John Buck

John David Buck, born in South Bend, Indiana on September 16, 1935, peacefully passed away on November 25, 2024 in Billings, Montana surrounded by family.

John was the loving husband of 59 years to Alvina Buck, whom he met and married in Chicago, Illinois. Together John and Alvina were blessed with two children: daughter Mary (husband Ken), and a son David (wife Kimberly) who graced him with one grandchild, Moira. John was a devoted husband and father who worked hard to provide for his family.

John grew up in Indiana and graduated from the Naval Academy in 1958. He joined Western Electric as an engineer and spent 33 years with the company, transferring from Chicago to Shreveport, LA. After his retirement, John and Alvina moved to Billings to be closer to their extended family.

John's passions included the study of history with a focus on the military, especially World War Two. He loved learning about the events that shaped our world, and sharing these findings with his friends and family. His library, nearing 1000 volumes, was donated to the Billings Public Library so that others could learn and share his love of history.

John had an exceptional memory and could be counted on to entertain gatherings with stories of the places around the world he'd visited, the great meals he enjoyed, and the friends or family he'd shared the experiences with. From White Sox doubleheaders with his brothers during his Chicago childhood days, to the suspiciously cheap beers on Naval Academy tours, to family road trips with Alvina, Mary, and David. And when there was a song related to the time and place of his stories, John would be sure to sing a few bars.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Courter and Frances, and his brothers Bud and Chuck.

In lieu of flowers, John would have requested that you root for Navy to beat Army — and contribute to a charity that supports veterans.

Funeral Service Tuesday, December 3, 2024 at 10 am at Holy Cross Cemetery in Billings, Montana.