Bernard Lee Fisher was born on his mother’s 42nd birthday, July 1, 1942, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was named after the nurse, Bernadette, who saved his mother’s life that day. He died on January 22, 2026, aged 83, at his home in Helena, Montana, surrounded by his loving family.
Born to Arthur and Edna (Minick) Fisher, he joined older brothers Albert, William, James, and Edgar. Growing up, Bernie’s independence, curiosity, and amazing problem-solving skills were built through a childhood of freedom, friendship, overcoming adversity, and family connection. His father passed when he was just five years old, leaving the indomitable Edna to raise five Fisher boys alone, as only she could do.
Just before his 12th birthday, Bernie was helping herd yearling colts to a corral when his steed bit one. The colt kicked in response, and its hoof connected with Bernie’s right cheekbone, knocking him off his mount into a barbed wire fence and shattering his cheekbone, eye socket, and sinuses. A taxi that happened to be driving by took him to the hospital where an amazing surgeon saved his eyesight, hearing, handsome face, and life. This event gave Bernie his childhood nickname, Scarface.
After graduating from Thomas Jefferson Senior High School in Cedar Rapids in 1960, Bernie headed to Westmar College in LeMars, Iowa. As fate would have it, his soon-to-be wife, Ardyth Ann Frerichs, was from LeMars but going to college in Cedar Rapids. She crossed paths with Bernie’s brother Eddie and he encouraged her to connect with his little brother Bernie when she was back home. She did, and thus began over six decades of a beautiful life together.
Bernie proposed by blindly plucking a four-leaf-clover as he and Ardie sat in a friend’s backyard. Ardie still has this pressed four-leaf clover. They were married in LeMars on April 18, 1964, and soon headed off to Bozeman, Montana, where Bernie had been accepted to architecture school at Montana State College and where Ardie had an X-ray technician job waiting for her. Their years in Bozeman were full of fun and many adventures in the mountains.
After first working as an architect in Great Falls, Montana, and then Casper, Wyoming, Bernie and Ardie settled in Helena in 1971 where Bernie worked for the Don Taylor Architecture firm and later opened his own business in architecture and perf-a-taping. He then worked for the State of Montana Building Codes Division as a plan reviewer for eighteen years until his retirement in 2007.
Bernie enjoyed teaching his daughters, Tamara and Taralyn, the building trades while they helped him build three family homes that he designed in Helena and a family cabin (“Heaven’s Half Acre”) in Mammoth, Montana, on the South Boulder River, where his ashes will remain. Bernie later helped his daughters build their own homes, which he also designed, in Polson and Belgrade.
After retirement, Bernie enjoyed spending time with his family at their cabin and traveling south for a few weeks in the winter. He built furniture for his daughters, made countless picture frames, and went camping, 4-wheeling, backpacking, and fishing. Most treasured was spending time with his grandson Cedric and granddaughter Celia.
When daughter Tara was deployed to Iraq and she asked for “something that smells like Montana” for Christmas, Bernie figured out how to properly ship a real, live Montana Christmas tree to a middle eastern desert and get it there still green. In the following years, he shipped many dozen real Montana Christmas trees to those deployed in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
Bernie’s final big project, achieved through his sheer determination and the support of his wife and daughters, was securing the re-opening of a destroyed road above their cabin. This accomplishment took years of letter writing to multiple agencies and individuals, researching historical documents in the Madison County Courthouse, and attending countless meetings. Thanks to Bernie’s persistence, this recently re-opened road is now a safe second exit for the mountain cabins in Mammoth.
His friction-worn shovel and tattered work hat are testament to the drive, innovation, and persistence that fueled Bernie throughout his life and built his family and their homes.
Bernie was funny, creative, determined (oh, so determined), tenderhearted yet firm, and adored by everyone who knew him.
Bernie was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Edna; toddler sister Geraldine; brothers Albert, William, and James; brothers-in-law Gerald, Richard, George, Stanley, and Leon Frerichs; sisters-in-law Jo, Dorothy, and Joanne Fisher; sisters-in-law Kathy, Marlys, and Peggy Frerichs; brothers-in-law Ron Fick and Charles Rowe; nephews Tom, Richard Allen, Gary, and Terry Frerichs and Mike Popke; and father- and mother-in-law Claus and Minnie Frerichs.
Survivors include his wife Ardie of 61 years; daughter and son-in-law Tamara and Bill Alley of Polson, Montana; daughter Tara DeCock and grandchildren Cedric and Celia DeCock of Dillon, Montana; brother and sister-in-law Eddie and Shirley Fisher of McAllister, Montana; sisters-in-law Carol Rowe of Lake Park, Iowa, and Donna Frerichs of LeMars; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews and their families. Bernie is also survived by Don Taylor’s family, his widow Marlyce and their children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, who were family in every way but blood; and many other close friends who brought joy, humor, and lasting memories.
Services will take place at Anderson, Stevenson, & Wilke Funeral Home in Helena on Saturday, January 31, 2026, at 11:00 AM.
In lieu of a memorial, Bernie would rather that you teach a child how to use tools. Go build something. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Bernie.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday January 31, 2026
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Saturday January 31, 2026
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday January 31, 2026
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the service
Saturday January 31, 2026
Social Hall of Anderson Stevenson Wilke
3750 N Montana Ave.
Helena, Montana 59602
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Doug Finstad says
I worked for Bernie when I was in high school and I learned a lot that summer. He was a great mentor and perfataping instructor. It’s been 50 years ago I still remember some of his lessons to this day. Rest in Peace my friend.
Karen Sawyer says
Dear Ardie, I’m so sorry to hear of Bernie’s passing. I remember the times you two came back to LeMars for class reunions. I remember Bernie’s sense of humor. He always made me laugh. My thoughts are with you. You moved to a beautiful place after leaving LeMars and raised a beautiful family. Old neighbor and classmate, Karen Pecks Sawyer
Florence and Dick Mayer Family says
What a surprise to hear of Bernie’s passing. I have always had so much respect for his talents as an architect and builder. Florence’s and I have and will always consider him and his family close friends. He will be sorely missed.
Sherri Lynn Anderson says
I had the pleasure of working with Bernie at the Department of Labor and industry. He was always kind and respectful. Even after retirement he would come and visit. I was very sad to read of his passing this morning. Rest in peace Bernie. You will be missed by many. It was my pleasure to work with you for 7 years.
Matt and Julie Sisler says
Our family was fortunate to visit the Fisher family cabin, and meet family members during Tamara and Bill’s wedding there. Everything at the cabin has Bernie’s signature touch; everyone was incredibly warm and welcoming. Reading his obituary made me realize he was a remarkable person who went the extra mile to help those around him. And, he was loved for it. Our sincerest condolences to the family.
Karol Merkel says
Ardie, So sorry to hear of Bernie’s passing. Sending hugs and thinking of you. Sympathies to you and your family. Karol Pecks Merkel
jUDY hAWKINS says
Ardy and family, THINKING OF YOU AND SENDING PRAYERS TO YOU AND YIUR FAMILY.
MICHELLE HOBDAY says
Tami and family, I am so sorry to hear about your dad. Thinking of you and sending you hugs to get through this difficult time.
Bill Maroney says
I met Bernie when we were students at Jefferson High School and have been friend ever since. I remember so many wonderful times during high school and later during class reunions. Later in life we have texted each other quite often. I will miss our emailing very much. My prayers are with Ardy and family, I know he will be missed as he will by all me and all our friends from high school.
Thomas Juhl says
I met Bernie through my line of work, we became friends. Later Bernie had me pour a little concrete at his house. R.I.P. Bernie……
Mary Runkel says
Ardy and family. My sincere condolences on Bernie’s passing . Our home was perfotaped to perfection in the 1980’s.
He was so complimentary of our self designed circular staircase, as he helped us complete our home. I am sure his artistry complimented many homes. May your memories give you comfort.
Hugh A. McWhorter says
While I have not seen Bernie in years I fondly recall that he was downright fun. When Mary and I hosted some Friendship Force Japanese visitors Bernie spent some quality time with them earning him the title “Fisher, Fisher”. I would occasionally bump into him while both of us were doing work for The State of Montana. Bernie was involved with construction, I with accounting. He had some great regulatory stories and there was one I got a real kick out of. Reviewing a condo construction project he encountered large bubbles on the roof. They were so pronounced that he was able to bounce from one side of the roof to the other. Whether it was a regulatory matter or a personal matter it seemed that every Bernie story was graced with humor. A gift. I really enjoyed the guy and am so sorry for the family loss. I lost my wife October 31, 2025 so I can strongly relate to the grief that would accompany a loss of a good person. Bernie fits that label. So sorry for the family loss.
Bruce Mihelish says
Bernie was plain and simple, a good guy. We always enjoyed being around this humorous, entertaining soul.