Obituary: Charles "Eddie" Edward Grantier Jr. 

On the morning of April 20, 2024 lifelong resident of Lincoln, Eddie rode out to greener pastures. He passed peacefully at his home in Lincoln where friends and family had been staying with him. Eddie was 88 years young.

Eddie was born on May 1, 1935 in Helena, Mont. to Charles "Ed" Edward Grantier Sr. and Pearl Lott Grantier. He was the only son of  four Grantier children. Eddie was raised on the Stonewall Ranch until his parents purchased the Company Ranch, later named the Grantier Ranch, just outside of Lincoln.

As a young man he spent his time working on the ranch, hunting, fishing and riding bareback horses in rodeos when he wasn't in Helena where he attended high school. He graduated from Helena High School in 1953, and also attended the Helena School of Aeronautics graduating in April of 1955. Where he acquired his commercial pilots license and flew for Morrison Flying Service.

Eddie married Marion Lanning in 1957. That year he enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Ft. Eustis, Va. After his honorable discharge from the Army in 1959, they moved back to Lincoln and welcomed son William and daughter Lynn. He worked on the ranch alongside his father, and continued flying. He and Marion purchased Grantier Ranch from Ed and Pearl Grantier in 1963.

Eddie and Marion's union wasn't meant to last and they later divorced. Eddie married Toni Sparrow, and expanded the family with two more sons, Kevin and Eric; that union also dissolved. 

Eddie kept many irons in the fire over his life, he continued to run the Grantier Ranch, the Triangle D sawmill, worked as a flight instructor, was a member of the Lincoln Flying Club and was also a founding member of the Lincoln Rodeo Club.

Eddie loved his time as a pilot, he also loved photography. He wasn't afraid to work hard and get his hands dirty, but you can bet at the end of the day he would get cleaned up before heading downtown to have a cold drink. He never missed a chance to dance, or tell a story, Eddie had an infectious smile and made friends with everyone he met.  He lived a life full of laughter.

Eddie is survived by his children Lynn (Denny) Creech, Kevin (Lauri) Grantier, Eric (Jackie) Grantier, all of Lincoln, Montana and Mary Grantier-Smart of Floresville, Texas. Grandchildren Shelby Crowell, Landry Grantier, Kade Creech, Stephen Grantier, Brianna Grantier, Tara Grantier, Bailey Grantier, Quinton Grantier, Colton Grantier, Trenton Grantier, and 11 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his father Ed Grantier, mother Pearl Grantier, sisters Mary Hopkins, Mitzie Rutledge, and Bonnie Grantier, and son William Grantier.

A celebration of life will be held at the Lincoln Community Hall Saturday June 22, 2024 at 1 p.m. with a reception following. In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Eddie's name to Lincoln Community Hall P.O. Box 566 Lincoln MT 59639 or the Montana Historical Society  c/o Development, PO Box 201201, Helena, MT 59620.