Bruce J. Macintyre

Bruce James Macintyre was born on July 15, 1937, and is the oldest of five children of Lansing J and Bernardine T MacIntyre. Other than four years in college at Notre Dame and a stint in the army, Billings has been his home and Bruce watched Billings grow from a small town that ended at the fairgrounds to the east and Eighth Street West on the west side to a thriving community with over 100,000 residents.

Following his years at Fratt Elementary, Billings Central High School, Notre Dame and the army, Bruce entered the family business MacIntyre Motor Company, a business started by his grandfather Angus Joseph MacIntyre in 1929. Upon the death of his father on Oct. 21, 1969, Bruce became the Cadillac Pontiac dealer in Billings. In addition to his business, Bruce was active in numerous organizations in the community, as well as in his industry. Bruce was especially proud of being named the recipient in 1979 of the Time Magazine Quality Dealer award for Montana and for being appointed to the General Motors Presidents Dealer Council representing Cadillac. In 1984, Bruce sold his business and began what he described as a "series of adventures" in the community that included being general manager of Briarwood Subdivision Inc. (this position also included a land development, water and sewer district and a country club), selling wine at City Vineyard (unofficial title of cork dork), Director of Government Affairs for the Billings Chamber of Commerce, and finally School District School Board member.

On May 14, 1960, Bruce married Mary Jo Donnelly and they had four children, Scott, Colleen, Kathleen "Katie" and Dan. They divorced in 1986. On Oct. 21, 1989, Bruce married Linda Kay Sapp and they were married until her death on Oct. 15, 2016. They often said that the happiest times were fishing the Boulder, enjoying good food and good wine, or visiting a new winery and tasting new wines. Every day was a new adventure to be savored.

Bruce is survived by his brother, Tom (Jan); sisters Ginny, Mary Ann (Ron) and Cathy; and children Scott, Colleen (Gerry) Katie and Dan (Amy). He also leaves behind 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A gathering to celebrate his life will be from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at 1420 Yellowstone Ave., Billings. A family memorial service will be held at a later date when Bruce's ashes will be spread at his favorite fishing hole.