Cyrus Jerome 'Cy' Rishoff, 102
Cyrus Jerome "Cy" Rishoff, 102, passed away peacefully in his sleep at the Lake View Care Center in Bigfork early Saturday morning, Feb. 16, 2008.
Cyrus was born May 17, 1905, in Gary, Minn. He was one of seven children born to Anton and Martha (Holm) Rishoff. He received his formal education in Minnesota, then came to Montana as a young man to work on his uncles' farm north of Lothair. While there, Cy met the neighbor girl, Ovedia Olson, and they were married in Chester on Oct. 6, 1928.
They lived in Shelby for many years where Cyrus worked for the Toole County Road Department.
He enjoyed baseball, pheasant hunting, collecting copper and brass, and playing cards, especially pan and pinochle.
He retired in 1970.
The Rishoffs moved to Bigfork in 1988 and tended to the cherry orchards on their property at Woods Bay. They were thankful for good health and lived independently into their 90s.
In 2004, Cy transferred to the Bigfork Care Center, where he received excellent care from the entire staff. During his stay at the rest home he enjoyed playing bingo and pinochle, and he loved the many visits from his family members.
Cy was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Orville Rishoff; his brother, Marvin Rishoff; and his five sisters, Hazel Standiford, Lillian Berglind, Eva Edmister, Margaret Janewski and Dorothy Thennis.
Survivors include his wife of 79 years, Ovedia Rishoff, of Bigfork; his son, Jack Rishoff, of Bigfork; his daughter, Betty Fjeld, of Kalispell; eight grandchildren, Susan and Jerry LeBouef of Newport Beach, Calif., David and Robyn Rishoff of Etiwanda, Calif., Laney and David Paine of Newport Beach, Debbie and Jack Sparks of Albany, Ore., Kim Hickman of Neptune, N.J., Mick and Ruthie Renna of Rudyard, Donna Benner of Kalispell, and Ed and Tari Renna of Meridian, Idaho; 13 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and many nephews and nieces.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Shelby. Burial at the Shelby Mountainview Cemetery followed by a luncheon at the church.
Arrangements by Rockman Funeral Chapel of Chester.