Carol Anne (Pehl) Sparks passed away Oct 19, 2025 from complications of cancer. The first of John and Anne (Lane) Pehl’s children, Carol was born Oct. 9, 1954 in Terry, Mont.
She attended twelve years of school at Terry, graduating as Valedictorian in 1972, and excelling in music and academics. She was active for 9 years in 4-H, attending several State 4-H congress events, and the National Citizenship short course in Washington DC.
Attending Montana State University on an academic scholarship, Carol Anne graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Ag Production, Range Science with highest honors. Awarded the outstanding student in Agriculture in 1976, she served in many organizations while at the University including: MSU Range club officer and judging team delegate to International SRM meetings twice, President of Association of Women Students, member of and crew leader for MSU Range research projects for summers throughout the state, International Farm Youth Exchange to Australia and Tasmania for 7 months, and life member of Society for Range Management. She was also a TA mostly to Dr. Don Ryerson and was remembered by many for teaching his Range 203 class and labs spring quarter for 3 years.
After graduation, Carol remained close with Drs. Ryerson, Taylor, and Payne as well as their families. She even started a scholarship in their names. She organized three “Range Reunions” for students and staff to keep in touch. She also helped with Montana Range Days as an instructor and trainer a few times, and she took children to participate, including her own. If you attended a 4H or FFA range contest in southeastern Montana it was a safe bet that she had helped set it up or had students there competing.
Carol met Tom at a SRM national meeting in Nebraska in February 1976, and would marry him September 23, 1978 in Terry. They lived at Miles City, Melstone, Hyattville, Wyo, Colstrip, and Rosebud before coming back to the Sparks family ranch near Plevna Montana. To this union four children were born: Frank Andrew, Katherine Anne, George Thomas, and William Lee. Through the years on the ranch Carol Anne was a member of WIFE, Ag in Montana schools as an instructor until it closed, Willard Homakers for 40 years, Red Butte Ramblers 4-H leader for 30 Years, Member of the Baker Community Church for 40 years serving in all capacities at various times, and served 12 Years on Fallon County Library Board. She also was a member of MSU College of AG Advisory Council serving as Chair for many years, worked with Sustainable Ag Grant to monitor Rangeland throughout Eastern Montana, served on the Montana Noxious Weed Trust Fund committee, and was a recipient of Honorary Chapter and State Farmer Degrees from FFA, as well as had four children that received American Farmer FFA degrees.
Carol was also an entrepreneur, starting a business called Montana Prairie Products with her friend Jan Pratt in 1984, and becoming sole proprietor 3 years later. During blooming months, she rarely went anywhere without a shovel and plant press. This business provided range plant mounts and agronomy seed identification for high school and collegiate students in nearly every Montana school ag program and many in North and South Dakota, Nebraska and Wyoming to this day. Over 15,000 plants have been sent out. She also developed a plant identification program called virtual herbarium.
Carol Anne was a very thorough, gracious and accomplished leader, devoted to her family, church and an inspiration to all. Raised as a farmer’s daughter near Terry she quickly adapted to ranching and became an integral part of Sparks Herefords. She loved morning chores and checking water as well as running equipment including swather and raking hay. She also enjoyed hosting several IFYE students through the years as well as kept in touch with the families that had hosted her.
Survivors include Husband Tom, Son Frank, Daughter Katy, Son George and wife Jessica, Son Will and Wife Jimmie; Grandchildren, Paige, Kix, Coy, Charlee, Cotton, Guthrie; Brothers Andrew, (Nancy) Pehl, Terry, MT; Wade (Velda)Pehl, Bozeman; Sister, Mary, (John) LeMeiux, Manning ND. Brothers-law, James Sparks, Stanford MT, Donald (Judy) Sparks, Bowman, ND.
Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 am Monday, October 27th at the Baker Community Church. Visitation will be held from 3:00-4:00 pm Sunday, October 26th followed by Prayer Service at Stevenson Funeral Home in Baker.
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I first met Carol Anne, when she was helping Don Ryerson teach our Range Management class at Montana State. I remember she was a couple years ahead of her brother Wade and me.
Ask anyone that worked with her, she was an outstanding student…an outstanding teacher…and an outstanding leader. And nobody outworked her.
It is hard to think of anyone that helped more kids learn Range Science; from her enthusiastic instruction at places like Montana Range Days, to the many remarkable range plant mount collections that she and Jan Pratt created. Many of us have used those “Montana Prairie Products” seed and plant mounts to train our own students.
Most recently, serving with Carol these past few years as she chaired our MSU Animal and Range Advisory Committee was an honor for all of us that worked with her!