Obituary - Brian Morse

It is with a sad heart that we say goodbye to our beloved father, grandfather, uncle, husband, and brother, Brian Morse of Havre, who passed away peacefully Saturday, March 31, 2018, in Sun City West, AZ, after a brave battle with cancer.

Brian was born June 24, 1947, in Havre, Montana, to Alfred Morse and Evelyn (Drobnak) Morse.

He attended Havre High School, where he wrestled and played football. He served three tours in the U.S. Navy in the Vietnam War as a radarman aboard the aircraft carriers Valley Forge and Oriskany. He married Suzy Loranger and returned to Havre to earn a degree in electronics at Northern Montana College and start a family. After he spent a few years working for the Burlington Northern Railroad in Minnesota and Wisconsin, Brian moved with his family back to Havre, where he returned to the farm working alongside his father, brother Dennis, and later his nephew Jeremy. 

He served his community on the Havre School Board, Northern Montana Healthcare Foundation, St. Mark's Vestry, and other groups. He was a fixture for decades at his morning coffee group, where no local occurrence, whether big or small, escaped discussion, and no waitress could avoid his good-natured but devilish sense of humor. His grandkids Tyler and Hallie, who always knew "Bompa" would be cheering them on either in person or in spirit for whatever sports game or other of life's endeavors they were engaged in, were his pride and joy. 

After 17 years of happy adventures together, he and Susun Dodge were married on his 70th birthday last year in the presence of the loving "Brady Bunch" family they had created, including Susun's three kids and three more grandchildren, Madyson, Hannah and Nicole. Just a few weeks ago, another precious grand-baby, Nolan, was born. In his last weeks, Dad was sustained every day by the hope that he would be able to travel back to Montana to see Ty graduate and meet his new little Nolan, or "Shotgun," as he called him. In his final years, if he wasn't watching old Westerns or "Bluebloods" on TV, he was probably engaged in some way with family, which is what made him happiest. Through it all, he was known for his big personality and even bigger heart. He was a tower of strength and support for all those he loved. 

He is preceded in death by his parents; a sister Kathy; and a brother Alfred Morse. He leaves behind his loving wife, Susun; a brother, Dennis of Havre; a daughter, Tracy (Darren) Dobie of Bozeman; a son, Jason Morse of Seattle, WA; a daughter, Heidi (Stephen) Wilson of Livingston; a stepson, James (Kelly) Dodge of Corning, CA; a stepson, William Dodge of San Jose, CA; a stepdaughter, Sandy (Bill) Lewis of Grass Valley, CA; a sister-in-law, Myrna Morse of Havre; two nephews, Jeremy (Bobbie) Morse of Havre and Brandon Morse of Havre; and his six precious grandkids.

He will remain in our hearts forever as a source of strength, wisdom, comfort and boundless love. 

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 11, 2018, at Fifth Avenue Christian Church with Pastor Michael O'Hearn officiating. Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Brian's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family at http://www.hollandbonine.com.