Monte Jack Treasure died of natural causes on Sunday, July 28, 2013 at the age of 79. He lived the last years of his life at Pocatello Care and Rehabilitation.
Monte was born in Downey, ID, on March 8, 1934 and grew up on a Marsh Valley family ranch. He attended Downey schools and was active in all sports, graduating from high school in 1952.
Monte was married to Donna Olsen in November of 1954. The marriage was solemnized in the Salt Lake City Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1958. Monte and Donna celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends in 2008. They were the parents of eight children.
A defining event for them was the death in 1966 of their youngest child Gregory Lynn. Gregory died before his fifth birthday when he finally succumbed to a birth defect. His short life was marked by a happy disposition, obvious intelligence, and repeated operations and hospital stays. Monte and Donna carried the pain of that loss, diminished but never forgotten, for the rest of their lives. Monte’s heart was broken again when Donna died in 2011.
Monte was a dedicated gardener who seldom passed a year without an impressive harvest. Many less enthusiastic or gifted growers enjoyed his fresh produce. Monte was a member of the Bannock County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse in the middle 1960s. A natural rider, having spent years in the saddle, he lead barrel racing teams and precision riding drills on a beautiful sorrel quarter horse named Sonny. In those years, the Bannock County organization often dominated state meets and rode proudly in parades and occasional searches of the hills surrounding Pocatello.
Monte moved his family to Aberdeen in 1974 in order to pursue a business opportunity. The business evolved to become Treasure Custom Pack. Monte successfully operated the business for over 30 years, only selling when his body couldn’t keep up with the demands of the work. During the years in Aberdeen, he became an active and engaged member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; a long-serving member of the Aberdeen First Ward. Though he famously hated leaving home, he counted trips to the eastern United States and Hawaii as highlights of his life.
Monte and Donna treated visiting grandchildren to home-made ice cream, delicious meals, games, music, and an audience for gymnastic tricks on the trampoline. Monte took a great interest in the accomplishments of grandchildren. Those involving music often resulted in requests for command performances. For years, Monte was a fixture at Aberdeen Days, personally managing the pig roast. He counted many of the people of Bingham and Power counties as friends, as well as customers.
Monte is survived by three brothers (Bob, Barry, Ron); one sister (Marlyn Naef); and seven children, Melodie, Monte Jr. (Mary), Don (Eileen), Mike (Rebecca), Tammy (Lynn), Elaina (Mike), and Sean; as well as 26 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren (two more arriving soon), and one great-great-grandchild.
A visitation will be held Friday, Aug. 2, from 7 to 9 p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home, 2005 S. Fourth Ave. in Pocatello. A funeral service will be held Saturday, Aug. 3, at 11 a.m. at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 2300 Butte St. in Pocatello. Internment will be at Mountain View Cemetery, alongside wife Donna and son Gregory.
The family thanks the staffs at Encompass Home Health & Hospice, Pocatello Care and Rehabilitation and Spring Creek Assisted Living in American Falls for their years of service and patience to Monte and Donna.
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