Merlin "My-T-Fine" Rutherford

Merlin M. Rutherford, 87, of Browning passed away on April 21, 2021. A Vigil will be held on MONDAY, April 26, 2021 at 7:00 PM The Heart Butte Community Center with a Funeral Mass on TUESDAY, April 27 at 2:00 PM at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Heart Butte, MT.

Merlin, “My-T-Fine”, was born on August 9, 1933 in Browning, MT to Dewey and Annie (Eagleribs) Rutherford. He grew up in the area and graduated from Browning High School. After school fate would step in and he would meet the love of his life, Reyes Chinina, at the Browning IHS Hospital and the two would wed in July of 1955. The family moved to Los Angeles, CA in 1958. While in L.A, “My-T-Fine”, enjoyed going to the Hollywood Park to bet on the horses.

Merlin was a roofer and a rancher. He was a partner of a roofing company in Los Angeles until 1969 and continued roofing in the Browning area for several years before becoming a fulltime rancher. He loved the Montana outdoors and could often found fishing or out on a picnic. He was also a betting man and would often go to his favorite casino, Glacier Peaks.

Merlin will be missed by a whole lot of folks but especially his son, Mark Rutherford; daughter, Sheila (Tim McDonald) Rutherford; sisters, Diane Posey and Ann (Ken) Goss; brother Lloyd Rutherford; grandchildren, Tony (Rhrista) Brown, Casey McDonald, Kylie Rutherford, Dustin Larson, Nikki (Shane) Goss, Vernon (Teri) Larson, Marlo Larson and Sarah Horn; great-grandchildren, Tyler & Sierra Brown, Bradly & Chase Morris, Alaina Spoonhunter, and Tegan Bird, JC, Dusty and Rhoxy Larson, Shyla, Colden and Shay Goss, Landon, Kenzi, Jaydec and Glendi Larson, Rylan, Jace, Mialynn and Keenan Goss; great-great grandchildren, Taelyn and Kade Frank, Braxton Louis, and Kensely Calf Boss Ribs.

He was preceded in death by both his parents; daughter, Robin Larson Horn; and his wife, Reyes Chinina Rutherford; siblings, Vivian (Freddie) Grant, Edith (Teddy) Spotted Eagle, and Leora “Tiny” (Charles) Horn.

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