Joseph Ralph (Hash) Morrison, 98

Joseph Ralph (Hash) Morrison, age 98, died in his sleep on Sunday, Oct. 9, at the Montana Veteran’s Home in Columbia Falls.

He was born March 6, 1924, in Dixon, Montana, son of the late Clay and Ethel Morrison. He graduated from Dixon High School and served in the U.S. Army as a military policeman in the Philippines during the closing years of World War II. Hash married Eugenia (Jeanie) Forster on Aug. 19, 1960. They lived and ranched near Arlee, Montana on Valley Creek Road. Hash had a great love for the ranching life, a true Montana cowboy.

Jesus Christ interrupted his life in 1972 and everything changed. He sold the ranch and eventually became the on-site caretaker for Big Sky Bible Camp in Bigfork, a volunteer position he did merely as an offering of worship for his savior. His vision and persistent effort was a significant force to enable the camp to go from being a seasonal camp open for five weeks in the summer to a year-round camp with full-time staff. While assisting a local surveyor, who was hired to locate the camp property boundaries, Hash discovered he greatly enjoyed that type of work. He continued working with Hersman Surveying on projects throughout the Flathead Valley.

At heart, Hash remained a true cowboy and spent more than 40 years volunteering with the U.S. Forest Service. His two favorite places to perform his volunteer “work” was at the Spotted Bear Ranger Station near Hungry Horse and at Schafer Meadows inside the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

Hash was a fixture at Big Sky Bible Camp with his large mustache, cowboy hat and friendly greetings. He spent countless hours cutting and splitting firewood for the multiple wood stoves used at the camp.

Hash was preceded in death by his wife Jeanie, brothers Robert, Samuel, Gerald and sister Betty.

He is survived by sons John (Shelley) and Bill; grandsons Christopher (Amanda), Matthew and Scott; and numerous nieces and nephews; as well as his coworker and sister-in-Christ Chris Nelson.

A graveside burial service at the Lone Pine Cemetery followed by a memorial service at New Life Church (Little Brown Church), both near Bigfork, will occur on Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests memoriams be directed to Big Sky Bible Camp in the name of Hash.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.