Travis Lee Hudyma (56) died February 28,2022 of a massive heart attack at St.

Peters hospital in Helena at 8:54 p.m. He is the son of John Hudyma (Billings) and Sherry LaPierre (Helena & Lake Havasu, AZ).

His grandparents are the late Roger & Junice LaPierre and John & Vera Hudyma.

His siblings are Tawnya Hudyma of Billings and Steve and Doug Schlosser of Helena. Travis’ children are Whitley Hudyma Smith of Fort Worth, Texas, Justin Hudyma and Brandon Hudyma of Bozeman, Hawken Hudyma of Clear Lake, Iowa, and Everett Hudyma of Ames, Iowa.

At age 5, Travis and his mother moved from Scobey, MT to Helena. Travis attended school in Helena until his senior year of high school; at that time, he moved to Stanford, MT to live with his stepbrothers Steve, Doug and their mother Nola Jean McCullough.

That year Travis was voted the Homecoming King. He graduated from Stanford High School with 19 other classmates. He and his brother Steve made up 10% of the graduating class, and mixed family made up 50% of the graduation audience.

Travis played several sports through out high school. He studied and trained in Taekwondo; at age 16 he earned his Black Belt. When he was 18 he flew to the east coast where he competed in the national championships and placed very well. In later years, he competed in California, and earned a gold medal for his age and weight class.

Throughout his adult life, Travis worked a variety of jobs including farming, ranching, running a sign business, and multiple sales positions. Most recently, he was a salesman for Helena RV where he worked for a number of years until his heart health deteriorated to the point he was unable to walk across the sales lot.

Shortly thereafter, he passed the exam to sell insurance, but again, his heart would not allow him to function in that position either. Most recently, he created and sold gift packages consisting of various teas, chocolates, and mints.

While Travis was working at Horizon Airlines at the Helena Airport, he met the love of his life, Gail Bartosh. For the last decade, through the good times and the bad times, she has been at his side. Travis and Gail enjoyed cooking, scuba diving, camping in their motor home, boating in their Sea-Doo, travel to Hawaii, and spur of the moment road trips.

Travis was an intelligent complex man of many talents and interests. He was a sketch artist, inventive, creative, kindhearted, dog-whisperer, distrusting of all things from NASA, and steadfast in his political, scientific, and religious beliefs.

Travis had a strong desire to improve his health.

He researched medical information regarding his heart issues; he felt best on a Keto Diet, fasted systematically, and had all of his teeth pulled and replaced with dentures, in an effort to rid his body of prolonged infections which kept his heart and circulatory system inflamed. Travis loved his new teeth, so much that he was quick to say, “I can’t take a bad picture!” (he was right, too) There will be a memorial for friends and family in Helena on May 7th. Later in May, Travis’ ashes will be interned in the family plot in Scobey.

If you are interested in attending either service please contact Sherry at 406-459-0219 for further details.

 

Bettylou Burgett (94) passed away peacefully at her home in Port Townsend, WA surrounded by family on February 25, 2022. Born on August 22, 1928 in Moore, MT to Willis and Anna (Tong) Ocker, Bettylou was the eldest of five children; Calvin, Wilma Moses, Gary, and Arliss Engstrom. Memories of those formative years raised on the family farm during the height of the Great Depression were recounted in a biography she later wrote to her grandchildren, with yearly additions, including precious drawings that showcased her artistic talent. Her pride and love for her family is reflected in the numbers of descendants who have artistic gifts.

In 1948 Bettylou Ocker married Earl Truman Burgett, her lifelong partner of 67 years, in Scobey, MT.

They left their family homesteads to relocate to Washington State for Earl’s new teaching position.

As their family grew they moved to the Seattle area, where Bettylou managed to care for six children while taking art classes and singing with the “Sweet Adelines”.

Harmonizing together on family road trips created a strong bond through music that has continued at gatherings to this day. Bettylou’s love of great ethnic food inspired many trips to the Pike Place Market for a specialty spice or cut of fish to prepare for dinner guests.

In her forties, Bettylou began her career as a special needs teacher’s aide, proudly winning peer support as the Union representative for the ParaProfessional Association. Her commitment to her students demonstrated a lifelong belief in tolerance and celebrating one’s differences.

Bettylou blossomed into an independent, critical thinker as she and Earl started life as empty nesters. After retirement they traveled extensively, from Europe, South America, Africa to Asia, continuing each year to push their boundaries.

In 1988 they moved to the Olympic peninsula and their August ‘Oyster Bashes’ in Port Townsend were legendary, drawing a diverse collection of friends and family from near and far. For all that knew her, as a new acquaintance or childhood friend, her natural ability to connect with others in a meaningful way is her legacy. She made all around her feel seen and heard…an essential part of her spirit until her last breath.

Bettylou is survived by her sisters Wilma and Arliss, her children Melanie, Buzz, Jon, William, Nora, 17 grandchildren and 12 “greats”. She was preceded in passing by husband Earl, brothers Calvin and Gary, and eldest daughter Kathleen.

Over the years the family has been assisted many times by the expert hands at Jefferson Healthcare Home Health and Hospice. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Hospice Organization in your community.