Barry R. Wood, 81

Barry R. Wood, 81, passed away of heart failure on Nov. 9, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.

Barry was born in Great Falls on Oct. 21, 1930, to Carl and Primrose (Kerr) Wood and grew up in Conrad, Mont., and Casper, Wyo. 

Barry graduated from Gallatin County High School in Bozeman in 1948. He graduated from Montana State with a degree in accounting in 1952. That same year, he and Diane Burleigh were married in Bozeman.

He worked for Shell Oil Company in Glendive, Billings and Denver. In 1958 they moved back to Montana where he worked at the Great Falls Gas Company for several years.

In 1968 the family moved to Kalispell when Barry and his partner, Bill Shiell, purchased Norm's News. Barry later sold his interest in Norm's to Bill and opened his own accounting business. From there, he began his real estate career with Valley Realty and then Ted Dykstra Realty, until his retirement in 2004. 

Barry was active in the Little League and Babe Ruth baseball programs in Great Falls and American Legion in Kalispell. He also enjoyed participating in several bowling leagues. Barry was an avid reader. He also loved to debate politics, watch sports and was sure to finish at least one crossword puzzle each day.

More than anything, he always believed that family came first. His presence, quiet humor and sound advice will be missed.

Barry was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Beverly Randall; and son, Steve, in 2008.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Diane, of Kalispell; sons, Brian of Joshua Tree, Calif., and Craig and wife, Karen, and their son, Christian, of Cheyenne, Scott and his daughters, Elizabeth and Courtney, of Cheyenne, Mike and wife, Teri, and their son, Chris, and daughter, Randee, of Kalispell, and daughter, Mary McRae and husband, Sean, and their children Olivia, Maisy and Henry, of Kalispell. He is also survived by his sister, Barbara Pedersen of Aurora, Colo., and three nieces and four nephews.

Memorial services for Barry will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home, with Father Rod Ermatinger officiating. Burial will follow services at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery, followed by a reception at the Village Greens Community Center.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Barry's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and view Barry’s tribute wall.