Gary Bird

Gary Bird was born Sept. 8, 1943, in Dickinson, but grew up in Medora, North Dakota.

On Sept. 25, 2018, our beloved Gary was reunited with his parents, Earl and Norma; his brothers, Bob and Richard; and his older sister, Beverly, but preceded his brother Jim at the age of 75.

In 1965, Gary was drafted into the Army, where he went into the 532nd Signal Corps as a radio man and served in Germany and France, where he achieved the rank of Sergeant. In 1969, Gary married the love of his life, Judy Kay Hudson, and together they moved to her family's homestead in Musselshell. There, they raised their two children, Travis and Traci, along with cattle and racehorses.

Not only was Gary a farmer, rancher, racehorse owner and trainer, but he was also an insulator for 30 years in Local 82. Gary was a loving grandpa to all of his grandchildren and will be missed dearly by Chandra, Ali, Elizabeth, Taylor, Mason and Josie. He was also a great-grandpa to Diena and Ayla. Gary loved all of his nieces and nephews, cousins and friends who he would also consider family. You could never hope to meet a nicer, more accepting, caring and loving man who would do anything he could for even a stranger.

This Saturday, Sept. 29, we will gather at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave., Billings, at 3:30 p.m., to bid farewell to our cowboy. Following, we will celebrate his life at The Elks Club a couple blocks away at 934 Lewis Ave.