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Bryce Wallis

Thomas Bryce Wallis, 93, life-long resident of Montana, an avid fisherman with many imaginative stories, and a man with a great sense of humor, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015, at the Phillips County Medical Center.

He was born on May 7, 1921, to Minnie (Taylor) and William J. Wallis at the Garrison ranch outside of Saco. He graduated from Hinsdale High School in 1940 and married Shirley Ann Nelson of Hinsdale in 1942.

He served in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II and received the Purple Heart. Trained in construction during the war, he became an ironworker upon returning to the States. They lived briefly in Seattle, Wash., then relocated to Great Falls in 1957. He and Shirley had three children and the marriage ended in divorced in 1969.

He later married Lucille Arnott of Malta in 1976. They enjoyed fishing, traveling in their RV, playing cards with friends, and supporting Malta High School sports. They spent 28 happy years together before Lucille passed away in 2003.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Merl and Robert.

Survivors include one daughter, Suzy Bloom, and her husband, Gene, of Montgomery, Ala .; two sons, Rick Wallis and his wife, Martha, of Marrieta, Calif., and Jeff Wallis and his husband, Hal Cohen, of Newton, N.J .; a step-daughter, Jane Loga, and her husband, Dennis, of Lavina; a step-son, Leroy Costin, and his wife, Mary Ann, of Saco; a step-son, Dennis Kuether and his wife, Cathy, of Great Falls. He was the grandfather of 15 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren, and the possessor of many wonderful friends.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Kirkwood Funeral Home in Malta, followed by burial at the Hillview Cemetery in Hinsdale. Family and friends later gathered at the Hitchin' Post on Highway 2 in Malta, one of his favorite places, for pie, coffee, and reminiscing.

Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.kirkwoodfuneralhome.com

 

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