Matthew Eblen Stiles

Matthew Eblen Stiles was born in Virginia City, Montana at Field’s Nursing Home on February 4, 1940 to

Lester Eblen Stiles and Mary Helen Carey Stiles. He passed away at the age of 84 on February 8, 2024 at

the Tobacco Root Mountain Care Center in Sheridan, Montana where he spent the last 10 years of his

life.

He graduated from Virginia City High School in 1958, then enlisted that fall in the Marine Corps. The

next four years included two years aboard an aircraft carrier, the USS Yorktown. On land he was a

marksmanship instructor to new recruits at Parris Island, South Carolina and a recruiter in Butte,

Montana. He was also stationed in Bremerton, Washington.

Matt had a lot of different jobs over the years. One of his first was as a summer caretaker for the

Marrietta mine at the head of Barton Gulch at the age of 14. His high school summers were spent in the

wheat fields of Washington state working for family friends. Falls were spent “guiding dudes” on

horseback at his father’s hunting camps.

The summer following his discharge he met his future wife, Bonnie Weber. They were married for 57

years and have two daughters, Krista Stiles of Sheridan, Montana and Holly Stiles of King Cove, Alaska.

Matt worked as a miner at a mine up Alder Gulch for a summer, then worked for Montana State College

shuttling foreign exchange students around Montana. He also worked briefly at the Berkeley Pit in

Butte, Montana. He and Bonnie were married on February 4, 1967 and spent two years in Missoula

where Matt worked as a government trapper for the Dept. of Interior, which led him all over western

Montana.

After that he spent ten years again working for the Anaconda Company in Butte as a truck driver in the

Berkeley Pit. His two daughters were born in Butte during this time.

The family made the permanent move to Alder in 1982 where he drove truck briefly for A.M. Welles.

Overriding all his activities was the fact that Matt had symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis stretching back to

his time in the service. Despite the MS, he was an avid hunter and horseman. He also loved the history

of Madison County and was always willing to share stories of the past. He joked that his father “never

let truth get in the way of a good story” and his tales had similar leanings.

Matt was a member of Virginia City Masonic Lodge #1 and served as master and was also a life-time

member of the American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sisters Barbara, Lois and Addie. He is survived by his wife

Bonnie and their daughters Krista and Holly (Grant Brook). Grandchildren are Tyler Grover (Stephanie),

Chase Grover (Anna), Tallie Berry (Kevin Snow), James Brook, Walter Brook and Hannah Brook. Great

grandchildren are Justine Grover, Matthew Grover, Cyrus Grover and Ryder Snow.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 17, 2024 at the K&L Mortuary in Sheridan, Montana at

ll:00 am. Burial will follow at the Virginia City cemetery.