Texte intégral
LAKESIDE - Wilfred Paul "Buster" Dufour, 86, of Lakeside, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2005, at his home.He was born Aug. 5, 1919, at Coffee Creek to Peter Fortuna and Julia (Zenisek) Dufour.As a young boy, he grew up in Somers, and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1937. He was a pioneer member of Scout Troop 34, Somers' first Boy Scout troop. Buster attended the University of Montana and graduated in 1941 from the UM School of Forestry. He spent many fall hunting seasons outfitting in the Bob Marshall with his brother-in-law and childhood friend, Les Averill.Buster enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, serving from 1941-45 in the 93rd Bomb Group, stationed in England and subsequently in North Africa.Buster married Bernadette Paul on Sept. 27, 1947, in Missoula.He worked for the U.S. Soil Conservation Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, for 30 years in Conrad, Kalispell, Philipsburg and Hamilton. In 1975, Buster was awarded a national commendation from the Soil Conservation Society of America for his noteworthy leadership in plant resource management.He was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Somers, the UM Alumni Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. For 10 years, he volunteered to collect monthly water samples to help monitor and study Flathead Lake.Buster was an avid fisherman, hunter, gardener and duck carver and built award-winning birdhouses. He enjoyed teaching his family and friends about the outdoors.He was preceded in death by his parents and sister Doloris Averill.Survivors include his wife Bernadette; son Peter; daughters Diane and Roxie; grandchildren Taharaa, Bijoux and Eddie Wong Sky and Colin Dunphy; and nephews Dan, Dary, Doug and Dalvin Averill.There will be a requiem Mass celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 20, at John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork with Monsignor Donald W. Shea officiating. Burial will follow at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a luncheon reception at Flathead Lake Lodge at 1 p.m. Visitation will be 4-6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 19, at the Johnson Mortuary chapel in Kalispell.The family has suggested that donations be made to John Paul II Catholic Church, 195 Coverdell Road or P.O. Box 277, Bigfork, MT 59901; or to the charity of the donor's choice.Johnson Mortuary & Crematory is caring for Buster's family.