Lyle Howard Aklestad, 85

Lyle Howard Aklestad, 85, long-time and well-known farmer and rancher, amateur boxing and Olympic referee, and collector and restorer of vintage Ford vehicles, passed away at home on Sept. 10, 2026, with Loretta by his side, after a long battle with cancer.

He was born in Conrad on Jan. 31, 1941, to Carl and Helen Aklestad and was raised on a farm north of Galata. Lyle attended school in Kalispell, graduated in 1959 and then served in the Air National Guard. As a 17-year-old, he built a ‘31 Pontiac Hot Rod from salvaged parts and that car is still a part of Lyle’s collection.

Lyle knew Loretta (Fritz) growing up as they went to the same 4-H dances and social events as youngsters. Their paths crossed again when he worked at the Ford garage in Chester. Lyle and Loretta were married on Jan. 4, 1964, and moved to Sweetgrass where they farmed for 31 years. During this time, they welcomed children, Debra and Bret, into their family.

While on the farm, Lyle restored a 1934 Ford truck to put in a parade, and this started his love for antique Fords. In 1995 he retired from farming and moved full-time to Bigfork where he and Loretta created the Flathead V8 Ford collection. The museum featured over 35 years of restoring and collecting by Lyle.

Over the years, Lyle’s interest in boxing grew and he started a boxing club in Sunburst geared towards area youth interested in learning the sport. Over his career, he traveled to 36 countries as a coach, referee and judge, including the 1994 Pan Am Games and the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. Lyle was named into the USA Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003 and served as an Olympic Boxing referee for 25 years.

Lyle will be remembered for his big smile and his incredibly organized shop and work areas.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Loretta of Bigfork and Fountain Hills, Arizona; daughter, Debra Ianniello; grandchildren, Michael and Nicole Inanniello, Isabell (Cameron) Anstess of Ann Arbor, Michigan; brothers Gary Aklestad of Shelby, Doug (Cheryl) Aklestad of Shelby; brother-in-law, Errol Fritz of Great Falls; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, in addition special friends Logan (Cait) Harmon and little Lyle and Clyde Harmon.

Lyle was preceded in death by his parents; son, Bret Aklestad; sister, Elaine Keister; and sister-in-law Beth Aklestad.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sept. 25 at St. John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork. A coffee and dessert reception will follow the service and then Lyle will take his final ride to the Bigfork Community Cemetery in his 1958 yellow and white Ford pickup.

Family and friends are invited to celebrate Lyle’s life after the burial. Join us at the Aklestad home.

Memorials can be made to the Ferndale Fire Department, your local VFW, or a charity of your choice. Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.