Paul Milam, 92

On Sunday, May 27, 2018, Paul Milam passed away in his residence at Bozeman Lodge with his son and daughter-in-law by his side, along with wonderful nursing staff from the Lodge.

Paul was born March 23, 1926, to Glover and Albertina Milam in Green River, Wyoming. He attended elementary school in Hanna, Wyoming. In 1936 his family moved to Bozeman and established the Milam Floral where he finished his education at Hawthorne and Emerson Junior High School. During his senior year at Gallatin High School he enlisted in the Marines during World War II, taking his Basic Training in San Diego and advanced Aircraft Ordinance School in Norman, Oklahoma. Paul was sent to the island of Saipan for the conversion of a B-25 Bomber Squadron from a radar guided bombing unit to the new radar guided “Tiny Tim” rockets. He received the Asiatic Pacific ribbon with two battle stars for landings on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He also received Commendation for Expert Rifleman, Good Conduct, Navy Unit Commendation and the Occupation of Japan ribbon. He was honorably discharged from the Marines in June, 1946.

Paul graduated from Montana State College with a teaching degree in physical sciences. While in college he played on the 1947-1948 Bobcat Basketball team coached by the legendary, “Golden Bobcat” Max Worthington.

In 1949, on St. Patrick’s Day, he married Bernice Mysse. In this union they had two boys, Craig and Gary. His first teaching and coaching position was in Eureka for two years. He accepted a high school teaching and coaching position in Bigfork, where he taught for 28 years and later became the principal at Bigfork High School. While at Bigfork, he started the first eight-man football program, and the first girls’ basketball and track programs. He had over 300 wins as the head boys’ basketball coach at Bigfork High School.

In 1984 Paul and Bernice, along with their two sons, bought part of the S.O. Mysse Ranch (Cherry Creek Sheep Company) and created the Milam Basin Creek Ranch, which is currently being operated today by his grandson Russell Milam and father Gary Milam.

Paul worked at the Yellow Bay Station on Flathead Lake studying water quality on Flathead and Swan rivers and their tributaries and co-authored a book called “The Stoneflies of Montana” where he has a stonefly named after him “Capnia milami.” He loved to restore old cars and was a proud owner of a Model T and a Model A Ford.

After 28 years in the education field he retired and moved to Bozeman to enjoy the area where he grew up and to be closer to the family ranch in eastern Montana.

Since his retirement Paul and his son Gary were able to take part in the Montana Honor Flight to Washington, D.C., to visit the nation’s memorials and the memorials he had engaged in during World War II. During his last two years at Bozeman Lodge he developed wonderful friendships with the residents and the staff. He had weekly meetings with some fellow veterans and created a special bond with his comrades.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Bernice; a great-grandson, Christopher Milam; his brother, Donald Milam, and his wife, Joan; and his breakfast companion, Laurie O ’Brien.

He is survived by his son Craig (Michelle) Milam of Frenchtown, son Gary (Reene’) Milam of Bozeman, grandson Russell (Susie) Milam of Cohagen, Montana, and three great-grandchildren, Hannah, Addison and Chase; grandson Brad (Ana) Milam of Winnemucca, Nevada, and five great-grandchildren, Alexia, Adajah, Ariana, Jayson and Jayden; a sister, Eileen (Cliff) Rhoades, of Webster City, Iowa; and several nieces and nephews.

No services are planned. A private service will be held in the fall at the family ranch where his ashes will be spread over a monument Russell has erected on a hilltop next to his wife and his dog Spear.

Memorials may be made to Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital Foundation, 931 Highland Boulevard. Suite 3200, Bozeman, MT 59715; or to the Vietnam Veterans of America, Southwest Montana Chapter 788, P.O. Box 7226 Bozeman, MT, 59771.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.dahlcares.com