Montelle E Babb

March 11, 1924 - December 31, 2017

Montelle E. Babb, 93, of Central City, died on Sunday, December 31, 2017 at Cottonwood Estates in Central City. Funeral services will be on Friday, January 5, 2018 at 11 a.m. at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home with Pastor Janice Ferrell officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, January 4th from 5-7 p.m. at Solt-Wagner Funeral Home in Central City. Interment will be held at Fullerton Cemetery at 2 p.m. on Friday. Memorials are suggested to the family. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.soltwagnerfuneral.com. Montelle was born on March 11, 1924 to Roy Ward and Amanda Kay (Knipphals) Babb on the farm near Fullerton. Montelle grew up on the family farm near Fullerton and graduated from Fullerton High School in 1942. Following graduation, Montelle was drafted to the United State Navy in 1943, to serve in World War II aboard the USS James A. Drain. When his enlistment was up he moved back to Fullerton and worked for the Veterinarian in Fullerton. On April 8, 1949, Montelle married Doris Jean Neumann. Then in 1951, Montelle was drafted once again to serve his country during the Korean Conflict. While serving in the Korean Conflict he was aboard the USS Siboney CVE - 112 as well as the USS Hornet CVA-12 as a 2nd Class Gunners Mate. He served in the Navy until 1955. He returned home to farm, but after 5 months he decided he wasn’t able to give his family the life he wanted to give them, and he re-enlisted into the United States Army Air Force. He would serve his country and again full time from 1956 until March of 1970 when he was honorably discharged. During that time he was also involved in the Vietnam War, serving from 1968-1969. He then returned to Fullerton where he would work on the farm, and eventually opened Babb-N-Sons in Central City in 1983. They would move fulltime to Central City in 1986. Montelle ran the store until it closed in 2007. Montelle enjoyed hunting, fishing, and witching for water. His greatest love was getting to spend time with his family. Those left to cherish his memory are his children; Ardene Babb of Central City, Carolyn (Jim) Knopik of Belgrade, Amil Babb of Gibbon, Katherine (Rodney) Senkbile of Central City, Tony (Chris) Babb of Fullerton, Roy (Shelly) Babb of St. Edward, and Patricia (David) King of Farmington, NM; one sister; Johnnita Horn of Fullerton, 20 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by his wife; Doris; his parents; and 3 infant grandsons.