Edward Matthew Nevala of Belt passed away on Friday, September 30, 2022, in Great Falls at the age of 85. He was born to Matthew and Annie (Gliko) Nevala on June 1, 1937. Ed attended Burlingame School and graduated from Belt Valley High School in 1955. Following graduation, he enlisted in the US Army and then worked for the Montana Department of Fish and Game for 37 years. On April 28, 1962, Ed married Barbara McNorton at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Belt, and they have resided in Belt for the past 60 years.
In addition to his full-time job, Ed always had a side-hustle, including selling snowmobiles, processing and selling beaver and coyote furs, and combining for Bowman Ranch. Following “retirement,” not yet ready to rest and relax, he began a new career at Golden Valley Homes in Belt as Site Manager. He not only meticulously maintained the property but cared for the residents as well.
Ed was your typical Montana outdoorsman. Fishing, hunting, and trapping were always on his agenda. His greatest passion, however, was gardening. Stacks of seed catalogs could always be found in the living room as well as remedies to kill potato bugs on the garage shelf. Without a doubt, his favorite part of gardening was giving the fruits of his labor to others in Belt.
Ed was blessed with four grandchildren, Shawn, Andy, Katie and Sean. Although they lived far away, he mastered the iPad and used Facetime to deliver his words of wisdom on such subjects as gardening, farming, the stock market, and of course, politics.
Ed is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter, Cynthia (Thomas) Leary of Peoria, AZ; son, Glen (Tammy) Nevala of Kasson, MN; brother, Kenneth Nevala of Great Falls; grandchildren, Shawn (Sianna) Nevala of Las Vegas, Andrew (Kaetlen) Nevala of Havre, Kaitlin Leary-Ziemer (Matthew) of San Francisco, and Sean Leary of Champions Gate, FL.; and great-grandson, Lukas Nevala.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Raymond Nevala; sisters-in-law, Corrine Nevala and Debra Nevala; and multiple aunts, uncles, and cousins.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to those who cared for Ed in his later years, including Drs. Michael Ritchie and Craig Treptow. Should one be inclined, the family requests donations be made to St. Mark’s Catholic Church or the Belt Fire Department.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, October 6, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, followed by internment at Big Willow Cemetery. A luncheon will be served at St. Mark’s Catholic Church following the graveside service. Condolences for the family may be shared online at www.SchniderFuneralHome.com.
