Johanna Hall and have 3 children, Gracie, Katie and Royce.

In my 83 years, I've been lucky to marry a good girl, help raise two sons and six good grandchildren, along with several town and neighbor kids.

Survived by my wife, Myrna; sons, J.O. (Kim) Tooke and Ryan Tooke; grandchildren, Kennedy, Kenzie, Kendra, Gracie, Royce and Katie Tooke; brother, Greg (Susan) Tooke.

Preceded in death by my parents, Fay and Margaret (McLean) Tooke; grandparents, Earl and Bessie Tooke, Paul and Nellie McLean; mother and father-in-law, Ellis and Josephine Burch.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Carter County Museum or Ekalaka Public Library.