Charles McCalla

Charles Edgar McCalla (Chuck) 93, passed away October 7, 2026 at Livingston Healthcare following a short illness.

Chuck was born April 29, 1933 at the family farm near Howard Lake, MN to Orin J. and Maryon Osbeck McCalla. His mother always said there was a terrible rainstorm on that day. Shades of things to come with the active baby boy. He was full of vim and vigor his whole life. Encouraging, rather impatiently for the rest of us to keep up.

After high school graduation with the Howard Lake Minnesota class of 1951 Chuck left the country life and moved to Minneapolis. His first job was with the Milwaukee Railroad. Railroad career was not to be, and he discovered a love of sales by selling sewing machines door-to-door. From sewing machines he transitioned to furniture and after a few years of hard work he had a successful furniture store on Hennepin Avenue in Minneapolis. In 1967 he sold the store and headed west, moving his family to Livingston, Montana. The siren call of sales put him on the road contacting merchants with a variety of products until 1978 when he again opened a furniture store in Bozeman, MT. The business was sold in 1988, but he kept his fingers in the selling pot by working with Amish craftsman in Ohio, placing their wares with dealers all over Montana. Full retirement didn’t come for several years.

While living in Minneapolis Chuck met and married Anna Marie Borchardt in September 1952. To this union, two daughters were born, Kathy and Sue. Ann passed away July 24th, 1981 in Livingston, MT.

On September 25th, 1982, Chuck and Von Anne Virden Bragg were married in Livingston, Montana. They have had 44 happy years together enjoying their blended family.

Chuck is survived by his wife, Vonnie, daughters, Kathleen Cashmore (Gary) and Suzanne McPherson (Dennis) both of Billings, Montana; stepdaughter, Sheila Segil (Bob) of Livingston, MT; stepsons, Jeff Bragg (Laurie) of Great Falls, MT and Mark Bragg (Tracy) of Livingston, Montana. He was blessed with 7 grandsons, Travis Adams (Dawn) Seabeck, WA, Chad Adams (Nicole) of Sykesville, MD Michael McPherson (Elynn) of Billings, MT, Jeff Bragg (Molly) of Great Falls, Cavin Segil (Emily) of Bozeman, Keaton Segil (Kaona) of Dallas Texas, and Nick Bragg (Abbey) of Livingston, Montana. The next generation to survive him are six great-grandsons and six great-granddaughters (Declan, Aidan, Landon, Rylan, Harlan, Baylor, Olivia, Taylor, Brynlee, Ava, Vaughn, and Lynnea). He is also survived by two great-great-grandsons (Cassius and Remington).

The McCalla family has a history of longevity. Chuck's mother passed away two months shy of her 106th birthday. Chuck is the first sibling to be called home, leaving brother Roger 90 (Sylvia) of Billings, Delores 95 of Minneapolis, MN, and Cotton 87 of Granite Falls, MN. He also has several nieces and nephews.

Great Granddaughter Lynnea was born in Dallas, Texas 3 hours before Chuck left us. She and all subsequent greats will just have to glean stories about their fun grandpa---and there are numerous tales to tell: His love of playing aggravation with all the kids, and grandpa liked to win, he was not above cheating a six-year-old to do it. Passing out candy or anything their parents didn’t want them to have with the comment, “it wouldn't hurt them”, the kids loved it, the parents didn’t, but it didn’t keep anyone away. He tried to impart his love of selling to the grandsons. It only took on a couple of them, but it really pleased him. Chuck played basketball while he was in high school, so he was quite judgmental of the coaching that one grandson received, he went to a practice to put his two cents in. Of course, the grandson would have locked the gym door to keep grandpa out, but he was unsuccessful. The coach was a gentleman, but told Chuck “thanks, but no thanks for the advice.”

He was one of a kind. We love you Chuck, Dad, Grandpa. We will miss you, but we will all see you again later.

The funeral for Charles E McCalla will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 16,2026 at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home, 118 No. 3rd, Livingston, MT. Viewing will be from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m.