Charles Patrick Bouchard

POLSON — Just days after his beloved wife Helen died, Charles Patrick Bouchard joined her. Charles "Pat" passed away peacefully in his sleep, Dec. 10, 2006. He was the son of Joseph Albert Bouchard and Cynthia Taggert Bouchard.

Born Feb. 3, 1929, in Missoula, Pat grew up in Bonner, the second of four boys.

Pat was predeceased by his beloved wife Helen, his parents and brothers Joseph "Beez" Bouchard and Michael "Mike" Bouchard.

Pat leaves behind his younger brother, John "Sandy" (Joan); four children, Patty, Terry (Jerry), Alan and Dawn (Julio); 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren with another expected in January 2007.

Pat grew up in Bonner with a great respect and love for the outdoors. He loved to ski, hunt and fish; you name it, and he tried it at least once.

Once he left his parents' home, he joined the Navy, then the Forest Service. While in the Forest Service he met his future wife Helen; they had a whirlwind courtship and three months later they married on Oct. 14, 1950, in Bonner.

He spent many years with Mountain Bell and then his own company, CP Communications. They retired to Finley Point on his native Flathead Indian Reservation in 1992 where family gatherings were the center of his life, along with the Finley Point Volunteer Fire Department and community.

A funeral Mass is planned for the summer of 2007 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson.

In memory of Charles Patrick Bouchard, please support the Helping Hands Ministry at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson.