Liberty County Times, Aug. 20, 1986
Jacob Martin Richter
Jacob Martin Richter was born Aug. 29, 1923, at his parents' homestead in the Alma Community north of Joplin. He was one of 15 children born to George and Margaret (Schwan) Richter, The family later moved to a farm south of Inverness. Jake attended school in Inverness and helped with the farming operations following the death of his father in 1938. He remained on the farm while his brothers served time in the military and also worked for various farmers in the surrounding area. Sept. 21, 1947 Jake married Ellen M. Solum in Great Falls. They made their home in Inverness and continued to farm south of town. In 1949 he began custom cutting for various farms along the Hi-Line, from Box Elder to Cut Bank. He enjoyed custom combining and has done it annually for the past 35 years. In 1965 Jake began farming the Doc Adasdavich place north of Devon so has traveled the road between Inverness and Devon for the past 20 years. The evening of Tuesday, August 12th, Jake was driving to the Devon farm and was hit by a train near there. He was taken to the Shelby Hospital where he died of injuries early the following morning, August 13th. He as just two weeks shy of being 63 years old.
Jake was a member of the Moose Lodge of Cut Bank and the Elks Lodge of Shelby. When his children were active in 4-H he served as 4-H leader. In his younger days he enjoyed deer and bird hunting, fishing, raising vegetables, attending rodeos, and dancing.
Jake is survived by his wife, Helen of Inverness; three sons, Ken of Salt Lake City; Bob of Shelby, and Dick of Inverness; one daughter, Karen Kleiv of Cody, Wyo.; three grandchildren; five brothers, John of Havre; Chris of Hingham, Frank of Joplin, Raymond of Inverness, and Edwin of Missoula; five sisters, Mary Mader of Great Falls; Lena Shore of Chinook; Agnes Mader of Great Falls; Francy Fraser of Inverness, and Virginia Adams of Inverness. Jake was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, George and Joseph, and by two infant siblings.
Funeral mass celebrated at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Inverness. Interment at Inverness cemetery.