Wayne A. Thisselle, 67, passed away due to natural causes at Northern Montana Hospital on Friday, March 1, 2024.  Cremation has taken place, and a private family celebration of Wayne's life will be held at a later date.  His family has suggested that memorial donations be made in Wayne's memory to the Friends of Beaver Creek Park or to the charity of the donor's choice.  Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

Wayne was born on November 5, 1956, in Fort Benton to Stanley and Alice (Broadhurst) Thisselle, the third of six children.  He was raised on the family farm South of Chester on the Marias River bottom.  While he was a child, he helped with farm chores.  His favorite chore was caring for the barn cats.  His mother often found him curled up in the hay sleeping in the middle of the kitties, who were also napping.

Wayne graduated from Chester High School in 1975, and married the love of his life, Lita Wrenn, in 1978.  The couple had two children.  Over the years, Wayne worked as a licensed babysitter, shop runner for Keith Chevrolet, packager at Vita Rich Dairy; mechanic at Heltne's and Badlands Tree & Landscaping for many years, and finally as a custodian for Havre High School for seventeen years.

Wayne was an incredibly talented man, able to fix or build whatever could be dreamt up.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, coin collecting, gardening, and tinkering.  He adored his wife, children, grandchildren, and his calico cats.  Wayne's large extended family was incredibly important to him, as well.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stanley Thisselle and Alice Bach; brothers, Loren and Doug Thisselle; uncle, Vernon Thisselle; aunt, Glora Lomen; nephew, Eric Keith; and grandparents, Austin and Myrtle (Berg) Broadhurst, and Earl and Stella (Ward) Thisselle.

Wayne is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Lita Thisselle; children, Allen Thisselle and Jessica (Ryan) Sorensen; grandchildren, Christian (Aryanna) Isaac Sorensen; sisters, Lynette Anderson and Christine Thisselle; brother, Jon Thisselle; aunt, Beverly (Bob) Pugsley; uncle, Bud Broadhurst; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.