Merle E. Breeden

Merle Eugene Breeden, 92, Havre, MT died Aug. 6, 2025 in the Havre Care and Comfort nursing home. Merle was born July 17, 1933 at the family residence on South M Street in Livingston, MT to Elmer Ellsworth Breeden and Pearl (Miller) Breeden. He attended Livingston schools graduating from Park County High School in 1951 and again in 1952 when it was discovered that he lacked a couple of math credits. Merle served in the US Navy from 1952-1956 catching the tail-end of the Korean War by transferring prisoners on his naval ship.

Merle met the love of his life, Lois Wilmot, and they were married July 19, 1957 at the First Baptist Church in Livingston. Merle worked as an electrician apprentice and a US Postal Service employee until going to work for the Northern Pacific Railroad and later the Burlington Northern Railroad in Livingston. While in Livingston Merle was active in the First Baptist Church, teaching Sunday school for over twenty years, member and chairman of the local school board for four years, played cowboy polo for the local polo club, and moonlighted at several janitorial jobs including for The Yardley Insurance Agency, United Insurance Agency, Olson Motor Company and the First Baptist Church.

Merle transferred with the railroad to Laurel, MT in 1986 and he and Lois lived there until 2021, retiring from the railroad in 1991. While in Laurel, Merle volunteered for the Billings soup kitchen and a Laurel program providing summer lunches to local kids. Merle and Lois moved to Havre, MT in 2021 to be closer to their oldest daughter, granddaughter and great granddaughters. Merle moved into Care and Comfort in February of 2022 and was a resident there until he passed.

Merle was preceded in death by his parents, Al and Pearl, four sisters: Mildred Wade, Livingston, Helen Barnhart (Bill) of Livingston, Avis Norman (Ed) of Livingston and Irene Hartwell (Dale) of Idaho Falls, ID, a brother, Ernest, who died as a teenager, and two nephews.

Merle is survived by Lois in Havre, two daughters, Shannon Buettner (Craig) Havre, Shelly Breeden, Wasilla, AK, a son, the favorite, Dan (Cheryl, deceased) of Fort Benton, MT, two granddaughters, Haley Sheppard (Mason) Havre and Shannon Ray Chapman (Justin) Wasilla, two great granddaughters and two great grandsons. A memorial service will be held at Franzen Davis Funeral Home Friday, Aug 15, 2025 at 1 pm followed by a graveside service and then reception at the Funeral home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Havre Care and Comfort Home or a local veterans’ organization.

A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Friday, August 15, at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home. Interment will be held immediately following at Mt. View Cemtery in Livingston where military honors will be performed. Guests are invited to a reception back at Franzen-Davis Funeral Home immediately following the interment.

To send a floral arrangement from our local florist please contact Paradise Flowers of Livingston at (406) 333-2247, email at flowers@paradiseflowersmt.com or visit their website at www.paradiseflowersmt.com

Please see below to offer condolences. Franzen-Davis Funeral Home has been honored to care for Merle and his family.