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CAROLINE D. BAKER
LAUREL -- Caroline D. Baker, 43, died on Oct. 10, 2001.
Caroline was born June 12, 1958, in Forsyth, the daughter of Cipriano Banderas of Miles City. She was preceded in death by her mother, Eva Banderas.
She is survived by her husband and best friend, Blaine Baker (Laurel); four sisters, Martina Pieper (Dixon), Celia Labbe (Belle Fourche, S.D.), Delfina Ailport (Polson) and Gloria Banderas (Miles City); one brother, David Banderas (Missoula); and numerous nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts and cousins.
Cremation has been held. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Oct. 20 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on the corner of Monad and 36th Avenue West in Billings.
RICHARD NEIL BEAR
MISSOULA -- Richard Neil Bear, 44, died on Sept. 15, less than a day after being found unconscious at his residence here.
Rick, also known as Fat Boy, had more than his share of rough knocks in life but they couldn't erase his smile. He will be missed in the Indian community.
Rick will also be missed by his family, good friends, work buddies and on-the job acquaintances in his chosen craft of house construction. Rick eventually became a private roofing contractor and worked throughout western and north-central Montana.
He enjoyed huckleberry picking, camping and fishing with his family, especially at Spotted Bear. He loved music and played the harmonica. He enjoyed telling stories about his peas-in-a-pod brother, Alan Scott Bear. They were inseparable until Scotty's death in 1980.
Rick was born on Nov. 19, 1956, at the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation Agency hospital. He is a member of the Medicine Bear Clan of the Assiniboine Tribes, with ancestors from Fort Belknap and Fort Peck Indian reservations.
He spent his youth along the Hi-Line from Bainville to Libby while his stepfather, Bruce, pursued a railroad career. He attended schools in Havre, Culbertson, Bainville, West Glacier, Columbia Falls and Libby.
Rick is survived by his wife, Althea LaMere Bear (Missoula); their children, Steven LaMere, Rhianna, Josie and Stormy; and grandsons Isiah and Uriah. He is also survived by his mother and stepfather, Mayble and Bruce Avery (Libby); two brothers, Bernard, and wife, Kim Azure, and family (Valley Creek); John Adams (Which Ever Way the Wind Blows, MT); and three sisters, Carmen, and husband, Mark Knapton, and family (Kalispell); Tammy and husband, Cole Anderson, and family (Troy); and Shannon and husband, David Cimino, and family (San Juan, Puerto Rico).
Also surviving are sisters-in-law from Box Elder: Peeps, Peanut, Jaunita, and Chine and husband, Joey Rosette; Tracy and husband, Tom Parisian (Polson); and Shelly and husband, Shawn Leonard (Missoula); as well as his LaMere extended family, which adopted him as a brother and friend.
He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Joe and Josephine Wakeman and Benny Bear; two cousins, George Cole and Teddy Hall; and his in-laws, Matthew and Viola LaMere.
Pallbearers were Steven LaMere, Shawn Leonard, Dustin LaMere, Tom Parisian, Mitchell Azure, Cole Anderson, Mark Knapton and Pierre Malatare.
Honorary pallbearers were Terry Cole, Clifford Cole, George Hall, Jerry O'Neil, Jerry and Paul of Grizzly Roofing; all the people he met along life's trail; and his aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces.
Funeral services were Sept. 19 in Missoula. The cremains will be spread in Rick's favorite camping area in Spotted Bear as per his wishes.
ROBERT EARL BICKEL
POLSON -- Robert Earl Bickel, 51, Polson, died on Sept. 16, 2001, of natural causes at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center.
He was born Nov. 27, 1949, in Anderson, IL, to Earl and Elizabeth Bickel.
He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Van Camp (Florence, AL); two sisters, Jane Lee (Huntsville, AL) and Sue Villarreal (Fort Campbell, KY); and numerous other relatives.
Graveside inurnment with military honors was Sept. 27 at Lakeview Cemetery.
MAE L. BLOMQUIST
POLSON -- Mae L. Blomquist, 85, died on Sept. 12, 2001, at her home here of natural causes.
She was born May 2, 1916, in Lucas County, Wis., to Knute and Emma Lockrem.
She was preceded in death by her parents, four sisters, a brother and a grandson.
Survivors include her husband, Vernon (Polson); two sons and their families, Fred Blomquist (White Bear Lake, Minn.), and Peter Blomquist (Spooner, Wis.); two daughters and their families, Marion Thornton and Faye Jensen (both of Polson); 16 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and one great great-grandchild.
Memorial services were held Sept. 16 at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Polson. Private family inurnment will follow at a later date.
Arrangements and cremation were under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory in Polson.
VINSON BOURDON SR.
ST. IGNATIUS -- Vinson "Leon" Bourdon Sr., 74, of Mission, died on Sept. 29, 2001, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.
Lee was born Nov. 1, 1926, at the family home south of Ronan to Ursula Marie "Wassie" and Columbus William Bourdon Sr. Raised and educated on the Flathead Reservation, Lee joined the Navy and served in 1944 and 1945.
Lee worked at the Dupuis Sawmill for many years until 1972, when he went to work as the caretaker of the St. Ignatius Community Center. Retiring in 1989 after 17 years, he stayed involved with the Arlee Powwow Youth Center which he ran for 10 years.
When time permitted Lee would go fishing and hunting. He loved to go into the woods and go huckleberry picking. He also enjoyed being with his grandkids, taking rides and going to powwows. However, he will almost always be remembered for how you could tell he was around: One might say that he was never a quiet man with how he loved to yell.
Preceding him in death were his parents; siblings Francis, Art, Columbus Jr., Janie and Irene; and daughter Ruby Bourdon Good Shot.
He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Clara Rose Bourdon of Mission; children Amanda of Mission, Leon "Blue" Bourdon of Mission, Rose Ann and James Gardipe and their child Franklin of Mission Dam Homesites and Charles Douglas Bourdon and spouse Marie Blackwater and their children Andrea and Cheyenne, all of Teec Nos Pos, Ariz.; brother Bill Bourdon of Pablo; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A traditional wake began on Sept. 30 at the St. Ignatius Longhouse. Wake closing was followed by funeral services on Oct. 2 at the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Interment with military honors was at the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.
