George Sweley, 87

 Funeral services for George Sweley, 87, of Sidney are at 10 a.m., on Monday, June 8, at the Lonsdale United Methodist Church in Sidney with Pastor Vicki Waddington officiating.

Cremation will follow services under the direction of the Fulkerson Funeral Home of Sidney. Visitation will be on Sunday, June 7, from noon to 6 p.m., at the funeral home and one hour before services at the church.

Remembrances, condolences and pictures may be shared with the family at www.fulkersons.com.

George Wesley Sweley was born on Aug. 11, 1927, to Charles and Jennie (Howard) Sweley in Fairview. His father died in 1928, and his mother married A.W. Woodfill in 1930 and then moved from Fairview to Sidney.

He attended Sidney High School where he played football. During the evening George would drive gas truck for Gussie Obergfell, Yale and Carter Oil Company, in the evenings going to Trenton, North Dakota, with gas deliveries.

In September of 1950, George entered the United States Air Force being stationed at Andrews AFB in Washington, D.C.

On Feb. 24, 1951, George was united in marriage to Joyce Marlene Robinson at the Methodist Church in Forestville, Maryland. In September of 1954 he was honorably discharged for the United States Air Force and they returned to Sidney.

In March of 1955 George and Peter Degel bought Bierer Tire Store and in 1963 they built a new store south of Sidney, named D & S Tire and Oil Company. They operated the store for twenty one years, as a Goodyear tire store and an Exxon Bulk Plant. Later they divided the business, with George staying in the Petroleum business until he retired at the age of 65. George enjoyed his association with his customers and could always recall their locations and faces. He was dedicated to his profession for 53 years.

George was a member of Lonsdale United Methodist Church, Western Petroleum Marketers, 50-year member of the Moose Lodge, Lions Club, and the American Heart Association-State of Montana. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, old tractors, spending time with his grandchildren and his faithful companion “Diesel,” his dog.

George died on Wednesday, June 3, 2015, at the Sidney Health Center Extended Care Facility.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Joyce Sweley of Sidney; his son, John and Kathy Sweley of Sidney; his daughter, Joanne and Duane Lybeck of Kalispell; his niece, Emma and Leonard Strand of Sidney; his sister-in-law, Ruby Sweley, of Sidney; eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his father, Charles Sweley; his mother, Jennie Sweley; his brothers, Carl, Roland, and Harold; his sisters, Bessie and David Mann, Elsie Biely and Cassie and Dante Guarnaro.