Obituary - David A. 'Rags' LaMere

David A. “Rags” LaMere, 61, passed away Monday, September 1, 2019, at Benefis Medical Center in Great Falls due to complications from COPD.

Wake services will begin at 3:00 p.m. today, Wednesday, September 4, 2019, and will continue until his funeral service, which will be at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 5, 2019, all at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. Burial will follow in the Rocky Boy Cemetery.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.

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

Rags was born December 29, 1957, in Great Falls, to William and Virginia (Mitchell) LaMere. He was raised in Great Falls and Rocky Boy, attending Box Elder High School. After his high school years, Rags worked on the fishing boats and Fisherman’s Terminal pier with his brother Danny for a couple of seasons. He went to work for Opportunity Inc., where he met Alice Delorme, the love of his life. They remained together for many years, raising their two daughters, before separating, but remained close for the rest of his life. Rags worked for many years as a custodian all over the state of Montana. He retired in 2010 due to his health.

He was a kind, loving, generous man who enjoyed playing cribbage, rummy, pinochle, shopping, and playing the machines and pool. His favorite times were spent with his kids and grandkids, who were the light of his life. Rags was very traditional in his spiritual beliefs, and became a pipe carrier in 2000, which he was very proud of. He also enjoyed teasing his loved ones, which was very evident by the twinkling of his eyes. Rags adored his family and was very protective of them.

He was preceded in death by his granddaughter Freedom Angel Ann Hanson; parents, William and Virginia LaMere; sisters Eleanor Skinner and Mary Taylor; and brothers Ronny Cleland, Lloyd James “Jimmy” Cleland, William “Boy Boy” LaMere, and Daniel Gabe LaMere.

Rags is survived by his daughters, Cindy (Daniel) Blevins of Great Falls, Tomorrow Blue (William

“J.R.” Hanson) LaMere of Great Falls and Rainy Lee LaMere of St. Ignatius; 13 grandchildren; sisters Joanne Ahenakew and Wilma (Corkie) Corcoran, all of Rocky Boy, Edna Kay (James) Finley of Arlee and twin sister, Virgelene (Joseph) Raya of Great Falls; brothers Francis (Jackie) Cleland of Butte and Ricky (Susie) Cleland of Billings; Aunt Merceline Parker of Rocky Boy; Uncle James “Jimmy” LaMere of Helena; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and other extended family and friends.