Robert Jerome Sebastian Nies

Funeral Mass for Robert "Butch" Nies, 86. will be held at 10:00 am Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church with Fr. Baskar Raj celebrating. Burial will follow at Beaver Lodge Cemetery.

Rosary and Prayer Service will be 6:00 pm Tuesday, September 8 at Stevenson Funeral Home Ekalaka.

Visitation 5:00-6:00 pm September 8, 2026 at Stevenson Funeral Home Ekalaka.

Robert "Butch" Nies passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on September 2, 2026.

Robert "Butch" Jerome Sebastian Nies was born on March 7, 1940 to Frank and Clara (Berg) Nies on the ranch. He was the youngest of seven children. Butch attended grade school in Ekalaka and then spent his eighth grade year at country school, and went on to attend and graduate from CCHS in 1958. He spent his summer months herding sheep with his mother, living out of a sheep wagon. Butch participated in football, basketball, baseball and track. Track being his favorite. He ran distance races and made it to state three times. After high school he attended a welding school in Fargo, ND and six months at college in Bozeman, before deciding he was going to no longer attend and would trade the classroom for shearing sheep.

Butch met the love of his life Carole Ann Stieg at a dance in town. Shortly after they began courting. He proposed to Carole on February 14 under the front porch light at her grandmothers house. Butch and Carole were married on April 20, 1963. To this union four children were born, Harold, Terra, Sandra and Rhonda. Butch spent the next sixty years on the ranch providing for his family and tending to his livestock. He was a wild land fire fighter and loved when fair time rolled around. He was the Carter County Fair sheep Superintendent for 30+ years and Fallon County Fair Sheep Superintendent for 33 years. Butch was very proud of his sheep herd and sheared his own sheep until the age of eighty four. Spring of 2026 was the first year he was unable to shear at least one.

Butch got to live out his years doing what he loved most, providing for his family and tending his sheep and goats. His wisdom and determination to keep going, even when times got tough will not be forgotten and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him!

Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Clara; siblings, Thea, Roger, Jim, Harriet, Willa and Bernard; granddaughter, Hope Elizabeth Homolka.

Robert is survived by his wife, Carole; children, Harold (Janet) Nies of Laurel, MT, Terra (John) Doll of Glendive, MT, Sandra Homolka of Chambers, NE, Rhonda (Rich) Sanders of Washington UT; nine grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials can be made and sent to a local 4-H Club. Grandpa said flowers aren't needed, save your money. (Sounds just like him).