Edward A. Spidel - Leaving a Legacy
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At the age of 80, Frank Charles Stanisha never expected to be a beneficiary of a trust that would provide him with approximately $25,000 in additional income each year for the next fifteen years of his long life.
Frank Stanisha, 95, passed away on July 11, 2003. The extraordinary trust that benefited Frank was established by Roundup rancher, Edward A. Spidel (1925-1992). With a desire to honor the men who had helped make the Spidel family ranch one of the largest registered Polled Hereford ranches in the country, in 1989 Ed put $1,000,000 into three charitable remainder trusts, the largest benefiting Frank Stanisha. Frank’s family wrote in his obituary, “Frank believed in taking care of the land, ‘always put something back in the land when you harvest,’ was his motto.”
Ed Spidel believed in giving back, too. Not only did he benefit the three ranch hands who had worked by his side, he also provided legacy gifts to the Boys & Girls Club Endowment Foundation and Rocky Mountain College Foundation as one third/two thirds remainder beneficiaries of the trusts. In addition, in 1989 Ed Spidel provided an immediate gift of $73,300 to the Club. These gifts were a momentous boost to the Club’s fledgling endowment.
Three years later, one month before his death, Ed Spidel distributed another $750,000 to Rocky Mountain College ($500,000) and the Boys & Girls Club Endowment Foundation ($250,000), providing a lasting legacy to Montana’s youth.
To paraphrase Dr. Arthur H. DeRosier, Jr. in the eulogy he presented in honor of Ed, he said, “Unfortunately, (Ed’s) family contained no children of his own, or so history will record. Yet , dear friends, I dispute that fact… Ed, through the support of two organizations dealing with the young people of our state, now has many, many children. A parent/child relationship is not only by blood; it can be by design and inclination, and, so long as our college lives and this scholarship fund is in existence, Edward A. Spidel’s name will live and be honored.”
Dr. DeRosier
also said, “Ed
grew up when
the nation,
especially
Montana, was
passing from the
romantic
Western frontier
cowboy/rancher
life that made
America different from any other
country in the world, into the modern,
technological, impersonal civilization we
see about us today. What is absolutely
unique about Ed, in my eyes, is that he
saw what was happening, accepted that
transformation, but did not accept the
impersonality that went along with it.
What you saw in 1992 was a thoughtful,
kind human being who cared for others;
what you saw in Ed fifty or sixty years
earlier was the same thing. He was able
to maintain throughout life the essence
of his upbringing — the family values
that he learned from his parents.” On behalf of Montana’s children, Thank you, Ed.
Advisors Help Create Legacy Gift
With the collaborative efforts of a team of
professionals, Edward A. Spidel was able to create
three charitable remainder trusts to benefit three men
who had worked with him on his ranch as well as the
Boys & Girls Club and Rocky Mountain College.
(See above article.) By working together, Ed’s
advisors played a significant role in helping Ed
provide for his ranch hands and family, plan for his
retirement, minimize taxes, and benefit youth.
Wally Anderson, Ed’s CPA had the good fortune of helping Ed realize
his altruistic dreams by introducing him to Gordon Eldredge at the Boys
& Girls Club. Once Ed decided whom he wished to benefit through his
estate, attorney, Peter Stanley, handled the legal work to establish the
trusts and First Interstate Bank Financial Services Group managed the
trusts throughout the lifetimes of the beneficiaries. 
Dr. Arthur H. DeRosier, Jr. wrote in his eulogy about Ed, “It was obvious, as you got to know the man, that he appreciated advice, thought about what was said for as much time as he felt it deserved, and only then did he act on it. He did not act on impulse. As another told me, ‘he was a man who would think twice and act once.’ And act he did!”
On behalf of Montana’s children, our appreciation to the team of advisors that helped Ed realize his philanthropic dreams.
With the collaborative efforts of a team of
professionals, Edward A. Spidel was able to create
three charitable remainder trusts to benefit three men
who had worked with him on his ranch as well as the
Boys & Girls Club and Rocky Mountain College.
(See above article.) By working together, Ed’s
advisors played a significant role in helping Ed
provide for his ranch hands and family, plan for his
retirement, minimize taxes, and benefit youth.
Wally Anderson, Ed’s CPA had the good fortune of helping Ed realize
his altruistic dreams by introducing him to Gordon Eldredge at the Boys
& Girls Club. Once Ed decided whom he wished to benefit through his
estate, attorney, Peter Stanley, handled the legal work to establish the
trusts and First Interstate Bank Financial Services Group managed the
trusts throughout the lifetimes of the beneficiaries. Dr. Arthur H. DeRosier, Jr. wrote in his eulogy about Ed, “It was obvious, as you got to know the man, that he appreciated advice, thought about what was said for as much time as he felt it deserved, and only then did he act on it. He did not act on impulse. As another told me, ‘he was a man who would think twice and act once.’ And act he did!”
On behalf of Montana’s children, our appreciation to the team of advisors that helped Ed realize his philanthropic dreams.