Pub. 3 2015 Issue 3

12 The Community Banker www.mibonline.org C .M. Coffee, a renowned Eastern Montana rodeo cowboy, businessman and landowner, died on Octo- ber 9, 2015 of natural causes at age 94. Coffee had served about a half century as a direc- tor of Billings-based Stockman Bank, which was founded by his father-in-law, William Nefsy, in the early 1950s. He was a member of the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame, and his family controls 168,000 acres of ranchland in Eastern Montana, the third-largest land holders in the state. “He was always big on hard work. No matter what your skills are in your life, and where you start out in life, hard work will get you where you want to go,” son Bill Coffee, CEO of Stockman Bank, said Tuesday. Clyde Merwyn Coffee Jr. was born May 22, 1921, near Miami, Texas, on a family ranch in the Dust Bowl era. When he was 9 years old, his father was thrown from a horse and died before he could reach medical help, which affected the boy greatly at an early age, according to Bill Coffee. “He realized at a very early age how important it was to be a good horseman,” he said. C.M. moved to Montana after he served in the Army during World War II. He was working on a ranch when the owner asked Coffee if he’d like to move to Montana to run his newly acquired operation. His ranching experience led him to banking, where he became involved with Miles City Bank, later renamed Stockman Bank. Bill Coffee said his father looked at banking from the customer’s perspective, and it’s a lesson he remembers as the bank’s top executive. Survivors of C.M. Coffee include son Bill, daughter, Caren Coffee, wife Virginia, two grandchildren and other family members in Texas. STOCKMAN BANK DIRECTOR C.M. COFFEE PASSES AWAY Member News PIONEER FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN OFFICERWINS THEN DONATES CAR J ulie James, Treasurer at Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan, recently won a restored 1967 Plymouth Barracuda in a drawing held by CampMak-A- Dream. Julie graciously donated the vehicle to the Southwest Montana Family YMCA, located in Dillon, to be raffled off again. Funds from this raffle—only 1000 tickets available at $50.00 each— will be used to start an equip- ment purchase andmaintenance fund at the local Y where Julie is an active Boardmember as well as user of the Y’s facilities and services. Tickets are available at Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan for the January 5, 2016 drawing. Pictured is Julie James, Treasurer, at Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan, and the 1967 Plymouth Bar- racuda she donated to the South- west Montana Family YMCA. PIONEER FEDERAL SAVINGS AND LOAN SHRED DAY A nother successful Commu- nity Shred Day was recently held in Dillon and spon- sored by Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan. This event nearing its 15th year is looked forward to by dozens of local area residents as they welcome the opportunity to properly dispose of their old and outdated records. A large number of participants are senior citizens who are most appreciative of the annual event. They also enjoy the opportunity to socialize as well as take advantage of the free cookies and coffee. On a beautiful late summer day, residents were lined up 30 minutes before the sched- uled beginning of this year’s event. Three and one half hours later over 5,800 pounds of paper records and documents had been safely and securely shred under the direction of Montana Records Management who recycles the shredded paper. Pictured is Julie James, Treasurer, at Pioneer Federal Savings and Loan, and the 1967 Plymouth Barracuda she donated to the Southwest Montana Family Y. Coffee family receiving 2004 family business award