Raymond "Ray" Tarkalson

Surrounded by his family in the early morning of March 19th, our beloved father and grandfather, Raymond Fredrick Tarkalson, Jr. left this earth to spend eternity with his Norma Jean. Ray was born on June 19, 1939 to Raymond, Sr. and Margaret “Maggie” Ricci Tarkalson and from day one, he gave Maggie a run for her money. Ray was full of energy and spent his childhood outdoors with his best buddies Woody Driver and Gene Harris.

At the age of 16, he began his first job working on the railroad and playing football for the Anaconda Copperheads where he earned the nickname “Tank”.

It was a year or so after he graduated and maybe while eating a burger at Norma’s family-run “White Spot”, he fell in love with his sweetheart. He took advantage of the spring day, while driving his early 1950’s Studebaker, and saw Norma home from the famous burger joint and offered her a ride. The acceptance of his offer led them to a 65 year love affair. They were married in 1960 and their family expanded the next year with their first son Kevin, followed by Kurt, Toni & Terri. Their family was completed in 1991 with the adoption of their daughter Ebony.

Following in his father’s footsteps as a self-trained meatcutter, Ray began working at Safeway as a butcher due to the 1959 strike. A few years later, he and his family moved to Ogden and then Logan, Utah where he worked for Albertsons. Five years later, they returned to Anaconda where he was employed by Butterys. Years later, he then worked part time for his friend Howard Buehler as the butcher at the infamous Park Cafe. Ray was also proud of his time being a meat cutting instructor at the prison.

At the age of 31, Ray began his 21 year career working as an Anaconda Fireman. The last three years of his tenure he spent as Assistant Chief. It was without fail, every time we drove by the Anaconda Fire Department on Commercial Street, Ray would point out the Willow Tree by the driveway that he planted when the building was finished in 1975.

Upon retiring from the fire department, Ray spent the next 11 years working as a Residence Assistant, and instructor of the fire crew and brick laying at the Anaconda Job Corp. He loved working with the students and taking them on field trips as his favorite was Yellowstone National Park.

Throughout his life, Ray had a great passion for the outdoors; hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, 4-wheeling and camping. During hunting season, he enjoyed the treasured time with his father, uncles and cousins, and then sons hiking and searching for their prize of the season. After school/work and weekends were filled with fishing local lakes and rivers.

He spent decades of summers camping at the Sportsman Campground along the Big Hole River. These were treasured times with his parents, relatives and his own children.

Ray’s surviving family members include the following: son Kurt & Shantu Tarkalson, (Mackenzie, Morgan & Megan), daughter Toni Snapp, (Kane & Ian), daughter Terri & Donald Summers, (Dean, Ellen & Ricci), and Ebony Tarkalson.

He is preceded in death by his loving parents Ray & Maggie Tarkalson, his beloved oldest son Kevin Tarkalson and his sweetheart Norma Indendi Tarkalson.

The Tarkalson family would like to thank the many dear people who supported Ray’s final years: Dr. Cook of Anaconda, Dr. Yates of Butte, HoneyBee Hospice Nurse Virginia Williford, and the in-home care provided by Diane McCarthy & Queeda Wigert of Anaconda and Shawni Porter of Butte.

A Celebration of His Life will be held at 11 am, Thursday, March 26, 2026, at Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home, 107 Oak St., in Anaconda. Visitation begins at 10 am. A reception will follow in the reception hall of the funeral home. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park 5001 Crackerville Rd., Gregson, Montana (Silver Bow County).

In lieu of flowers, the family would ask donations made in Ray’s honor to the Anaconda Job Corp.

Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home have been privileged to care for Raymond and his family.