George R. Hart

George R. Hart (Bud), 83, died peacefully Monday, November 6, 2006. He was born on February 12, 1923 the son of George and Elizabeth Hart on a farm just west of Billings. He lived and worked on the farm with his parents and nine siblings until 1961, when he moved with his wife, Paula, and three daughters, Connie, Susan, and Stephanie, to Nebraska City, Nebraska. He obtained employment at a factory in Omaha and commuted to work each day. Eventually, he moved the family to Omaha. Soon after the move, George decided to go back to school and work toward a washer/dryer repair certificate. Bud and Paula's marriage had not been going well since before the move from the farm, and in 1962 they separated and divorced. Bud took custody of the girls and moved them to Goodland, Kansas to live with their maternal grandparents while he finished school. After graduation, missing home, he moved his family back to Billings.

When the family got back to Billings, Bud went to work for the City of Billings in the Sanitation Dept. After several years he transferred to the Parking Meter Dept., working there until his retirement in 1988. In 1967 he met his life long love, Norma Megaard at Parents without Partners. They spent many happy years together square dancing, being members of the ELKS club, enjoying NASCAR racing on TV, reading and working puzzles. He was a dedicated family man to his four daughters and son. He often took time out of his week to help his parents and sisters with their house and yard. He loved his siblings and looked forward to the twice-yearly family reunions. After trying camping and fishing, he decided staying snug at home, was more to his liking. Having a compassionate heart, he and Norma took care of her mother, father, and sister in their home through their illnesses and death. For the remainder of his life, he doted on his wife, kids, grandchildren as well as his dogs.

Bud had a wonderful sense of humor, and loved to slip in a new joke at well-placed moments. He enjoyed playing card games with the kids, tinkering on anything broken down, especially cars, growing a few veggies in the yard, and feeding the birds on their seasonal journeys. Bud was never seen without a pipe in his mouth, walking around just taking care of what needed to be done. He was a wonderful mixture of "gentleness and strength, wisdom and understanding, laughter and love," and will be remembered as a mentor to Allen, and his girls' hero.

He is survived by his children: Connie Foley, Susan Thompson (Gary), Cindi Whitecotton (Fred), Stephanie Glasso (Gerry), and Allen Megaard; his grandchildren: Heather Tierney, Jason, Joshua, and Zachary Thompson, Christopher Pomeroy and Fredrick J. Whitecotton, Amber Glasso, and Samantha Megaard-Wikoff; great-grandchildren: Isabelle and Kayleigh Pomeroy, brothers and sisters: Rosemary McManus (Don), Dorothy, Katherine, Alvin, Art, and Harvey Hart as well as Betty Beffort (Francis). He was preceeded in death by his wife Norma, brother John Hart and sister Ruth Hart, and great-grandson Jesse A. Whitecotton.

Funeral services will be held at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary at 1:00 PM on Saturday the 11th of November. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.

Memorial gifts may be sent to the National Alzheimer's Foundation.