Mountain View Cemetery
Founded in 1910 by Joseph Richards, Samuel White, and William Bailey, Mountain View Cemetery was Butte’s first privately owned cemetery. Joseph Richards, a former Mount Moriah board member, caused a stir when he resigned in 1906 to establish this new venture. The cemetery’s iron fencing was sourced from Detroit, and the first recorded burial was George Luwe in June 1910.
Near the entrance is the Fabian’s Rest grave, marking the final resting place of Joseph Fabian and Mary Fabian, who owned and managed the cemetery. Fabian, a versatile worker—chef, smelter employee, and watchman for Basin Creek Reservoir—was also a Silver Bow County commissioner. During his term, he championed infrastructure projects like the Butte-Anaconda Highway and Roosevelt Drive.
Fabian joined Mountain View’s board around 1918 and became president in 1922 after outpacing Thomas Tomich in a board shares dispute. Fabian and his family moved into the cemetery’s superintendent house, solidifying their role in its operations. After Fabian’s death in 1938, his son Carroll acquired full control, making Mountain View a family-owned cemetery—a tradition that continues today.