Mervin Keith Garfield, Sr., 52, of Wolf Point, MT, passed away at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Billings, MT on June 13, 2021 after a sudden illness.
Mervin was born on December 28, 1968. After having five children, Daniel and Barbara Garfield of Wolf Point, MT hand-picked Mervin to be the baby of their family. Mervin was a beautiful child and was constantly spoiled by everyone. In his younger years, Mervin enjoyed boxing, riding steers, wrestling, and playing football and baseball. He honed his hunting and fishing skills with his dad, brothers, cousins and friends. After graduating from Wolf Point High School, he attended and graduated from an air and hospitality academy in Washington.
Mervin was a jack of all trades. After graduation, he worked on a fishing boat in Alaska for a short time before returning to Wolf Point to hold various jobs related to farming and ranching, construction, and various labor work until the time of his death.
Mervin, also known as “Big Merv” was a colorful character and lived life to the fullest. He had an infectious smile and a heart of gold. He loved to be the center of attention. Everyone that knew Big Merv has a crazy story to tell about him. He was a seasoned story-teller himself and would captivate his audience with his various run-ins with rattlesnakes, bull snakes, mountain lions, vicious dogs and his local nemesis’s. He was thrilled to learn that he immortalized in a poem and also by a traveling journalist who happened to mention him in an article when he passed through Wolf Point.
Big Merv lived for his family and friends. He never knew the word tired. If you needed something done and he showed up at your house, he would drop everything and lend a hand. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his brothers, many cousins, nephews and friends he loved to share his “monster buck” and “the fish that got away” stories at the local bars.
Big Merv had a special place in his heart for his three older sisters who spoiled him rotten. He called then on every holiday and most Sundays to remind them to go to church and would end the call with, “I just called to tell you I love you, and don’t you ever forget that.” “I love my sisters.” He would often leave animated voicemails if they missed his call.
He is survived by his sisters, Tracie Garfield of Billings, MT, Faith Yanez (Daniel) of Gilbert, AZ, Joy Toavs (Ted) of Wolf Point, MT, and Chrissie Adams of Wolf Point, MT, children, Mervin Garfield, Jr., Jonnie Jackson, Michael Jackson and Ira Follett, Jr, and numerous relatives. Mervin is reunited with his parents, Dan and Barbara Garfield, and brothers Duane and Ronnie Garfield and Dale and Ben Running Bear.