Monte Joe McFate, age 85, of Callaway, Nebraska, went to be with the Lord on November 19th, 2021.
He was born September 10, 1936, in Omaha, Nebraska, to Donald DeMont and Lois Flossie (Stryker) McFate.
He attended grade school through the 8th grade at Stop Table School and then graduated with the class of 1954 at Callaway High School, where he was involved in FFA. He enjoyed playing baseball with the Morning Star Team as a short stop. He never missed watching or listening to the Kansas City Royals baseball, Denver Broncos football, and cheering or yelling at a Cornhusker football or volleyball game.
He joined the National Guard serving six years from 1958-1964. He was a 50 plus year member of the Morning Star Church and sang many years in the Men’s Quartet. He was a member on several boards for the 4-H Council, Custer County Extension, Feeders and Breeders and the NE Hereford Association.
He met the love of his life Madeline Rhoades and were joined in marriage on December 29th, 1963. To this union, the family became the M&Ms: Melonie, Melissa, Michael and Merlin. They made their home on a ranch southwest of Callaway, raising cattle and farming. They raised registered Herefords, building a herd in which they held annual production bull sales on the ranch for 25 years. They traveled many miles to different bull sales and delivering bulls and bred heifers.
He used the ranch as a school for his kids and later grandkids, teaching them how to raise and handle cattle in the way he was taught. He was very adamant about not getting hurt and being non-abrasive. He was a teacher in his own way, even having an assignment that was expected to be done whether it was moving cattle, fixing fence, hauling bales, disking or the ever favorite-digging musk thistles.
His most favorite pastime was traveling for a vacation to the mountains or an out-of-state Hereford tour. They made several trips to Texas to spend some time there during the winter months. Once the 4-H years started, vacations were then spent at the County Fair. As his grandkids became involved in various activities, he became their biggest “cheerleader”: attending games, concerts, fairs or Christmas programs.
Survivors include his wife, Madeline of Callaway; his children, Melonie (Lee) Morrison, Melissa (Troy) Donegan, Michael (Ronda) McFate and Merlin (Donna) McFate all of Callaway; ten grandchildren, Stephanie Nelsen, Seth Morrison, Justin Donegan, Dalton Donegan, Megan Donegan, Heidi Donegan, MiKayla McFate, Joshua McFate, Caleb McFate and Jessica Larson; five great-grandchildren, Roakker Morrison, Garrett Nelsen, Alex James, Janice Hardesty and Elaina Hardesty; sister, Grace Ann Booker of Denver, Colorado; brothers and sisters-in-law, Claude Rhoades of Callaway, Walter (Marilyn) Rhoades of Brewster, Joyce (Richard) Fowler of Lincoln, Marion (Merrial) Rhoades of Thedford, and Patricia (Terry) Cone of Burwell; step-siblings, AnnaMae (Lester) Wycoff of Wisconsin, Joan (Tuck) Farmer of Stapleton, Colleen (Dale) Pettit of Wyoming, Jim (Bonnitta) Paxton of Wisconsin and LeAnn Paxton of North Platte; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and many friends.
Besides his parents, Monte was preceded in death by his step-dad, Leland Kermit Paxton and step-brother, Kermit Leland Paxton.
Funeral Services will be on Tuesday, November 23, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. at the Callaway United Methodist Church with Pastor Shanon Williams, officiating.
Visitation will be held on Monday, November 22, 2021 from 5-7 p.m. at the Callaway United Methodist Church.
Burial will be at Stop Table Cemetery in Rural Callaway, Nebraska.
Memorials are kindly suggested to the Custer County 4-H, Morning Star United Methodist Church or Stop Table Cemetery.
Timm-Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Callaway is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com
