Charles Louis Price

OBITUARY MATERIAL FOR Charles Louis Price, Jr. Our beloved Charles (affectionately also known as Chuckie or Charlie) passed away peacefully at the Veteran’s Home in Butte, Montana on September 4, 2026, comforted by his sister Beckie, brother Pat and the attentive and caring staff of the VA Home. Born in Townsend, Montana on April 1, 1944, Charles was the first of six children to Charles (Chuck Sr.) and Mary (Allen) Price. His father Chuck was serving overseas in the US Army Air Corps during WWII and was unable to hold his first child for over a year. At that time Charles and his mother Mary lived with Grandma Kate, Grandpa Lan Allen and her youngest sister Ann in Townsend—a very loving and nurturing environment. Mirroring his father’s service of country, Charles enlisted in the US Army in July of 1967 and served honorably for over three years, reaching the rank of E5 while earning several coveted medals. Much of his military career was at bases in Germany including his last station at Eastman Barracks, Dachau. It was in Germany that Charles took advantage of the opportunity to travel as often as possible. Always a student of history, geography and geology, he was interested to learn more about his temporary home in Germany, acquiring a love for strong German beer and bratwurst! As a teenager, Charles followed his family’s circuitous route from Butte and around Western Montana. He began his early education at St. Joseph’s Grade School and was enrolled in Butte High School when the family moved to Broadwater County where he then attended Townsend High School. Upon returning to Butte in 1963, Charles was employed by the Anaconda Company at the Butte Concentrator before being drafted in 1967 during the Vietnam War. Following his discharge from the Army in 1970, Charles went to work for the National Park Service in Yellowstone National Park’s northern most entrance in Gardiner. Charles loved the outdoors, so it was no surprise that he spent the next ten years at a job he absolutely loved--collecting many more stories to add to his repertoire! He then became a groundskeeper at the Butte Country Club, a job that also gave him the opportunity to be outside and share his stockpile of stories. In 1986 Charles stepped back to care for his ailing mother. He was her ever faithful companion and took his job as her care giver seriously, with love and compassion. Known to many as Charlie, he could be seen walking miles every day, stopping from place to place to visit and share his wealth of knowledge about the history of Butte and Montana. Always ready to tell a story or two, many will miss his abundance of anecdotal chronicles! As were his father and paternal Uncle Dan, Charles was a passionate amateur geologist. He and Uncle Dan would spend days and even weeks trapsing around the hills looking for gemstones, often returning home with a coveted cache. Charles is survived by his brother Pat (Ronnie) Price of Butte; sisters Beckie (Richard) Hoffmann of Butte, Clara (Dave) Fillbach of Las Vegas, Nevada and Katie (Ed) Jochum of Sandpoint, Idaho. He adored children, treasuring his nieces and nephews: Randi (Scott) Fretheim, Jessica David, Rena (Kyle) Olmstead and Carrie (Anthony) Hopkins, Reggie Hoffmann, Shawn and Matt Fillbach, Jeffrey (Katie) David, Nick (Lauren) Jochum along with several grand nieces and nephews. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Mary and Chuck Price; brother and sister-in-law Roger and Dee Price; nephew Richard Hoffmann III; grandparents and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. The family wishes to thank the incredible staff at the Veterans Home in Butte who treated Charlie with great compassion and care for the past three years and all those who took him under their wing at the Rosalie Manor and Butte Housing Authority, as well as elsewhere in Butte. We are forever grateful. Services will be held on October 16, 2026, at 11 AM in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home. Charles will be laid to rest next to his parents at Holy Cross Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Butte Emergency Food Bank, Our Lady of the Rockies Tram, Chelsea Bailey Animal Shelter or a charity of your choice. Need info for The VA Home if donations can go there. To our dear Charles: "A storyteller's voice may fade, but their tales will echo forever in our memories."

Charles Louis Price

April 1, 1944 - September 4, 2026