Dean Schillinger

Dean Lenord Schillinger, 78, of Circle died Feb. 4, 2026.

He was born on April 16, 194, to Clyde Schillinger and Monica Rogers Schillinger. He grew up in Billings and spent his entire adult life farming and ranching north of Circle.

During his elementary school years, he attended parochial school in Billings and then graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1966. After high school, he attended Northern Montana College in Havre for one and half years, majoring in ag business.

As many men did at this time, he enlisted in the Montana National Guard in 1969. He often spoke of his time at Ford Ord, Calif., while he attended basic training. He was a farmer at heart from the very beginning of his teenage years until his retirement in 2023.

He married Laraine Loney on Nov. 10, 1973. They had a son, Tanner, born in 1987, and a daughter, Kali, born in 1989. He enjoyed his family and spent hours on the road cheering on his children during their high school sport careers as Circle Wildcats. He also followed them on the rodeo trail as time permitted from work on the farm and ranch.

He was on the McCone

County Soil Conservation Board for numerous years and helped establish the National Farmers Organization board locally. He dedicated a lot of time to helping others and himself improve farming practices in eastern Montana and gained insurmountable knowledge on soil conditions, crop rotation, and weather. He was known as “the local weatherman” by many neighbors and friends. He also cared greatly for his animals whether it be cattle, horses, dogs or cats. He enjoyed spring the most when all the new babies arrived at the farm.

He was preceded in death by brothers, Leon in Schillinger and Joseph Schillinger.

He is survived by his wife, Laraine Schillinger; son, Tanner Schillinger; daughter, Kali Foulger; and numerous grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 1 p.m. at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Circle.