FRANCIS BURCHARD obituary

LOMPOC, Calif. - Francis A. “Sam” Burchard, 80, of Lompoc, Calif., died Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, at a Lompoc care facility.

A family graveside service will be held at a later date in Highland Cemetery in Havre with burial of his ashes at his parents' grave site.

Sam was born Sept. 7, 1923, in Havre to Charles and Anna (DuBois) Burchard. He served with the U.S. Navy during World War II on the USS Bunker Hill.

Sam moved from Glasgow to Santa Maria, Calif., in 1965 to work with the civil service at a Vandenberg Air Force Base tracking station. He retired in 1985. He then worked a brief time for Lockheed, before establishing his own appliance and repair business.

Sam was a member of Lompoc Elks Lodge No. 2274. In his earlier years, he enjoyed the outdoors, fishing and hunting.

Sam was preceded in death by his former wife, Doris Erickson Burchard; son, Larry; and brother, James.

Survivors include his daughters, Sandra M. Shupp, Jane A. Simms and Lynn Burchard, all of Santa Maria, and Susan M. Barnhill of Santee, Calif.; sons, Michael F. and David J. Burchard, both of Oroville, Calif., and Patrick A. Burchard of Santa Maria; sisters, Peggy Cloke, Mary Kelly and Alyce Matson, all of Spokane, Wash., Doreen Gault of Havre and Evelyn Hoffman of Missoula; brothers, Vern Burchard of Havre and Gary Burchard of Spokane; 10 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer's Association, 2024 De la Vina St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

Arrangements are in the care of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary.