Ervin Fischer
Born November 23, 1930, Hooker, OK, Died March 24, 2024, Billings, MT
Ervin was number six of ten children. His parents were Martin B. Fischer and Eva (Voth) Fischer. He was raised in a German Mennonite family. He spent two years in first grade learning English. At 17 he hitchhiked to Montana to work for his brother and to go to school at Senior High. He was drafted and chose the Navy. He spent 36 months at sea aboard the air craft carrier USS Corrigador CVE 58, going through the Panama Canal six times delivering airplanes. He came back to Billings again to work for his brother who was a plasterer and a crop duster. He met his wife of 68 years (Joan Mattfeldt) and became the father of three children, Stanley, Nadinne and Kari. He worked for a while as a carpenter and then went to work for the U.S.Post Office as a carrier for 30 years. After retiring he drove school bus for Huntley Project and Shepherd, then went to work for Rimrock Stages. Ervin was a “star” in the movie FAR and AWAY. He and Joan traveled to all 49 States and all Canadian Provinces, when he was the Rep. for the Montana IOOF. His greatest honor was to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier for Montana Veterans. He was a very proud friend of Bill W. for 40 years. Ervin went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina for a while to help with the cleanup. For 12 years he and Joan traveled to Pasadena to work on a float for the Rose Parade. He was very proud to be a part of the VFW Honor Guard for many years. Even with dementia he could shoot a mean game of pool on Sundays and tell you, “I’m here because I’m not all there.” He enjoyed his shop, building many, many things of wood and at the last windmills.
Ervin is survived by his wife Joan, his children Stanley, Nadinne Cleveland (Jeff), Kari Smith(Greg), and four grandchildren: Toni Morledge (Dustin), Cassi Henderson, Ben Fischer (Jessica) and Madison Gable (Dean), great-grandchildren: Royal Morledge, Liam, Cyrus, Everly, Gwen, Calvin and Freyja Fischer, and Gannon Gable. Ervin has three siblings left: Pauline Bingenheimer, Larry Fischer and Julia McIlhany.
Preceding him in death were his daughter Cheryl Lee, his parents Martin and Eva, brothers Art, Paul, and Eldon, sisters Salma McKoy, Rose Rood, and Esther Berg.
