A memorial service will be held Saturday at 1:30 p.m. at the Baker City Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Monte was one of six children born April 5, 1947 to his parents Monte Thomas Reese II and Nora Lee Folly in Minneapolis, Minn.
He spent his youth in Minneapolis until he joined the Navy when he was 17 and served for three and half years.
Monte loved to cook and spent many years in the restaurant industry and as a journeyman meat cutter learning skills that would in time allow him to play gracious host to thousands of people. Monte also spent many years in the construction trades. Those skills learned allowed him to contribute in a very special way, in building houses of worship all over the Northwest.
In the early ’70s Monte moved out west where he lived in Jackson Hole, Wyo., for six years, then Hermiston, and then Baker City. In 1980, Monte received the Truth book from one of the local Jehovah’s Witnesses. He then began studying with Jehovah’s Witnesses.
In April 1981, Monte met Ildiko (then Rosling) and a romance quickly ensued. Monte dedicated his life with water baptism as one of Jehovah’s witnesses in May of 1981 and was married to Ildiko on June 28, 1981. Ildiko had three children Michael, Sarah and Rebekah.
Soon after their life together began, a son was born to them, Timothy James Reese in 1982. The family settled in Nampa, Idaho, there after also resided for some time in Hermiston, Helena, Mont., and Baker City.
Monte had a strong faith in Jehovah God and a passion for the door-to-door ministry. Monte was admired in the community for his hospitality and generosity, it being quite common in the Reese home to entertain many guests in an evening of fine fellowship and food.
Monte had a real love of music and was known to sing and play the guitar at any gathering. The son of a lifelong outdoorsman, Monte also loved fishing and hunting, and he did his best to instill that love for the outdoors and God’s creation in his children as well. Monte adored living in Baker City for the opportunities to spend time outdoors within God’s creation.
Monte is survived by his wife of 28 years, Ildiko Reese; his sons, Michael Papp and Timothy Reese; his daughters, Sarah Beckam and Rebekah Tway; sisters, Marsha Reese Marx and Barbara Reese; brothers, Timothy Reese and James Reese; and grandchildren, Ruby Papp, Sandor Papp, Miles Papp, and Aria Tway.
Monte was preceded in death by his parents, Monte Thomas Reese II, Nora Lee Folly, and his sister, Kathy Nazarian Reese.
Memorial contributions can be made to Worldwide Work Ministries through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, P.O. Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon August 21, 2009
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor
