William Godreau Bowd, 69

William Godreau Bowd, 69, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 31, after a long battle with a Parkinson's type disease. Bill was born in Calgary, Alberta on Dec. 28, 1936. Bill graduated from the University of Montana in 1961 with a degree in Wildlife Technology. After graduation, Bill worked at a prestigious animal research laboratory in Quebec. He later returned to Alberta and became a successful rancher and farmer. After a number of years of farming/ranching Bill attended the University of Calgary and graduated with a degree in education. Upon graduating from the University, he taught school for two years in Spirit River, Alberta.

On Nov. 12, 1971, Bill married Mary Huggans Schmale in Tacoma, Washington. The couple moved to Bigfork in 1972. Bill taught at Swan River Elementary School for eighteen years, retiring in 1990 to become a full time real estate broker with his own office, Bowd and Associates, located in Bigfork. Bill loved to hunt and fish and was an avid fan of the Montana Grizzlies. He was a long-time member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Bigfork, later to become a member of Pope John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork.

Bill is survived by his loving wife, Mary Bowd of Bigfork; his mother Carmen Bowd of Calgary; hid daughter Erin Simkins and family of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; step-son William Schmale of Zagreb, Croatia; brother Craig Bowd and family of Calgary; and his sister Carole White and family of San Diego, California.

Bill was predeceased by his father William B. Bowd of Calgary.

A funeral mass was held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2006 at Pope John Paul II Catholic Church on Coverdell Road, Bigfork.