Clifford A. Buhler

The fish got a little luckier and the hay a little taller when Clifford A. Buhler took his last breath, May 19, at 8:15 p.m. at his home in Hamilton, Montana at the age of 91.  He passed away peacefully with his family by his side.

Cliff was born on June 21, 1930, the first son of Marguerite and Alfred Jacobsen.  He was born 30 minutes before his twin brother Clayton.  The bond they had was special and the stories of growing up were always fun to listen to.

Cliff’s parents divorced in 1933 and his mother married Howard Buhler in 1934.  Howard later adopted the twins.  The twins were later joined by one younger sister, Mary and two brothers, Larry and William.  Then to his surprise later in life, he found out that he had twin half-brothers, Dennis and Dwayne.

Cliff was raised in Bern, Idaho and graduated from 8th grade there.  The family moved brom Bern, Idaho to Darby, Montana when he was 14.

The family purchased a 1,400 acre ranch up Bunkhouse Road in Darby and raised sheep, cattle, hay and grain.  Cliff knew the value of hard work at a young age and when it came time for new power, he and Clayton dug all the holes for power poles along the 3 plus mile road.

Cliff graduated from Darby High School in 1948 and continued to help on the ranch and work in the Sugar Factory in Missoula.  Cliff helped start the Darby Credit Union.  He met the love of his life when he was 16 and she was 14.  He married Eleanor Mae McVicar January 23, 1950.  In 1951 the day of Cliff’s birthday they bought an 80 acre ranch in Darby.  He worked at Dee Shook Sawmill in Connor for two years and then moved to the Darby Mill and retired there in 1985 after 31 years when he was 55.

Cliff and Eleanor had two kids, Wayne and Kelly.  They helped with ranch work while having 2,000 chickens, cows and horses.  He put his heart and soul into that ranch for 67 years.  He knew how to flood irrigate like a true farmer.  He grew one of the best crops of hay in the valley.

Cliff and Eleanor were married for 50 years until her death in 2000.  He married Ethel Bjorndal January 17, 2003.  They continued to live on the ranch until 2019 when Cliff decided it was too much and they moved to Hamilton.

Cliff had a heart of Gold.  He loved people with his whole being.  He loved visiting with friends and family.  He was an avid fisherman, hunter and loved to hay.  You could always catch him with a smile behind the wheel of one of his John Deere tractors.

Cliff was preceded in death by his first wife Eleanor, his parents and brothers, Clayton, Larry and William.

He is survived by his current wife Ethel Buhler, two children Wayne (Patti) Buhler, Darby, MT; Kelly (Dennis) Trowbridge, Darby, MT; grandkids, Tanin (Colleen) Buhler, Victor, MT., Faver (Deana) Buhler, Corvallis, MT., Megan Trowbridge, Darby, MT., Kenny (Lindsay) Buhler, Corvallis, MT., Lindsey (Ryan) Teafoe, Hamilton, MT; and many great grandchildren.

He is also survived by Ethel’s family of four kids and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He is also survived by his sister, Mary Dodson, Hamilton, MT; twin half-brothers, Dennis and Dwayne Jacobsen, Syracuse, Utah and numerous nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at the Darby Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  Interment will follow at Lone Pine Cemetery in Darby.  

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