Royce "Dusty" Skocilich

Royce “Dusty” Skocilich has made his journey to reunite with those who have left before him. If you were to ask him where he was going he would have said “ I am going to see a man about a pink elephant.”

Dusty was born in Deer Lodge to Lawrence & Dorothy Skocilich on July 8, 1953. Though he grew up and attended school in Anaconda. He was always willing to lend a helping hand to those who needed it. Dusty even got dragged along on dates with his sister Debbie when she was supposed to be babysitting him. Since Debbie couldn’t be trusted to babysit Dusty became designated babysitter for his younger brother Marty, nieces & nephews, their children, and his grandchildren.

He started his career in carpentry at a young age. At seventeen he built a garage for his brother Mike. Dusty excelled in his craft, many of his custom builds and designs can be seen in his home as well as those of friends and family. Even though it drove his wife crazy, everyone else's projects seemed to get completed before the ones in their own home. Dusty decided that he would grace Montana State Prison with these many talents, and ran the maintenance department for many years.

Dusty met and married his first wife Tina Hennelly, with whom he welcomed “his girls,” Kelly and Keri. He later met the love of his life Ann Sewvello, who he married in 1985. Luckily, they are now reunited to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary.

Dusty had a true passion for hunting, keeping logs of the hunting adventures of the cabin in Minnesota gulch, on rolls of paper towels. Occasionally guiding other lost hunters, but was never “lost” himself, just took the long way around. In order to secure the best hunting camp in the fall, we started in the summer. His summers were also filled with softball; from hitting the Daly gym from the home plate at the commons, to coaching Harriet League at the Embassy, then playing co-ed and Old Ozzie at the CYM Complex (that he helped build), to finishing his love for softball by coaching his grandchildren.

Dusty became better known as “PAPA” in 2001, when he welcomed two out of his ten grandchildren. He taught them everything he knew; from walking, riding a bike, shooting a gun, using a chainsaw, to building a house. And what he didn’t know you didn't need to know.

He is preceded in death by: his parents, Lawrence & Dorothy Skocilich; his wives, Tina and Ann; his brother, Ricky Skocilich; and many other family members.

He is survived by: his siblings; Mike Skocilich, Debbie(Cid) Hill, Marty(Michelle) Skocilich, Jack(Alla) Sewvello. Children Kelly(James) Reynolds, and Keri(Mickee) Skocilich. Grandchildren; Katie(Bobby) Skocilich, Zack Caissey, Kaylee(Owen) Caissey, Layna Caissey, Kaedence Skocilich, Alyson Caissey, Jimmy Reynolds, Jasper Reynolds. Great Grandchildren Paislee Swainston and Oaklynn Swainston.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11am, Tuesday, February 4th, at Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home. A Graveside service will follow the celebration of life at Mount Carmel Cemetery, Anaconda. There will be a reception held at the VFW following the graveside 500 E. 4th St., Anaconda.

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Longfellow Finnegan Riddle Funeral Home has been privileged to care for Dusty and his family.