Gregory Paul Hallsten

It was the summer of 1950, July 31st to be exact, in Grand Forks, North Dakota, when Gregory Paul Hallsten was born. Little did he know that three years later would be the start of his illustrious career as the revered and somewhat mysterious big brother to seven younger siblings, three of whom joined him in the ranks in Grand Forks. Four more would come along in Missoula, Montana, where the family moved to when Greg was nine.

Not only was Greg the oldest, but he was by far the tallest. As kid brothers and sisters, we cranked our necks looking up at him as he seemed to tower endlessly above us. If we dared to challenge his stature (and of course, with Dad’s goading), some would punch him in the knee and run away, though never suffering any repercussions because Greg’s patience would keep him from pounding us as he most likely wanted to do.

We may have respected our six-foot-two brother, but it was his quietness that gave him the mystery. Greg was more the observer than the participant and preferred the solitude of reading, to which cousins would have to beg him to stop so that they could go out and play. It was a known rule at Grandma's that no one was left out, even if the choice was to be left out! “Oh, alright,” was his common response as he would calmly join in an activity that he wasn’t particularly enthusiastic to participate in.

And so it was that Greg grew up with us sneaking into his room, being in charge of emceeing wrestling matches, hunting with brothers who may or may not have had trouble keeping up with his stride, and taking control on a toboggan full of siblings with the youngest on his lap. He endured endless camping trips, game playing, cross-country skiing adventures where he had to pick us up repeatedly, never complaining but laughing at us with his quiet snicker, which would turn into a deep bellowing laugh when things were really funny, and throwing out some sort of sarcastic remark. Sometimes the comments were understood, while others flew over our heads as Greg was extremely smart and well-read.

He was valedictorian of his Loyola Jesuit high school class of 1968, where he received a scholarship to Seattle University for civil engineering. Deciding that this field of study was not for him, Greg grew a beard, put on a cowboy hat of which we all remember him for, and turned toward his real interest and gathered various degrees in biology, wildlife, and land management from the University of Montana and the University of Wyoming. His research and expertise can be found in the following summary:

Greg was a notable author and researcher of botany,

particularly known for his work on grasses in Wyoming. He

co-authored the book, “Grasses of Wyoming,” which was

published in 1988. This work focuses on the identification and

ecological significance of various grass species found in

Wyoming, contributing valuable insight to both academic and

practical applications in range management and ecology.

Greg’s research emphasizes the morphological variation and

ecological adaptability of grasses, which are crucial to effective

range management.

When his years of schooling and research came to an end, Greg came back to Montana, where he resided in Helena and worked for the state in the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. With all of his accomplishments, Greg still remained somewhat of a mystery to us because he never boasted or gave details of those accomplishments. He liked a quiet life of observing and doing the things he enjoyed, like watching his niece play in the symphony, Shakespeare in the park, watching old movies, listening to classic rock, and finding his new passion...knitting!

Mom taught Greg a few simple knitting stitches when he was first in college, but not having the time to continue with it, he didn’t get too far until twenty years later when Greg took an adult education knitting class. That class was all it took for him to be hooked! He loved how knitting was mathematical, logical and analytical (told you he was smart!). He had said once in an interview that knitting “appeals to me because of its usefulness, and there’s a tactile aspect to it that’s calming.” When he found that his teacher was going to close her yarn shop, Greg decided to open his own and keep his knitting group going at his shop the first Sunday of every month. Greg loved being in his yarn shop until a combination of a stroke and Multiple Symptom Atrophy, a rare neurological disease, prevented him from remembering how to knit any longer. As his disease progressed, Greg moved to Bozeman so his sisters were able to help manage his care. It was with them and his brother-in-law by his side that Greg passed as quietly and peacefully as he lived.

Although never marrying or having kids of his own, Greg was more than just a big brother. He was an uncle, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and godfather. We remember how his “Oh, alright” turned into a long “ooohhh, I suppose,” his quick wit and smirk behind his beard, and how his cowboy hat was replaced by a Mo’s baseball cap where he had the best clam chowder on the Oregon Coast. We will remember this and so much more as we join together at 11:00 am Monday, June 29, 2026, forever in awe of our quiet and tall big brother as we lay his ashes to rest with our Mom and Dad at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Missoula, Montana.

Following the graveside service, there will be a reception at Garden City Harvest, 1657 River Road in Missoula.