Owen Bush Obituary

Owen Bush was born on March 7, 1930, and went to be with our Lord on March 4, 2022. Owen was born and raised in Butte, Montana, and graduated from Butte High School in 1948. He went on to graduate from the University of Montana with a degree in business, and subsequently began his career at Metals Bank. For nearly 30 years, Owen became a fixture in the community as he worked closely with a number of businesses in Butte. Not only was Owen an extremely hard worker, but his compassion and desire to help the residents of Butte and the surrounding area was evident to all. While Owen's dedication to Metals Bank was an inspiration to everyone around him (he only missed one day of work his entire career), he had a love for two other things that may have been even greater than the bank…his family and baseball! Before we capture a bit about Owen's family, let's jump right into his love of baseball.

Owen grew up with an obsession for the game, and there was only one position he would play throughout his career…catcher. During his childhood days, he could be found behind the plate at the Cinders Ballpark from morning until nightfall. From the time he first started playing, he was always the catcher. To this day, he could recite the names of the pitchers he caught over the years, including their respective strengths and weaknesses. Pitches they threw, games they won or lost, and strategies they would implement against opposing batters led to some of the greatest stories and memories that will be treasured by his family and friends for years to come. Owen went on to help lead the Butte Legion to a state title in 1949, but this wouldn't be his last stop. He continued to pursue his love of the game and started for South Side in the Copper League (semi-pro league). Once again, Owen led the team to the title and continued to play in the league for a number of years. Not only was he a fixture throughout the local community when it came to baseball, but his ability to call a game from behind the plate also captured the attention of the major league scouts. The Chicago White Sox signed Owen to a contract, which was a true reflection of the talent he had developed over the years. From the sandlot at the Cinders to a major league contract, Owen's dream had come true.

The Korean War came calling, and Owen signed up and was stationed in Japan. He went on to serve his country and was a patriot right up until his final hour. Never did he complain about the war (or anything for that matter), and his willingness to serve in this capacity would only be a sign of even greater things to come. God blessed Owen with amazing gifts, as his combination of patience and compassion was never more obvious than toward the end of his life. This real-life example became an incredible inspiration for his family, as they saw him handle difficult challenges with grace and humility…never losing his composure and always focusing on others rather than himself.

In 1958, Owen married the love of his life, Helen Goodland. They were married for 61 years, and up until Helen's death in 2019, you would never see one without the other. When Owen retired at the age of 54, he and Helen had finally found the time to get out and really enjoy themselves. They became Grizzly season ticket holders and could either be seen attending games in Missoula, or they could be found playing golf at the Highland View. Even though Helen still worked as a nurse in Butte and went on to Herberger's as well, they always found time to visit their grandkids in Colorado. Megan and Mandy became their focal point, and they absolutely loved being grandparents. Right up until the very end, Nana and Papa were vested in the lives of their grandkids and the girls knew it. They were seeing firsthand what the true definition of love entailed, and how lives were being changed in the process.

When Helen began to show symptoms of Alzheimer's, Owen was about to embark upon the most difficult challenge he was ever faced with…that of a caregiver for a loved one suffering from the pursuit of this dreadful disease. Without a doubt, his greatest days were still ahead of him. As this relentless enemy continued to grip hold of Helen's memory, Owen became the rock that would keep everything in place. He took care of Helen for years at home prior to her admittance into The Springs Memory Care Center, and he continued to visit her every day right up until her death. As impactful as Owen's life was up to this point, this was undoubtedly his finest hour. Watching Owen care for Helen throughout this debilitating process could only be described as a perfect example of what Jesus would do during a time like this…and how love can, in fact, conquer all.

Owen is survived by his son, Bob (Karen), his granddaughters, Megan (RJ) and Mandy (Alex), his brother, Russ (Ann), numerous nieces and nephews, and the Butte community that he adored right up until the time of his death. He was preceded in death by his wife (Helen), his parents (Harold and Ethel), his mother-in-law (Emma), and his sister-in-law (Jan).

We would like to thank the entire staff at The Springs in Butte. Their love for Owen, and for Helen as well, provided our family with an incredible peace of mind during a very difficult time. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either Aldersgate Church in Butte ( www.aldersgatebutte.org ) or Mariah's Challenge ( https://mariahschallenge.com ). Both options are amazing ministries designed to change lives and transform the community. We will be celebrating Owen's life on Friday, March 11, 2022, at 11:00 a.m. at the Aldersgate Church in Butte (1621 Thornton Avenue). Visitation will begin at 10:00 a.m.