Pat Edward Bears

Pat E. Bears was born March 18, 1938 in White Sulphur Springs, MT to Sam and Arta (Culler) Bears. He passed away on August 4, 2026 at home in Polson, MT, his wife Judie and sons Dean and Tom by his side.

Pat grew up in White Sulphur Springs, MT; he later moved to Columbia Falls, MT where he graduated from high school in 1956. After graduation, Pat returned to White Sulphur Springs to work on ranches and at the sawmill. Here he met Terry Dove. Pat and Terry were married in Butte, MT in 1963, and together had two sons, Dean and Tom Bears. The two later divorced but remained lifelong friends.

Pat’s career as a salesman and business executive led him in many directions from soft drinks to pharmaceuticals to water to meat snacks. He loved to sell! He was an incredible salesman because he knew what he sold and enjoyed working with customers.

Pat married Judie Grant in 1999 in Barber, MT. Pat and Judie spent the last 27 years together traveling, going on cruises, wintering in Bullhead City, AZ and spending time with friends and family. Pat loved and treated Judie’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as his own.

Pat grew up in a large family, his closest life-long companions were his cousins. When he was young, his Grandma Bears had a family celebration nearly every month, solidifying those relationships and exposing him to great old-timer stories. He told his sons he was ten or eleven years old before he realized he could have friends he wasn’t related to.

And he had many friends! People were drawn to him. He visited with and stayed in touch with several of them, often over a boardgame or cards.

Pat had several pastimes, but probably his greatest was hunting. He began hunting with his Grandpa Bears when he was young and shared his passion with friends, his sons and grandchildren in his later years. He used to skip school to hunt elk, mule deer, ducks or geese.

Pat was born a storyteller. He remembered names, dates, places and adventures from decades ago and his attention to every detail brought his audience right into the story. His life experiences and hobbies riding snowmobiles, playing pool, watching rodeo and the myriad books he read gave him great story material.

As Pat prepared for retirement, he taught himself woodworking. One of his first projects was an 8-sided birdhouse. When he got stuck, he asked for advice but refused to give up until each project was complete. His last projects were toy ducks for his great-grandchildren.

Pat is survived by his wife Judie Grant, sons and daughters: Dean (Robyn) Bears, Tom (Stacy) Bears, Spencer (Glenda) MacDonald, Heather MacDonald, Effie (Carson) Roma, Hugh (Brandi) MacDonald; brother Mike (Natalie) Bears; sisters Bonnie (Lee) Behrend and Kathy Walter; niece Tamra Bears; nephew Wade Behrend; 14 grandchildren: Aaron Bears, Justin Bears, Tyler Bears, Franki Bears, Billy Bears, Andrew Ostrander, Ryan Ostrander, Marcus Poelman, Blake MacDonald, Brock MacDonald, Brooklyn MacDonald, Boston MacDonald, Ave’ McDonald and Carrick Roma; 8 1/2 great-grandchildren: Kiara (Kiki) Bears, Callan Bears (and one on the way), Remingtin Bradshaw, McKinley Ostrander, Kalvin Ostrander, Eloise Ostrander, Aspen Ostrander and Mylah MacDonald.

Pat was preceded in death by his dad and stepmom Sam and Donna Bears, his mom and stepdad Arta and Eugene Walter and his brother Tim Bears. 

A vigil will be held on Monday, August 10, 2026, at The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory at 6:00 pm. A funeral mass will be held on Tuesday, August 11th at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers the family would like donations to be made to Shodair Children's Hospital at P.O. Box 5045, Helena, MT 59604.