MICHAEL LAMERE obituary

ROCKY BOY - Michael Edward LaMere Jr., 62, died Monday, Oct. 18, 2004, on Rocky Boy's Indian Reservation while hunting. The cause of death was determined to be hypothermia.

A wake service began Tuesday at the LaMere family home and continues today at the Rocky Boy Catholic Church. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Rocky

Boy Catholic Church. Burial will be held at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Great Falls.

Michael was born May 1, 1942, at Fort Belknap to Michael E. LaMere Sr. and Lena Courchane. In 1947, the family moved to Great Falls. He attended school until 1959, when he joined the U.S. Navy.

In 1962, Michael married Darlene Taylor in Oakland, Calif. The couple later moved to San Leandro, Calif., and later divorced in Las Vegas, Nev. In 1963, he was honorably discharged and moved to California. In 1968, he returned to Great Falls and worked as a machinist.

In 1969, Michael married Cheryl Siverson in Las Vegas, but the couple later divorced. Michael moved back to California for one year and then returned to Great Falls in 1970 and work in construction.

He obtained his GED in 1992. Michael attended Stone Child College and received his associate of arts degree in general science and math. In 1999, Michael graduated from Montana State University-Northern with a bachelor of science degree in water quality and environmental health. He went to work for the Chippewa Cree Water Quality Program in 1999 and has worked there as the water quality coordinator for five years.

On Sept. 25, 2003, he married Helen Azure in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and the couple moved to Rocky Boy.

Michael loved his family very much and enjoyed spending time with them. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and spending as much time outdoors as possible.

He was preceded in death by three brothers.

Michael is survived by his wife, Helen LaMere Jr. of Rocky Boy; father, Michael E. (Betty) LaMere Sr. of Great Falls; mother, Lena LaMere of Spokane, Wash .; sons, Raymond LaMere of Rocky Boy; Waylon LaMere of Austin, Texas; daughters, Elizabeth Pitzer of Rocky Boy, Rose LaMere of Rocky Boy and Heather LaMere of Rocky Boy; stepsons, Michael Bruno of Billings, James Parker of Great Falls, Shawn Azure of Great Falls and Richard Oppett of Missoula; stepdaughter, Tanya Latnere of Oakland, Calif .; brothers, Jerry (Joy) LaMere of Spokane, Wash., and Ernest (Patty) LaMere of Great Falls; and three grandchildren.

Services are under the direction of Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.