Clair Francis 'Bud' Gard, 75

On Oct. 5, 2006 a great man, "our beloved" Bud Gard, husband, father, grandfather, and friend left us after a lengthy fight against a variety of illnesses. He was 75 years old. A family man to the end, he died at St. Pete's Hospital holding his son Dan's hand, his family all around him in body and spirit.

"Bud's family believes that it's not right that when someone dies that person's life is 'summarized' by the simplicity of a hyphen - a dash between birth and death dates in an obituary or on a grave stone. That is not good enough for a man like Bud Gard. He was so much more. More than just a 'hyphen' or a 'dash.'"

Bud lived a full life; he was born in Grand Island, Neb., on Nov. 17, 1930, delivered by Dr. Woodroff in the family home. Coincidentally, Dr. Woodroff also delivered his wife to be: Belle.

Bud grew up on a turkey farm (which is why he hated turkey at Thanksgiving) with his two sisters and later left the farm to join the U.S. Navy. During his time in the Navy, he served onboard the USS Roosevelt and became a veteran of the Korean War. In another of life's coincidences, in 1974 his son Tim later served onboard the USS Midway, the sister ship to the USS Roosevelt.

After serving two years as a fire control technician, he had to take a hardship discharge from the Navy to run the family farm when his father contracted polio. He returned home, hired a farm manager and got the farm affairs in order. He later left the farm and joined the Air Force in 1950.

Initially assigned as a military policeman in post World War One (the big one) in Okinawa he began corresponding with his childhood sweetheart Belle Reynolds, and they were soon married in 1951 in Condon, Ore. They later had three boys, Dan, Tim and Robbin.

His work in the Air Force was to facilitate the installation of early warning missile systems in all our Northern states. As each base was completed he moved his family to the next base project every few years traveling from Cheyenne, Wyo., to Anchorage, Alaska, to Colorado Springs, Colo., to Lakeside, as he worked to keep our country safe.

Always an avid fisherman, he and his family enjoyed some of the best years of their lives together fishing on the Kenai Peninsula or trolling for bull trout on Flathead Lake.

As a first sergeant in the Air Force, he shaped many young airmen's lives on these remote bases as he shared his wisdom and values with them. He served a tour in Vietnam and retired from the Air Force after 20 years of service.

Joining the civilian work force, he then took a variety of jobs, primarily in warehousing with Bell Manufacturing, Baier Manufacturing, and with the oil pipeline in Alaska and in Saudi Arabia for seven years with Northrop. During this time, he and his wife toured the world and shared love, laughter and great times. They eventually returned to Montana, and he retired for the second time from the Environmental Protection Agency in Helena, after triple bypass surgery.

Bud was famous for his honesty, always speaking his mind, and his very dry sense of humor. After he retired he loved to watch "Cops," "The Weather Channel" and "CNN." He also liked to listen to country and western music, but not new wave or rap. He liked the singers Patsy Cline and Marty Robbins. He loved Orange Julius drinks at the mall, loved the rain and loved his yard. He disliked PETA, but loved animals; he loved the forests but was not a tree hugger; he loved his country, but wore out the mute button on his TV remote during the Clinton administration.

He had a tremendous love and respect for Montana, its beauty and wildlife, but his main love was for his family. His favorite hobby was fishing and camping, and he passed on such a love and respect of nature that it led to his oldest son, Dan, becoming a fly-fishing guide. His sense of humor was legendary and inspired his middle son to become a professional speaker and humorist. His youngest son, Robbin, emulated his father by becoming a loving father, husband, and role model for others.

During their time together, the love of his life, Belle, became an accomplished artist and Bud was his wife's greatest patron, encouraging her to attain her art degree and finish college at 55 years of age. Whenever she told him, "I love you," he replied: "I love you more."

Bud is survived by his bride of 55 years, Belle; their three sons, Dan and Jessie, Tim, and Robbin and Callie; four grandchildren, Brian and Johnna, Brandon, Andrew and Morgan; and one great-grandchild, Madisyn. Even during his very difficult last days when he was so sick and unresponsive at the hospital, he would smile and reach for Madisyn whenever she came to visit him. His sister, Marian Charles, lives in Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Goldie and Clair; his sister, Pat Camblin, and a sister who died in infancy.

A life celebration for Bud will be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 14 at Hagler-Anderson Mortuary, 650 Logan, in Helena. All his friends and family are invited.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Liberty House Foundation c/o Kathleen Henson, P.O. BOX 81, Fort Harrison, MT 59636, for Clair "Bud" Gard.

A military memorial will be performed at Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison on a weekday at a later date to be announced.