Curtis Bevolden
March 17, 1955 - December 25, 2023
Obituary
Curtis Lyle Bevolden died on Christmas night, December 25, 2023. A man of courage, he fought cancer for over eight and a half years. After such a journey he is now celebrating the goodness of God, Home with Jesus.
Born in Havre, Montana, in a snowstorm on March 17, 1955, the announcement came back to the ranch: “Now there is an ‘Irish' Norwegian!” This new baby son was cherished by his parents Leroy and Aileen Bevolden and older half-sisters, Beverly and DeeDee. Beverly was 15 when Curtis was born and DeeDee was 13, so he received lots of good ‘mothering!'
Schooling included elementary years in Harlem, Montana, with his fourth-grade year in Glasgow with older sister Beverly and Sam and their sons. He spent his high school years at Harlem High School, graduating in 1973; he attended his junior year at Highwood High School where he learned leadership skills on the sports teams. One of his favorite memories included being named, “All Conference,” as a defensive end on the Harlem Wildcats football team; that honor accompanied his role as team captain his senior year. College years included attending Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, 1973-1975, radio broadcasting school in St. Paul, Minnesota, and Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, where he graduated in 1978. After a two-year break as a radio announcer in Bozeman, Montana, from 1981-1983, Curtis graduated from the University of Montana Law School in 1984. He was admitted to the Montana Bar Association in 1984.
Curtis married Mary Ann Sadar on February 1, 1980, and was blessed with twins, daughter Kristin and son Evan; they are the delights of his life! That cherishing spilled over in abundance with his three granddaughters, Nora, Ava, and Niomi.
In 1984 he started his law career as a clerk at the Montana Supreme Court, setting in motion a 30-year career as a Montana attorney. This profession even cost him the shedding of blood in the courtroom during one trial when an angry defendant did not like the guilty verdict and lunged at prosecutor Curtis with a heavy glass water pitcher, both tumbling to the floor with Curtis' blood spraying over the jurors who were sitting nearby. From bucking bales and driving fence posts to years in the courtroom, he made life-giving contributions that benefited those he served. However, he was heard to say on many occasions that his favorite job was driving school bus! In his nearly nine year retirement job he drove for First Student, serving kids at Boulder, Ben Steele, and Ponderosa schools. The enjoyment went both ways because his bus students loved him.
Curtis married the love of his life, Pamie Todd on November 29, 2002; they made the most of their 21 years together enjoying many a campfire while in the great outdoors, traveling in the states and overseas and many competitive games of backgammon! But their most enduring bond was forged over encouraging each other in their love for Jesus.
Curtis was predeceased by his parents, Leroy and Aileen Bevolden, and half-sister DeeDee Waddell. He is survived by his wife Pamie and her family; daughter Kristin (Caleb) Lande and granddaughters Nora and Ava; son Evan (Andrea) and granddaughter Niomi; sister Beverly (Sam) Kirkaldie and their three sons and their families, Kevin (Kendra), Kraig (Denise), Kyle (Chelsea); brother-in-law, Bill Waddell, and nieces Dawn (Bruce) Tecklenberg and Blaine Waddell and family. Our list of those who loved him dearly must include precious puppy Soot who brought hours of fun and love into his “daddy's” life.
Curtis also leaves in his wake countless friends and colleagues whose lives were enriched by his ever-ready humor, keen insights on life, and his strong sureness of Jesus.
His memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 10:30 am at Faith Chapel (Broadwater Entrance) in Billings, Montana. A graveside service will be held at a later date.