Lawrence “Dean” Switzer, 90, of Circle, Mont., brother of Prudence Grunkemeyer and Mary Toland of Sheridan, died Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at McCone County Health Center in Circle.

Services were May 25 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Circle. Arrangements were with Clayton Stevenson Memorial Chapel of Wolf Point, Mont.

Born May 26, 1918, in Bloomfield, Neb., to Esther and Wayne Switzer, he grew up in Sheridan on a dairy farm and graduated from Sheridan High School.

He worked on the family ranch, then moved to central Montana.

In 1947, he established the Switzer Brothers Ranch between Circle and Richey, Mont., with his brother Bob.

He married Patricia Wickens in Denton, Mont., on Sept. 5, 1949.

He served on state boards for the Montana Beef Council, Farm Bureau and Stockgrowers and was a county farm bureau president.

Mr. Switzer also served four terms in the Montana House of Representatives (1981-1989) and several years as director of Mid-Rivers Telephone Co-op.

He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church.

He enjoyed ranching, rodeos, politics and football and was a 4-H horse leader.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Martin Wayne Switzer; and two brothers, Bob and Jack.

Survivors include his wife; three children Deanna Brost of Brockway, Mont., Eileen Solberg of Billings, and Larry Switzer of the family ranch; four siblings, Kenneth Switzer and Bill Switzer of Ojai, Calif., Frances Brewster of Burlington, Iowa, and Nancy Haynos of St. Mary’s, Kan.; several grandchildren; a great-grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Sheridan Press - June 10, 2009