Guy Neal Stormont went by both names in his home in Kansas, but here in Laurel, Montana he was "Stormy" 

He spent 3 1/2 years on a tanker in the South Pacific during World War II clinging to the dream of coming back to Montana to hunt and fish.  He was working at the Farmers Union Oil Refinery when he joined the Navy and returned to work there for a year or more.  He always knew he wanted his own business and built his "Stormont Machine and Welding Shop" in 1947. 

He built several machines he used in the shop.  His work was always very precise.  To comply with a loan from the Small Business Administration he patented his steel "Buck RakeTeeth".  The haying equipment at the time used wood, usually oak teath that broke under the heavy load.  The steel sticks were well received throughout the Northwestern states.

During this time, he took advantage of the GI Bill and took flying instruction under Clete Huff in Columbus, MT.  Like everything he did, he learned well and went on to get his Private Pilot license, a Commercial license and his Instructor rating.  He had a passion for flying.  Everyone who had their first airplane ride said they would love to go again.  His students excelled.  The farmers enjoyed seeing their farms from the air.

Work went on at the shop and a man from Alberta, Canada, Bob Asher, said he needed someone to build a Leaf Cutter Bee machine that would remove the larvae from the bee boards.  This was the challange that drove him and he made the machine.  They are still being used today. 

He did not go at anything half-hearted.  The Laurel Golf Course was being developed, and he said "he sure did not want to play "pasture pool", but the bug bit hard.  Every Thursday which was Men's Day, he was there.  After 18 holes of golf, the poker games started and lasted until the wee small hours of the morning.

Stormy said he didn't want to retire.  He wanted to lock the door and play with his machinery.  In the Fall of 1967, Dr. Calvert told him he had lung cancer.  He replied, "you have to play the cards you are dealt".  He was 69 years old.  The farmers left their beet harvest to attend his Funeral Serivce.  Rev. Wilhelm welcomed us to his church and the "Missing Aircraft Formation" flew over as we left the church 

**Submitted by Betty Stormont