Bernard 'Bernie' Melville Lionberger Jr., 74

Bernard “Bernie” Melville Lionberger Jr. took his last trail ride on Nov. 18, 2016, in the late evening, surrounded by his family at home. Bernie was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in early September. He was fighting to make his 75th birthday, which was later this month.

Bernie was born Nov. 28, 1941, in Fort Worth, Texas, to Bernard Melville and Edna Marguerite Lionberger. He started working summers for the Forest Service in North Idaho when he was 19, and continued while pursuing his education. He graduated from Stephen F. Austin University and started teaching high school aviation at Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas. His first marriage was to Carole Vasbinder in 1964, and was blessed with two children, Anne and Rob. Throughout this time, Bernie continued to drive or fly one of his airplanes to North Idaho, working in the forests he truly loved.

In 1980, he was offered a full-time position as aviation officer with the Forest Service in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, which was a dream come true. He met Sherri Wilson while working on a fire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and they married in 1985. They were blessed with twin daughters, Erin and Tara.

Bernie’s passion for aviation began in his 20s and he made a career out of teaching or managing aircraft. His hobbies were numerous; he had a ham radio license since age 15, he was an avid photographer, and he loved playing his guitar. He and Sherri traded in their plane for horses and spent all of their free time together riding and volunteering with the Back Country Horsemen groups in Idaho and Montana. Bernie had a love of camping, hiking and riding to “see what is around the next corner, or over the next rise,” which he passed down to all of his children and grandchildren.

Bernie’s sense of humor was legendary. Everyone who knew Bernie knew of his wicked sense of humor, which was with him until the very end. He was also the Dallas Cowboys’ most loyal fan. He subscribed to the Dallas Cowboy weekly for decades and rarely missed a game. The Sunday before he passed was spent watching the Cowboys defeat the Steelers in a dramatic fashion. Dallas Cowboys’ coach Jason Garrett sent a signed football and message of encouragement to Bernie that he treasured until the end. Dallas’ stellar season gave Bernie much joy during his battle with cancer.

Bernie is survived by his wife, Sherri; daughter Anne (Giuseppe) Carraturo; son Rob (Rebecca) Lionberger; daughter Tara; daughter Erin (Troy) Clark; and grandchildren Alessandro and Isabella Carraturo, and Dylan and Jesse Lionberger. He is also survived by his beloved dog, Buddy. He was preceded in death by his father, mother and infant brother Alan.

A reception to celebrate Bernie will be held from 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2016, at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave., Helena, Mont. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26, 2016, at Yates Funeral Home, 744 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Cremation has taken place and his ashes will be scattered at a later date.

If you so wish, memorials may be made to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, P.O. Box 190688, Hungry Horse, MT 59919 (www.bmwf.org).

Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Bernie.