Clayton Dean Barkhoff

     Clayton "Dean" Barkhoff, 52 of Lewistown, passed away early Wednesday morning, November 29th, 2017 on Montana Highway 200, west of Bowman's Corner of an apparent heart attack.  Dean was born March 27, 1965 in Lewistown to parents Clayton and Lorraine (Abel) Barkhoff.  He received his schooling in Lewistown, graduating from Christian Alliance School in 1983.  After high school, Dean worked with his dad at Clayton's Independent Repair.  On February 15, 1986 he was united in marriage to Kim Foster in Lewistown.  Early on in their marriage, along with working at the repair shop, Dean also helped his dad with his outfitting business and worked hard to make it the success it was.  In 1998, Dean took over full operation of the repair shop.  Recently, along with running the repair shop, he worked for Randy Thompson as a truck driver.

     Dean was passionate about life.  Anyone meeting Dean had a friend for life, he knew no strangers.  He loved his friends, but most importantly he loved his family.  He took care of his wife Kim, two daughters, Jennifer and Sarah, their husbands Rick and Andy and his four grandsons who he loved with all his heart.  Dean always worked very hard but played even harder.  If anyone needed help with anything, Dean was always available to help. He loved the mountains and recently took his family on a hike in Lost Fork in the Belt Mountains where he fished with his four grandsons. That was a very special trip and meant the world to him. He loved his grandsons and enjoyed playing with and entertaining them.  They loved their Papa and will miss him dearly growing up and teaching them how to live life to the fullest.

     He worked on the Hereim Ranch and more recently the Yaeger Ranch through calving, haying, feeding, branding or anything that needed done (… some gopher, coyote, porcupine, deer and elk hunting on the side and a little beer drinking.)  If anyone needed firewood he was more than happy to help, as it was his way into the mountains and a way to fill his own trailer with wood.  Dean always made sure he had a big supply of firewood to keep the shop nice and warm for all of his friends to stop by and "shoot the breeze."  Everyone was always welcome at Dean's shop.

     Dean enjoyed camping with his family and friends and always seemed to earn the title "Camp Cook," which he was good at.  He didn't need a fancy camper when a tent would do.  Recently, low and behold, to everyone's amazement, his last camping trips were in a camper.  Dean spent countless hours snowmobiling with friends and family and always made memories while having the time of his life.  He enjoyed snowmobiling with his nephews and teaching them to ride, but more importantly teaching them how to dig themselves out when they got stuck.

     Dean loved playing cards, especially pinochle and cribbage.  He was very good and competitive at both games.  He was always up for a good game of cards and sometimes maybe cheated his way to a win.  Dean waited with a deck of cards and cribbage board in hand for anyone who challenged.

     Most of all, Dean was full of life and lived his life to the fullest.  He was an adventurer and a hard worker and will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him.

He is survived by his wife, Kim of Lewistown; Two daughters, Jennifer (Elric) Charbonneau of Lewistown and Sarah (Andy) and their four sons, Mason, Tajen, Carter and Blake Spadt of Billings; His parents, Clayton and Lorraine of Broadview; Brother, Paul (Sandra) of Broadview; Three sisters, Cheryl Walsh of Lewistown, Yvonne Ulmer of Rapid City, SD and Roselyn (Omer) Rychner of Killdeer, SD; Father and Mother-in-law David and Vivian Foster of Judith Gap; Numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and many, many friends.

     He was preceded in death by his two brothers Loren and Wayne. 

     Funeral Services for Dean Barkhoff will be Wednesday, December 6th, 2017 at 1:30 pm in the Fergus Center for the Performing Arts (Fergus High School) with cremation to follow the service.  Committal of ashes will take place in Central Montana Memorial Gardens at a later date. 

     Friends are asked to make memorials to Log Jam, Inc. or the charity of their choice and they may be left at the Cloyd Funeral Home.Cloyd Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.  Condolences for the family may by posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com.

.