Bernard J. Long passed away peacefully with family by his side on May 31st, 2024 in Billings, Mt. at St. Vincent hospital.
He was born on November 14, 1933 in Big Beaver, Saskatchewan, Canada to Bruce and Dora (Lotz) Long. He was the 5th child of 8 children. He attended school in Canada until the family moved to Redstone, Mt. and continued his education there. He worked on Charlie Grant’s farm until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in October of 1954 where he turned 21 in boot camp. He was stationed in Guam for part of his service. Bernard served a total of 8 years between active duty and the reserves. He was honorably discharged on December 28, 1962.
In 1957 Bernard met Janice Pauline Dassonville. After a year-long courtship they were married on January 16, 1959 at the First Lutheran Church in Frazer, Mt.
In their early years of marriage, Bernard provided for the family working various jobs (farming, Glasgow Air Force Base and road construction work), before settling on a little farm on the river bottom near Wolf Point, Mt. They raised 7 children and had a large part in the raising of their grandchildren and greats, who enjoyed Grandmas good cooking and cookies, and side-by-side rides with Grandpa.
Bernard, Janice and the kids worked long hard hours building their farm/ranch. During these 57 years at the farm, they raised chickens, pigs, cows, hay, oats, barley and wheat.
The farm evolved from a little house with no indoor plumbing down a little dirt trail in the brush to a “good” gravel road that welcomed family, friends and strangers who shortly became friends.
When Bernard wasn’t working from sun up till sun down he loved to play cards, camp, fish, take airplane rides and take road trips with his kids.
Bernard was proceeded in death by his parents, Bruce and Dora Long; his Mother and Father-in-Law, Paul and Hazel Dassonville; Brothers, Wes Long (Ruth), Howard Long, and Leonard Long (Winifred); Sister Helen Long Mueller (Don); Brother-in-Law Everall Holman; Brother-in-Laws Lloyd Dassonville (Lois), and Hank Dassonville (Pat); Sister-in-Laws Peggy Vanderhoff (Verl), and Phyllis Berge (Dick); and his precious Son, Michael Ray Long.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Janice Long, his children, Doug Long (Therese), Doreen Long Sansaver (Noel), Kathy Rutherford (Ross), Steven Long, Terri Sansaver (Shawn), David Long (Teresa), Daughter-in-Law Brenda Henry, Sisters Marion Holman and Donelda Peterson (Bob), Brother Gene Long, Brother-in-Law Curtis Dassonville (Karen) and Sister-in-Law Delores Long. He is also survived by 14 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 30 nieces and nephews.
Condolences for the family may be left using the form below.