Morris David Neugebauer, 64
"Dang It!" as Morrie would say. Way too soon he rode out of this life at "High Noon" on Thanksgiving Day 2008, after a 12-day illness, surrounded by love.
Morrie was born in Parkston, S.D., April 12, 1944, to Fred and Leona Neugebauer.
He was born into a musical family, so came by it naturally when he made his lifetime career in country music with various musician friends and family through numerous years.
His most lasting musical experience was with his wife and soulmate, Carla, of 30 years, who together played music and warmed the hearts and souls of many a fan and friend from Wyoming to Montana, Idaho and Washington. In 1991, they produced a recording, "Eastside Bound," that has been heard the world over.
Morrie and Carla also spent the past 13 years together caring for the Whitefish Cemetery with great pride, and were instrumental in their most recent accomplishment of the refurbishing of the Veterans Memorial there to honor, among many others, Morrie's son, Matthew, serving in the Army in Afghanistan.
Morrie was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Leona Neugebauer; brother, Wilmer Neugebauer; sister, Esther Combs; and son, Wade David Neugebauer.
He is survived by the love of his life, Carla; son, Army Capt. Matthew Neugebauer Swingholm, and wife, Lisa; stepson, Curtis Ost, and wife, Staci; stepdaughter, Monica Foster, and husband, Jeff; seven granddaughters, Brandi and Madison Swingholm, Kayla and Kendra Ost, Presley and Makenna Foster, and Wade's daughter, Kayley. He is also survived by three brothers, Ron and Marion, Bob and Vonnie, and Guy and Dianna Neugebauer; sister, Gloria, and Al Serr; sister-in-law, Dorothy (Neugebauer) and husband, Al Ketterling; and many, many treasured nieces and nephews and families and friends; and his dearest and most trusted lifetime fine friend, Lon P. Davis.
A celebration of Morrie's life will be held at 2 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Moose Lodge of Whitefish.
In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to participate in a "Memory Deck" may bring an 8-foot, 2-by-6 of redwood to be engraved with the giver's name. The existing deck broke away from his home literally minutes after his passing. "Hmmm!"