Francis Guy “Bub” Bilyeu

Lilah Crowe2019-11-26T12:24:43-06:00

Name: Francis "Bub" Guy Bilyeu
Location of Birth: Crosby, Minnesota
Date of Birth: April 13, 1921
Date of Death: April 18, 2004 (83 years old)
Parents: Guy Bilyeu and Nina (Hoving) Bilyeu
High School and Class: 1939 - Grand Rapids High School, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
College:
Highest Rank: MSG (Master Sergeant)
Branch: Army
Other Branch:
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Place of Discharge:
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Military Highlights:
Francis was shipped overseas in 1943 and served in the European Theater.

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Francis was raised in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and Wisconsin. On December 20, 1941, he married Margaret "Margie" Mae McColley. When he returned in 1946, he built homes in Grand Rapids and Cohasset, Minnesota on Jay Gould Lake. He worked at Johnson-Linder Pontiac and was master mechanic in the West Hill and Tioga mines on the Iron Range of Minnesota. In 1963, the couple moved their family to Montana and invested in and worked at Lolo Hot Springs Resort for the first few years and then moved to Missoula. Francis worked many years at Champion International and retired as supervisor of Vehicular Maintenance for the Rocky Mountain Region. The couple moved to the Bitterroot River, Stevensville, Montana and then moved back to Missoula.

In his retirement years, Francis did wood crafting, gardening, hunting, and fishing.

Francis died from complications after hip surgery. He is survived by three daughters, Sharon, Linda "Goldie" (John) Dobak, and Carol Spooner; one son, Robert (Susie); sister, Norma Bilyeu; nine grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife Margie on May 27, 2003; son-in-law John Spooner; sister, Evelyn Ruth "Ruthie" Jondreau and brother-in-law Laurence "Frenchie" Jondreau.

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