Matthew Wade Grandpre, 42, went to be with his Savior Jesus Christ, on July 26, 2021, as a result of a motorcycle accident. He was born on April 18, 1979, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. He grew up in Osburn, Idaho, graduating from Kellogg High School in 1997.
Matt was baptized at Bethany Lutheran Church in Osburn and was confirmed in the Lutheran church. Growing up, Matt went to summer Bible camps at Lutherhaven on Lake Coeur d’Alene and Mjorud Family Bible Camp near Glacier National Park. In high school, he enjoyed picking up all his friends to take them to church youth group at Silver Valley Worship Center.
In September 2014, Matt and Stacie were accepted to Samaritan Purse’s Operation Heal Our Patriots marriage retreat in Lake Clark, Alaska. The Operation Heal Our Patriots reunions each year served to further cement the friendships forged during that time. Matt and Stacie attended Harvest Church in Billings.
At three years old Matt began helping his grandparents and parents get firewood, and recently he got four cords of firewood for his brother, Jake, who was out of the country. At age 11 Matt started his own lawn mowing business into which he later roped all of his siblings.
Mom never wanted her little sons to play with toy guns. Anyone who knows Matt knows how far that went. Matt ended up with a great passion for reloading, building, and repairing firearms which was no doubt aided by hunting with his whole family, his years on JROTC rifle team, as well as his years in the Marines and Montana National Guard as an armorer. His love for his nieces, nephews, and children compelled him to teach them how to shoot a gun and to take the older ones hunting.
In 1997, Matt joined the U.S. Marines as an armorer/small arms repairman. His deployments included Okinawa for a year and a 6-month float on the USS Peleliu in the Persian Gulf and East Timor. Following an honorable discharge from the Marines and several years working as a civilian, Matt joined the Montana National Guard as an armorer. He served three tours in Iraq and one tour in Afghanistan, serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom alongside his brother, Pete. While deployed Matt served as a helicopter refueler and door gunner, a radio operator, and a diesel mechanic. Due to his experience, Sgt. Matt Grandpre was known as a source of knowledge for the young soldiers deploying to the Middle East. Matt was an honored and distinguished member of the military and was set to fully retire from the military this winter. He was passionately American and fiercely patriotic.
Matt drove commercial trucks full-time in his 20s and part-time for Farstad Oil for the past 11 years. During his stint as a civilian, Matt attended WyoTech to become a diesel mechanic. Matt also liked to collect pickup trucks. When possible, he would bring them back from the dead, as evidenced by Frank the 4Runner. Several carcasses attest to his lesser successes. His family and friends enjoyed and lamented his big dreaming in turns.
Despite his short stature, Matt chose to run cross-country in high school. He usually came in the last three, but he never gave up. Matt was a wrestler in junior high, and as a young lad he played minor league and little league baseball coached by his father. As an adult, he played over 14 years of city league softball and church league softball and most recently with the Harvest Church team. It was a wonder to the other players how fast he could run the bases with his short little legs. They nicknamed him Radar due to his choice of attire and quirky demeanor. He also enjoyed playing league kickball (who knew?). After one season of volleyball, his wife banned him for being terrible at it (too much wallyball at family reunions).
Matt loved camping, fishing, hunting, and motorcycling. He was a founding member of the American Legion Riders of Billings and Sergeant at Arms at American Legion Post 4. Matt and Stacie were vital in the rejuvenation of the American Legion in Billings, and he was a member of VFW 6774. Matt was a member of Yellowstone Rifle Club and competed in rifle matches. Matt and Stacie were always ready and willing to help people in need. Matt was a go-getter with a can-do/ will-do attitude. His motto was adapt and overcome, and his smile and laugh were infectious. He had a huge heart to serve his family, his community, and his country, and he will be greatly missed by more people than we might ever know.
Matt was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents and his younger brother, Peter. He is survived by his wife, Stacie; parents, Wade and Margie; siblings, Jacob and Elizabeth; children Sarah, LouAnn, and Michael; and stepson Noah.
Matt was an organ donor. His family’s prayer is that Matt’s final gifts to this world will serve to give many other people an extended opportunity to know Jesus as their Savior and have a personal relationship with Him.
The American Legion Post 4 will host a Celebration of Life lunch in honor of Matt on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. MDT, at 1540 Broadwater Ave, Billings, Montana, 59102. Matt’s memorial service will be held at Harvest Church on Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. MDT, at 1235 W Wicks Ln, Billings, Montana 59105.
*All obituaries are submitted by family and friends of the deceased.
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