Carl Theodore (Ted) Zier

Feb. 13, 1956 - July 31, 2023

Carl Theodore (Ted) Zier passed away peacefully early Monday morning, July 31, 2023 at the age of 67. Ted was born Feb. 13, 1956 to Rose M. (Olind) Zier and Fred Zier of Hardin, Mont. He spent his childhood in the Crow Agency area with siblings Dori (Arntz), Rick Zier and Brenda (Fenner) and graduated from Hardin High School in 1974.  After high school, Ted joined his brother Rick, traveling the country becoming an accomplished bull rider. He was the Montana Pro Rodeo Finals Average Champion in 1979.

Ted met his wife, Tawni, through mutual friends at Sheridan Community College. They married Sept. 28, 1985, and settled in Basin. Ted hung up his boots and became active in the agricultural community, managing the Big Horn Co-op in Basin and later crop advising in the Big Horn Basin. He would join JR Simplot as a crop advisor in the early 2000s until he retired in 2017.  He was known for his phrase “go and blow” meaning that when the weather was good, everyone better get moving! After retiring, he continued to be part of the community, driving school bus where he enjoyed keeping up with the kids. 

Ted would have two sons, Kaleb in 1988 and Colton in 1990.  He was very active in their childhoods and as they became more active in sports, he was right there with them driving bus or running the field taking stats at football games. He will be remembered by the community for not only supporting his kids, but every kid that stopped by the house or knew his sons. Some of them stopped by often enough that they even had their own chore list, which was done even if the Ziers were gone. 

Ted was preceded in death by his parents Rose and Fred Zier and his brother Rick Zier.  

He is survived by his wife Tawni, sons Kaleb (Victoria Dahlstrom) and Colton (Cheyenne) Zier, and his soon-to-arrive first grandchild, and his siblings Dori Arntz of Pioneer, Calif., and Brenda (Chad) Fenner of Augusta, Mont. 

The Zier family extends a gracious thank you to all who have reached out during this time.

A celebration of Ted’s life will be held Aug. 12 at the Community Complex (old high school gym) in Basin, Wyo., at 11 a.m. There will be a gathering of family and friends shortly after the services at the Big Horn County Fairgrounds. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial tributes be made to the charity of your choice in his name. 

Cremation has taken place and Haskell Funeral Home is assisting with arrangements.