Thomas Richard Bundy, 86

Thomas Richard Bundy, 86, passed away peacefully at his home in Kalispell on July 6, 2007. Thomas was born Nov. 7, 1920, in Osawatomie, Kan. He was raised on the Whitefish dairy farm of his grandparents, Thomas and Barbara Rice.

As a boy he would swim in Whitefish Lake 'anytime he could make it.' Tom worked on his family's dairy farm and made milk deliveries before school. He graduated from Whitefish High School in 1940 where he earned his letter in the mile. He especially enjoyed singing in the school musical productions.

In 1937, he met his forever true love Norma Baumgarner and took her to the Flathead Valley Fair for their first date. They were married in 1940 and were sweethearts for close to 65 golden years.

Tom served in World War II, running a bakery at the U.S. Camp for Italian POWs in Florence, Ariz.

After the war, Torn and Norma had two beautiful daughters, Barbara in 1945 and Susan in 1950. They owned and operated Tom's Home Bakery in Hamilton, from 1953 until they moved to Kalispell in 1974.

Tom continued his baking career at Kalispell's B & B until he retired in 1982.

Tom and Norma lived in Hillcrest Estates until 1999 when they moved to their home In Meadow Manor. Luckily for all that knew him, Tom continued baking cookies and making special deliveries.

When he wasn't fishing for steelhead of hunting for pheasant, he was often found in his garden tending to the 10-foot tall corn patch and tomatoes. Tom loved Bing Crosby and had a marvelous singing voice. He was active in the Shriners, becoming potentate of Baghdad Temple in 1970. He was always busy, canning pickles, smoking salmon or baking mouthwatering apple pies. Tom went walking for two to three miles every morning, often in Woodland Park.

Kalispell's Senior Center filled his days. Toni was often planning new adventures, ocean fishing in British Columbia, a boat ride in Many Glacier, cruising local waterways with his family searching for 'the one that got away.'

Tom enjoyed taking his grandsons ice fishing and for sunny rides through Glacier Park, always with his beloved wife Norma at his side until her death in 2004. Tom was also preceded in death by his daughter, Susan Valencia.

He is survived by his daughter, Barbara Barclay, of New Market, Md.; and grandsons, Tom Valencia of Los Angeles, and Tony Valencia of Creston.

Graveside urn burial services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, July 13, at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Shriners' Hospital for Crippled Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, Washington 99210-2472.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.