Joseph A. Lawellin

Joseph Albert Lawellin 84, a third generation Park County resident died November 18, 2025, at his home on the Shields River surrounded by his family.

Born October 16, 1941, to Joseph L. Lawellin and Dorothy Mattock, Joe was raised on G Street with his mother and sisters and on the 5 Acre tracts with his father, paternal grandparents, aunts, uncles, and many cousins. He was blessed to have horses and to grow up riding all over the Absaroka and Crazy Mountains.

Joe worked for numerous farmers in the Shields and Paradise valleys as he was growing up, and learned to operate horse drawn, steel wheeled, and more modern machinery. He also worked for his dad flagging for the spray planes when they had Mission Flying Service. Joe graduated Park High School in 1961.

He joined the Army National Guard in 1964, served in the armored cavalry and was honorably discharged in 1970. Joe married Kris Markman October 15, 1966, at the American Lutheran Church. They had many adventures rodeoing, camping, snowmobiling, before they made their home on the Shields River and had two daughters Courtney Jo and Dusty Jo. Joe and Kris spent 59 years together. They square danced and became master gardeners together, as well as supporting local 4-H with their time and talents.

Joe went to work for the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1960, apprenticed and became a master machinist, and worked in Livingston until the railroad left Livingston in 1986 when he and his family moved to Iowa, with the great railroad migration. Joe retired after 42 years with the railroad and returned to his Shields River home in 2002 to enjoy more than 20 years of retirement, farming and raising horses.

Joe was a founding member of the High Winds Rodeo Club and the BN Search and Rescue organization, the first formal search and rescue group in Park County. Joe completed farrier training at MSU and continued his involvement in rodeo with his daughters through the Iowa High School Rodeo association where he spent 7 years hauling his girls and their horses from Larchwood to Fort Madison and all locations in between, as well as three national finals and two rodeo queens.

Joe loved having the right tool for any particular project and if he didn’t have it his friend Wayne Goffena likely did. They helped each other and talked often about 4 wheelers, snowmachines, tractors and trucks.

Joe was preceded in death by mother Dorothy Mattock, father Joseph L. Lawellin, stepmother Betty Gillespie Lawellin and her brother David Gillespie, sisters Patty Ann Hosking and Lucille (Birkeland) Townsend.

He is survived by his wife Kris, daughters Courtney and Dusty (Lupe), all of Livingston, sister Dorothy (Gary) Zander of Alliance NE, his nieces, nephews, many cousins and extended family.

Joe will be remembered as a loving husband and father, an excellent mechanic, a horseman, a teller of tales, and a lover of all things western.

Joe’s family would like to thank Livingston Hospice for all of their grace and kindness. If so desired and in lieu of flowers donations should be made to the American Legion Park Post 23, 112 North B Street Livingston, MT 59047, or to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Cremation has taken place at Franzen Davis Mortuary. Military honors, interment, and a celebration of life will be done at a later date.