Arthur M. Burch, 79

Arthur M. Burch, 79, passed away Thursday, May 29, 2008, at Heritage Place in Kalispell. He was born at the old hospital building in Kalispell on Dec. 14, 1928, to Arthur J. and Carrie (Anderson) Burch.

He attended Hedges, Central and Flathead High School.

In 1938, his father purchased the boat concession in Glacier Park, which operated on Two Medicine and Swift Current lakes. Working in the park during the summers became the high point of his year. Like any young man, he spent most of his time in the park occupied by hiking, fishing and boating.

After high school, Art attended college in Bozeman for one year, then moved to Missoula, where he completed his degree in business. During the summers he worked for his father on the boats at Two Medicine Lake.

After Art's graduation from college he went to work in Denver. While on a double date, he decided that Miss Billy Ann Hurley was the girl for him. Billy Ann reciprocated, and they were married in October 1953 in Billy Ann's hometown of Danville, Ill. The two spent some time in the Midwest, but Art always wanted to move back to Montana.

In 1954, he purchased the tour boat on Lake McDonald from the Glacier Park Transport Company. Art and Billy spent their summers at Lake McDonald and winters in Kalispell, while starting a family that eventually included Art Jr., Scott, Kathy and Susan. During the winter the family lived at various homes on the east side and they spent their summers near the Lake McDonald Lodge and later on Swiftcurrent Lake at Many Glacier.

Art spent his winters building tour boats that still operate on many lakes throughout the Rocky Mountain West. His shop in Evergreen was known locally as 'the place where they build those big boats.' He also brought his tour boats down from the park for major repairs. He was a very hard-working man and a good boss who was appreciated by all his employees, both in the boat shop and on the tour boats. His other businesses included the first mini-storage in Flathead County and the first mini-storage in Calgary, Alberta.

Art's hobbies included goose hunting in Canada with his many friends. He taught all his children how to ski, ice skate, and shoot, but he never liked horses much. Billy Ann liked horses and she taught all the kids to ride, though Art hauled a lot of hay. Art did not have a lot of hobbies; he loved to work. After selling the boat company to his sons, he started another business building docks and ran that well into his 70s. It is still in operation at the boat shop in Evergreen.

Art and Billy Ann have four grandchildren who all live in Montana. One of them, Sandra, lives in the same east side area and has attended all the same schools as her grandfather.

Art's greatest achievement was the positive impact he had on hundreds of college students who worked for him in Glacier Park. Many of them have visited Art and Billy over the years, and they all said their summers spent in the park were the best summers of their lives.

Art was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister.

He is survived by his wife, Billy Ann, of Kalispell; his children, Art Burch Jr. and his wife, Susie, of Kalispell, Scott Burch and his wife, Barb, of Kalispell, Kathy Van Dyke and her husband, Lawrence, of Bozeman, and Susan Burch of Lakeside; four grandchildren, Cristina, Sandy, Sam and Sara Burch; nieces, Carrie Wick and husband, Dave, and Gena Wilson and husband, Mitch; nephew, Mark VanArtsdale; and other nieces and nephews.

Memorial services for Art will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, June 2, at Epworth United Methodist Church, with Pastor Huston Green officiating. There will be no visitation. A private urn burial will be held at a later date.

The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to the Glacier Park Fund, P.O. Box 5600, Whitefish, MT 59937; Parkinson's Research Foundation, P.O. Box 20256, Sarasota, FL 34276; or to Epworth United Methodist Church, 329 2nd Avenue East, Kalispell, MT 59901.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Art's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Art's guest book.