Bret E. Sickmann, 50

by Daily Inter Lake
| June 22, 2008 1:00 AM

Bret E. Sickmann, 50, of Kalispell passed away Wednesday, June 18, 2008, doing what he loved. Bret spent his last hours riding on dirt bikes with his friends in the beautiful mountains that he lived to be in.

Bret was born Dec. 18, 1957, in Gaylord, Minn., to Earlyn and Ruth Sickmann. He was raised in Eden Prairie, Minn., where he graduated from high school. Bret moved to West Yellowstone shortly after graduating. He moved back and forth between Minnesota and Montana, finally settling in Kalispell in 1994.

Bret worked in the construction industry until 2002, when he started his own crane business, AmeriCrane. He has also worked in the logging and snowmobile industries.

Bret was a member of Montanans for Multiple Use, The Montana Snowmobile Association and the Flathead Snowmobile Association.

Bret had a passion for the outdoors. He loved snowmobiling, trail-biking, hunting, shooting and photography.

Bret lived life to the fullest; everything Bret did, he did with intensity and enthusiasm. He encouraged others to participate in life to the fullest and was known by all of his friends as the life of the party. Bret was extremely loyal and would do anything for his friends, his family, and his cherished dog, Bully. Bret will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him. His bigger-than-life voice and heart never will be forgotten.

Bret was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth A. Sickmann.

Bret is survived by wife, Lisa Sickmann; stepson, Travis Knoll; father, Earlyn Sickmann; stepmother, Ella Sickmann; grandmother, Edna Sickmann; sister, Cindy, and brother-in-law, Scott Gillette, and their sons, Scotty, Travis and Cameron; his sister, Lisa, and brother-in-law, Paul Mikrut, and their children, Chelsey, Garrett and Shannon; his sister, Susan, and brother-in-law, Randy Schaefer, and their children, Ruth and Aaron; and many other aunts, uncles, cousins and special friends.

A celebration of Bret's life will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 29, at the Sickmann home. All those who knew and loved Bret are welcome to attend.