Billings Gazette Billings, MT 24 Mar 2007 On Wednesday, March 21, 2007, John Bernard Neibauer, our beloved dad, brother, and friend, entered into eternity with his Lord and Savior. John was a fun-loving and devoted dad and grandpa, ever mindful of his kids. He was born on June 25, 1930, in Minneapolis, to Dorothy June (Cook) and Mathias John Neibauer, where he spent most of his childhood. When John was in high school, the family moved to Mandan, N.D. It was there that he met the love of his life, Joyce Henderson. John and Joyce were voted the most popular couple in high school before graduating from Mandan High School in 1947. They were later married on Aug. 12, 1950, and together, they had 10 children and enjoyed 56 years of marriage. John was by her side as Joyce went to be with the Lord on Nov. 20, 2006. At the age of 9, John got a tattoo with his nickname "Jack" on it. At the age of 13, John boarded the train from Minneapolis to Billings for the first time, by himself, to begin work as a cowboy on the Cormier Ranch, south of Billings, herding cattle from Fly Creek to Pryor Creek by himself. This summer work continued until he graduated from high school. During high school, John was a starting tackle for the 1946 and 1947 Mandan High School football team that celebrated two consecutive undefeated seasons and went on to become the North Dakota State Champions. John attended college after high school on a football scholarship before he entered the Army, where he was a member of the 47th Division Viking Squad stationed in Mississippi. In 1952, they moved to Billings, where John worked for the Montana Power Company as a lineman. He retired as city foreman underground in 1987. During his career with Montana Power, John received a commendation for his heroic act in the rescue of a woman from an auto accident on the Montana Avenue overpass in Billings. During his lifetime, John was an avid hunter. Many a tale was told at hunting camp - a tradition he has passed on to his son Bernie and grandson Kyle. John fought the good fight and lived a good life. He was a good man and will be missed by all. His wife and his children were his most cherished and prized possessions. We love you, Dad, and we'll see you on the other side! John was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; his son, Douglas Gerard; his sister, Lois Senn; and his brother, Mike Neibauer. John is survived by his children, Deborah (Andy) Lawson of Pompeys Pillar, Susan Hendrickson of Staunton, Va., Karen (Ahmed) Matar of Billings, Stephanie Neibauer of Minneapolis, Mary (Troy) Hendrickson of Townsend, Linda (Glen) Luebking of Littleton, Colo., Nancy (Mark) Bartlett of Elizabethtown, Pa., Douglas (Junko) Neibauer of Moreno Valley, Calif., Marge Nikkola of Minneapolis, Elizabeth Romans of Minneapolis, Joan Neibauer of Castle Rock, Colo., Frances (Lewis) Ball of Missoula, Tom (Sandy) Neibauer of Round Rock, Texas; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place. Vigil service will be 5 p.m. Sunday, March 25, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary. The Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Monday, March 26, at St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral, with Rite of Committal at Holy Cross Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Patrick's Co-Cathedral Building Fund.