Obituary - Bert Corcoran

Bert Wesley Corcoran, 83, of Rocky Boy, passed away on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at his residence.

Wake services began at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Rocky Boy. Rosary services will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2015, and his funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 10, 2015, also at St. Mary's. Burial will follow in the Rocky Boy Veterans Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. Please visit Bert's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.

Bert was born on April 1, 1932, in Box Elder to Joseph and Delia (Courchane) Corcoran. He was raised in Rocky Boy, attending school in Box Elder. Bert graduated from Box Elder High School in 1950, and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951, serving until his honorable discharge in 1953. He continued his education at Western Montana College, obtaining a bachelor's degree in education. Bert obtained his master's degree in education from the University of Montana in Missoula. He worked on his doctorate at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion.

Upon his return to Rocky Boy, Bert served as assistant superintendent for the Havre Public Schools for several years. He also went on to serve as superintendent of the Pryor, Poplar, and Lodge Grass school districts.

He spent his career fighting for education for the Native American people and was instrumental in creating the Rocky Boy School District, where he served as superintendent for several years. Local control was his focus in education and community.

Bert loved spending time with people, just visiting and joking. He supported the youth, counseling young adults in developing and clarifying goals for themselves. He loved Havre and Rocky Boy, celebrating their growth and development, and mourning their setbacks. He also loved politics at all levels, local, state and national. Bert's favorite pastimes included working with his cows and mentoring young cowboys. He sat on many boards, including the Rocky Boy Law and Order Commission, of which he was very proud to a part of its development. Bert was the current Hill County Fair Board chairman, and enjoyed the fair and all of its activities. He loved sports, both basketball and football, and declared himself a diehard Griz fan. He enjoyed attending rodeos.

Bert was very interested in his government, and served as a Rocky Boy School Board member, and on the tribal council as both a councilman and as the tribal chairman. He also served on the boards of Bank of Montana and Wells Fargo as well as other numerous community boards and committees.

Bert was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Delia Corcoran; his daughter Jacqueline Corcoran; his son Kevin Corcoran; his sisters, Mary Ann Reum, Florence Gourley, Tammy Frost and Peggy Nagel; and his brothers Bob, Brad and William (Corky) Corcoran.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Josephine Corcoran; his daughters Roberta (Sam) Schmidt of Great Falls, and Lauren and CeCe Corcoran and Christina Trottier, all of Rocky Boy; his sons, Scott (Betty) Corcoran of Hardin, and Mike and Matt (Mary) Corcoran, all of Havre; his 16 grandchildren; his seven great-grandchildren; his brothers, John Corcoran of Great Falls and Kermit Corcoran of Havre; and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and other extended family and friends.