Bernie J. Morgan, age 79, of Helena

Bernard “Bernie” Joseph Morgan passed away peacefully early in the morning on August 19^th, 2018, at St. Pat’s Hospital in Missoula, MT, due to complications from congestive heart failure and COPD. He was 79 years old.  He spent the last week of his life with his wife and 5 kids by his side, a true testament to the loving husband and father he was.

He was born in Butte, Montana to Bernard C. and Catherine “Dolly” G. (Feeney) Morgan on June 9, 1939. He was the oldest of four children. He was raised in Butte and went to school at Butte Central until his senior year when they moved to Bozeman where he graduated from Holy Rosary.  He attended MSU in Bozeman for a year and decided it wasn’t for him, but always considered himself a Bobcat.  He was a member of the St. Helena Cathedral and had been a very active member of the Knights of Columbus in his younger years.  He was very proud that he succeeded his father as Grand Knight.

On October 14^th 1961, he married the love of his life, Ginny Appel.  She was a friend of his younger sister Kaye and they first met when Kaye brought her home one evening.  Ginny jokes that she fell for him right away when she saw him doing the dishes after dinner.  However, she never let him do them for her because he didn’t do them the way she liked!  The first date they went on he took her to the drive in and promptly fell asleep.  That didn’t deter her, and they were married in the St. Helena Cathedral and lived in Helena together for almost 57 years, where they raised their five children.

Bernie worked for Super Save as the produce manager for many years and then worked at Ashgrove Cement. He retired from there in 2001 after 28 years. He thoroughly enjoyed retirement.  He and mom traveled to visit family frequently.  He enjoyed working in the yard and gardening and was in a constant battle to keep the deer from eating his beautiful roses.   He and his son Joe loved to go 4-wheeling and snowmobiling up at Rimini and had many great adventures there.  He took up golfing and cherished the golf outings with his sons and grandsons, and especially loved golfing with his good friend Dennis McCall.  They always had a great time and never took it too seriously.  It was the thing he was most anxious to get back to after his first surgery.  He also loved going to car shows, looking at the Corvettes and other classic cars he coveted and was always on the lookout for ‘57 Chevys like the one he had when he and Ginny got married.  He spent his Sunday’s watching his Broncos, no matter how they were playing.

He loved his family and spending time with them was his top priority. This was when he was the happiest. He planned family vacations so we could all be together and enjoyed traveling to be with his children and siblings.  His grandkids were his pride and joy and he spent as much time as possible with them.  He attended their events and functions, took them riding, golfing, fishing and swimming.  He believed in education and set up a fund to help them with their secondary education.

Bernie is survived by his wife, Ginny of Helena, his daughters Ginny and her husband Dave Cottrill of Renton, WA, Colleen and her husband Jeff Dahl of Eugene, OR, his sons Joe Morgan of Helena, Tim and his wife Krista of Helena and Andy and his wife Tessa of Missoula; grandchildren Caeli Virag, Cody and Chase Cottrill, Justin Crane, Talon, Drew and Chaela Morgan, Tayson Barnes and he was so looking forward to the upcoming arrival of a new grandchild Tessa and Andy are expecting to have in February; his step grandchildren, Jonathan, Laura, Melissa and James Dahl; his brother Dan (Paula) Morgan of Spokane, WA, his sisters Kaye (Arnie) Lindberg of Cut Bank, Lou Hill of Denver, Co, brother-in-law Ted (Marian) Appel of Fargo, ND. and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Bernard and Catherine (Dolly) Morgan, his father and mother in law Theodore & Catherine Appel and his brother in law Rod Hill.

A Vigil Service for Bernie will be held at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana, on Monday, August 27^th, 2018 at 6:00 p.m.  The Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 28^th, 2018 at the Cathedral of St. Helena, 530 N. Ewing Street.  A luncheon reception will follow at the Brondel Center, downstairs.  Following the reception, the Rite of Committal will be held at Resurrection Cemetery, 3685 N. Montana Ave.

Bernie had a generous heart and gave to many charities. A few that were dear to his heart were the following, if you would like to make a donation in his name:

Family Outreach – 1236 Helena Ave, Helena, MT 59601; http://www.familyoutreach.org/ways-to-donate/

Special Olympics – https://give.specialolympics.org/page/contribute/default

God’s Love – 533 N Last Chance Gulch, Helena, MT 59601

Good Samaritan – 3067 N. Montana Ave, Helena, MT 59601; https://www.goodsamhelena.org/

The family would like to thank Dr. Weiner and his amazing, compassionate staff, Dr. Fenton and Britt Ballinger at St. Peter’s Health and the wonderful doctors and nurses at St. Pat’s in Missoula.

Dad – we all love you and miss you and we are so thankful for the long and happy life you had with us. As mom says – Love you to the moon and back, always.

Please visit below to offer a condolence to the family or share a memory of Bernie.

Service Schedule

Vigil

6:00 p.m.

Monday August 27, 2018

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N. Montana Ave.

Helena, Montana 59602

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Funeral Mass

12:00 p.m.

Tuesday August 28, 2018

Cathedral of St. Helena

530 N. Ewing St.

Helena, Montana 59601

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Reception

Following Mass

Tuesday August 28, 2018

Brondel Center of the Cathedral

530 N. Ewing St.

Helena, Montana 59601

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Rite of Committal

Following the reception

Tuesday August 28, 2018

Resurrection Cemetery

3685 N. Montana Ave.

Helena, Montana 59602

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