Orland Odell Breitling of Cody died peacefully on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at the Billings Clinic Hospital, Billings, Montana. He was 78 years old.
Orland was born August 10, 1935 in Sidney, Montana. He was the oldest and only son of Ted and Irene (Zieske) Breitling. From Sidney, the family moved to Livingston, Montana where Orland graduated from Park County High School in 1953. His family then moved to Billings, Montana where Orland joined the Marine Reserves. In Billings, he met his love of 58 years, Leslie Ann James. They were married on December 2, 1955. Orland worked for Mobile Oil Company which moved them to Worland. After the birth of their first son, Marc, they moved back to Billings where Orland for Dixon Paper Company and Mule Creek Oil Company.
He and Leslie had three more children, Vera Gaye, Shelly and Gregg. He was hired by IBM in 1966 and moved the family to Helena, Montana where they lived until 1967. Orland was hired as an accountant by Husky Oil Company in Cody, Wyoming and continued to work at Husky for another 20 plus years until Husky closed the Cody office. Not long after, he and Leslie moved to Arizona where Orland worked for ASM Lithography in Tempe. They enjoyed the year-round games of golf, and traveling back to their home in Cody to enjoy summers in Wyoming.
After both he and Leslie retired, they moved back to Cody permanently, where Orland enjoyed working in his yard, cooking on the barbeque, parties on the deck, fishing, and Christmas with the family.
Orland was proudly a 46-year, life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks, Cody Lodge # 1611. He went through all the officer stations and served as the Exalted Ruler of the Cody Lodge in 1977-1978. He continued to be an active member up until his death. He and Leslie made many friends in the Elks and enjoyed going to conventions with his fellow officers; especially their trip to National Convention in New Orleans when he was Exalted Ruler. He was also very active in the Little Guy Football and Little League in Billings as well as Babe Ruth Baseball programs in Cody; serving as a coach for the Elks Babe Ruth team along with his good friends Jerry Posey and Terry Wehrer.
Orland is survived by his wife, Leslie Ann of Cody; his sister, Vandee (Robert) Gonion of Custer, Montana; his son Marc (Teri) Breitling of the Woodlands, Texas; his daughters, Vera Gaye (Greg) Beerline and Shelly Cerkan of Cody; and son Gregg (Sean) Breitling of Phoenix, Arizona. He is also survived by his grandchildren; Kim Reyes, Alta (Bo) Kincy, Jennifer (Rob) Beerline Morgan, Erynn (Katie) Beerline, Amanda (Matt) Philips, David Hamilton Breitling, Mathew Hamilton Breitling; and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and infant great-grandson. Services will be held at Ballards Funeral Home on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at 10:30 a.m. followed by the Elks Graveside Service at Riverside Cemetery. After the Graveside, lunch will be provided at the Cody Elks Lodge, 1202 Beck Avenue, for all Orland’s family and friends. Please join us to celebrate his life!
The family wishes to thank Myles of Ballards, all the doctors and nurses at Billings Clinic in Cody and Billings who cared for Orland and kept him out of pain and to all his many friends and family who loved him and supported him. His wish is that we all take care of each other and love each other every day!
Memorial donations can be made to any of the Cody Elks’ charities in care of Cody Lodge #1611, 1202 Beck Avenue, Cody, WY 82414.