GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE Thursday, December 28, 2006

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Bryan, Billie Wayne

CHINOOK - Billie Wayne Bryan, 78, a retired truck driver and avid outdoorsman, died of brain cancer Tuesday in Great Falls.
His funeral is 2 p.m. Saturday at Edwards Funeral Home Chapel in Chinook, with burial in Kuper Memorial Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Margaret; children Gary Bryan of Columbia Falls, Helen (Gary) Knudson of Clinton, Kent (Yolanda) Bryan of Willmar, Minn., and Marsha (Mitch) of Helena; sisters LeDean Lewis of Seal Beach, Calif., and Barbara DeVries of Hemet, Calif.; 14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Helen Bryan; a son, Wayne Bryan; grandsons Shane Bryan, Greg Knudson and Kelly Knudson; and a daughter-in-law, Joyce Bryan.
Bill was born Sept. 13, 1928, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Dean and Helen (Elben) Bryan. He grew up and worked with his family at their fruit orchard in Valverda, Utah.
He married the love of his life, Margaret Lee of Morgan, Utah, on June 28, 1947, in Elko, Nev. They had a double-ring ceremony with friends Carl and LaDene Wooslayer. Bill and Margaret moved to Chinook, Mont., on June 3, 1953. Bill started Bryan Trucking Co., and for the next 23 years he hauled asphalt throughout the state and Canada. He then became an owner/operator and worked for Westran Wheels and EL. Murphy. During this time, he enjoyed driving cross-country throughout the United States, especially with his son-in-law Gary Knudson. His favorite trips were hauling freight to various gold mines. He received many awards, including best driver and driving over 1 million miles accident-free. After driving more than 3 million miles, he retired at age 72.
Bill had a great passion for the outdoors. There is nothing he enjoyed more than hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed tying flies, gardening and spending time at his cabin in Hungry Horse. It was always fun to go to his house because you knew your favorite things would be waiting for you; whether it was a fish, pheasant or antelope dinner, huckleberry pancakes or his homemade huckleberry jam. The fishing poles were always baited and ready to go.
He was a friend to everyone he met, and would go out of his way to help anyone in need. He will always be remembered as a generous, loving and kind-hearted person. He was "the best" husband, father and grandfather.
Having you in our lives has been the greatest blessing and a gift that we will treasure in our hearts forever. You will always be loved.
The family suggests memorials to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.
Condolences may be sent online to greatfallstribune.com/obituaries.

Published in the Great Falls Tribune on 12/28/2006.

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HAVRE DAILY NEWS Thursday, December 28, 2006

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BILLIE BRYAN

(Created: Thursday, December 28, 2006 12:20 PM MST)

Billie Wayne Bryan, 78, of Chinook died peacefully on Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2006, in Great Falls from brain cancer.
His funeral service will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. in the Edwards Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Kuper Memorial Cemetery.

Bill was born Sept. 13, 1928, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Dean and Helen (Elben) Bryan. He grew up and worked with his family at their fruit orchard in Valverda, Utah. Bill married the love of his life, Margaret Lee of Morgan, Utah on June 28, 1947 in Elko, Nevada. They had a double ring ceremony with friends, Carl and LaDene Wooslayer. Bill and Margaret moved to Chinook on June 3, 1953. Bill started Bryan Trucking Company. He hauled asphalt throughout the state and Canada for the next 23 years. He then became an owner/operator and worked for Westran Wheels, EL. Murphy and Westran. During this time, he enjoyed driving cross country throughout the United States, especially with his son-in-law Gary Knudson. His favorite trips were hauling freight to various gold mines. He received many awards including best driver and driving more than 1 million miles accident free. After driving more than 3 million miles, he retired at age 72. Bill had a great passion for the outdoors. There was nothing more he enjoyed than hunting and fishing with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed tying flies, gardening and spending time at his cabin in Hungry Horse. It was always fun to go to his house because everyone knew their favorite things were waiting for them; whether it was a fish, pheasant, or antelope dinner, huckleberry pancakes, or his homemade huckleberry jam. The fishing poles were always baited and ready to go. He was a friend to everyone he met. He would go out of his way to help anyone in need.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Dean and Helen Bryan; son, Wayne Bryan; grandsons, Shane Bryan, Greg Knudson and Kelly Knudson; and daughter-in-law, Joyce Bryan.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Margaret; children, Gary Bryan of Columbia Falls, Helen (Gary) Knudson of Clinton, Kent Bryan (Yolanda) of Willmar, Minn., and Marsha (Mitch) of Helena; sisters, LeDean Lewis of Seal Beach, Calif., and Barbara DeVries of Hemet, Calif.; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

The family suggests memorials to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation.

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