John Norris Raisler was born to Warren and Dee Raisler on July 23, 1964, in Bozeman, Montana. He grew up all over the country on various ranches and graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural education in 1989. He moved to Plevna, Montana, where he taught for five years before finishing his grades 7-12 teaching career in Fromberg in 1998. John was a proactive teacher, as he designed several courses and initiated an agricultural exchange program between Russian and Montanan students in Fromberg. John loved to teach and spent the next roughly 26 years teaching fire courses to many individuals throughout Montana. He LOVED the Band of Brothers and Sisters! They shared a mutual respect and admiration for each other. John spent a total of 34 years in fire. He loved training others and found the Staff Rides very fulfilling because they applied the decisions made during historic battles toward modern firefighting tactics and leadership.

Being a volunteer was John’s love language to his Church and community. He was a 4th degree Knight and one heck of a “Pig Dad” and grill master in 4-H! He spent much time “slinging hash” for the church breakfasts, delivering Meals on Wheels, “selling explosives (fireworks) to children” at deeply discounted prices, and was always the last to leave when it came to helping clean up after weddings and banquets.

John met his future wife, Lori, as a favor for a friend. It worked out that both couples were happily married for at least 28 years. He and Lori enjoyed being empty nesters and truly loved each other’s company. John and Lori have four children; Laina (Trevor); Joel, Katrina, and Jill. His family was very important to him, and he made sure their vehicles all ran, their guns were sighted in, and that his home cooked “grub” would make the kids “squeal with delight!” He loved to buy “used meat” at Reynolds where he could find yummy meats on discount.

John is survived by his wife and children, his mother, Dee Raisler, of Miles City, and his favorite one-eyed cat, Squeakers, as well as his notorious “Mafia Car.” He is also survived by his aunts, uncles, and cousins on the Raisler side; by Lori’s parents, Mel and Lois Lawson, of Arizona; his sisters and brothers-in-law of New Zealand, Beth and Kel Ritchie and Alex and Paula Lawson; and his five nieces and nephews, Flynn, Peyton, Sophie, Pippi, and Miles. He is preceded in death by his father, Warren Raisler, his grandparents, many aunts and uncles, and his younger brother, Randy.