Brett Michael McPherson,47

"Today we mourn the loss of Brett Michael McPherson, 47, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend." He died tragically while on vacation with his family in Hawaii, Jan. 7, 2007. Brett was born April 21, 1959, in Conrad, the son of John and Donna McPherson, the youngest of five children.

The family moved to Kalispell in 1963 where he graduated from Flathead High School in 1977. Brett attended Augustana College in South Dakota and the University of Montana, where he met his future wife, Jill Harryman. They were married June 20, 1981.

They began their 25 year marriage in Richland, Wash. Throughout his career, Brett worked for major construction companies across the country and in Canada and China. He was employed by Foster Design at ConocoPhillips in Billings at the time of his death.

Brett was passionate about his family, devoted to them and so proud of the accomplishments of not only his own children, but also his nieces and nephews. An avid sportsman, Brett loved to golf and play baseball. He logged thousands of miles to cheer for any team with a McPherson on it.

Brett is survived by his beautiful wife, Jill; sons, Ryan John, 24, Christian William, 21; and daughter, Amanda Elise, 20; mother, Donna McPherson; brothers, Gerald, and Anthony and Nancy McPherson; sisters, Jan LaBonty, Lori and Mitch Borth; mother-in-law, Shirley Harryman; sister-in-law, Kim and Cyrus Lee; nieces and nephews, Shane and Jeremiah McPherson, Andre LaBonty and Megan LaBonty, and Elizabeth LaBonty, Caitlin and Austyn McPherson, Jessica, Carly and Kassandra Borth, and Kira, William and Anna Lee.

He was preceded in death by his father, John; nephew, Ian McPherson; and father-in-law, Bill Harryman.

Vigil services will be at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 14, and Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Monday, Jan. 15, both at St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Billings. Committal will be in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Arrangements are in the care of Dahl Funeral Chapel.