Bernard Babcock

After 87 years and 56 days of gracing this earth with his presence, Bernard Leon 
Babcock, of Kalispell, Montana, departed peacefully July 9, 2009 from Kalispell 
Regional Hospital to grace a better place for eternity. As in life, Bernard, in his final 
moments, was a big draw; it was standing room only at his bedside. Supporting Della 
Mae, his bride of nearly 68 years, were their three children and their spouses, nine 
grandchildren and their spouses and a gaggle of great-grandkids. 

Bernard's surviving sons are Howard (Dede), of Monroe, Washington, Bruce (Trisha), 
of Kalispell and Lynn (Wayne) Jacobsmeyer, of Columbia Falls, Montana.

Bernard was born in Harlowtown, Montana to Howard and Gladys Babcock. He 
eventually became a brother to Patricia Cantrell now from Swan Lake, Montana, and 
Delores Cox now from Dillon, Montana. He graduated from Twin Bridges, Montana 
High School, served in the U.S. Army and lived in Montana until 1956 where he 
worked many years for the Northern Pacific Railroad as a telegrapher until launching 
into a life-long career of mink farming in 1947. The family relocated to Snohomish, 
Washington, in 1956 where Bernard continued his mink raising operation in both the 
Snohomish, and Granite Falls, Washington, areas.

True to his personal drive, engineering instincts and entrepreneurial inclinations he 
"survived" about six months of retirement in 1985 at which time he "went to college" at 
Edmonds Community College, took two courses in irrigation design and construction 
and then launched The Rainmaker- a landscape irrigation firm which he operated until 
1998. In 2002, Bernard finally retired and he and Della returned to their Montana roots 
moving to Kalispell, where they have since resided. Bernard will be remembered as a 
true gentleman, a committed husband and family man never to be forgotten. 

A family graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, July 13, 2009, at 
Woodlawn Cemetery, in Columbia Falls followed by a memorial celebration picnic at 
Marentette Park also in Columbia Falls.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation to the American Cancer Society. 

Published in The Herald (Everett) from 7/12/2009 - 7/13/2009