Bruce Ryan Toole, husband, father and grandfather, died Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, with family by his side. He was born on June 21, 1924, the youngest son of Marjorie Ross Toole and Howard Toole. He was raised in Missoula, where his grandparents and great-grandparents had settled as early as 1859.
After graduating from Missoula County High School in 1942, Bruce enlisted in the army. He served for several years as a Private First Class in the anti-aircraft artillery in England and Germany until he was injured in Germany.
After the war, Bruce graduated from the University of Montana and the University of Montana Law School in 1949. He practiced law for two years in Missoula and then moved to Billings in September 1951 to join the law firm of Coleman, Jameson and Lamey. That same month, he married Loris (nee Knoll) Toole in Wisconsin. Together, they settled in Billings and enjoyed 54 years of a full and happy life.
Bruce practiced law for 50 years with the same firm, now known as Crowley, Haughey, Hansen, Toole, and Dietrich. He was proud of his success as a trial lawyer and cherished his colleagues and many friends around the state. He was president of the Yellowstone County Bar Association and the Montana State Bar Association, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the Ninth Circuit Senior Advisory Board. Among his many awards was the Yellowstone Bar Association Area Lifetime Achievement award.
He contributed time and effort to numerous community projects and was pleased with his work to save and restore the Billings railroad depot. Through Bruce's efforts, the Billings Depot Inc. was created. He loved hiking in the mountains, traveling extensively and pursuing his great interest in photography, law and Montana history. The final years of his life were affected and impaired by dementia.
He showed a great interest in the education and happiness of his children and grandchildren. Bruce shared his love of reading and history with his family and enjoyed numerous outings with them in the mountains. He would always partake in the curiosity of his grandchildren, whether it was through trips to Yellowstone Park or extending the imaginations of the grandchildren during the Christmas season.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, John and K. Ross Toole. He is survived by his wife, Loris Toole; a daughter, Marjorie (and Angus) Fulton; and sons, Ryan Toole and Allan (and Ann) Toole, and eight grandchildren.
The family thanks the staff at Billings Health and Rehabilitation for their exceptional care. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Billings YMCA, the Billings Depot Inc., or a charity of one's choice.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 310 N. 27th St., Billings.
Michelotti-Sawyers is in charge of arrangements.
The Billings Gazette - September 18, 2005
After graduating from Missoula County High School in 1942, Bruce enlisted in the army. He served for several years as a Private First Class in the anti-aircraft artillery in England and Germany until he was injured in Germany.
After the war, Bruce graduated from the University of Montana and the University of Montana Law School in 1949. He practiced law for two years in Missoula and then moved to Billings in September 1951 to join the law firm of Coleman, Jameson and Lamey. That same month, he married Loris (nee Knoll) Toole in Wisconsin. Together, they settled in Billings and enjoyed 54 years of a full and happy life.
Bruce practiced law for 50 years with the same firm, now known as Crowley, Haughey, Hansen, Toole, and Dietrich. He was proud of his success as a trial lawyer and cherished his colleagues and many friends around the state. He was president of the Yellowstone County Bar Association and the Montana State Bar Association, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the Ninth Circuit Senior Advisory Board. Among his many awards was the Yellowstone Bar Association Area Lifetime Achievement award.
He contributed time and effort to numerous community projects and was pleased with his work to save and restore the Billings railroad depot. Through Bruce's efforts, the Billings Depot Inc. was created. He loved hiking in the mountains, traveling extensively and pursuing his great interest in photography, law and Montana history. The final years of his life were affected and impaired by dementia.
He showed a great interest in the education and happiness of his children and grandchildren. Bruce shared his love of reading and history with his family and enjoyed numerous outings with them in the mountains. He would always partake in the curiosity of his grandchildren, whether it was through trips to Yellowstone Park or extending the imaginations of the grandchildren during the Christmas season.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, John and K. Ross Toole. He is survived by his wife, Loris Toole; a daughter, Marjorie (and Angus) Fulton; and sons, Ryan Toole and Allan (and Ann) Toole, and eight grandchildren.
The family thanks the staff at Billings Health and Rehabilitation for their exceptional care. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Billings YMCA, the Billings Depot Inc., or a charity of one's choice.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 310 N. 27th St., Billings.
Michelotti-Sawyers is in charge of arrangements.
The Billings Gazette - September 18, 2005
Bruce Ryan Toole, husband, father and grandfather, died Friday, Sept. 16, 2005, with family by his side. He was born on June 21, 1924, the youngest son of Marjorie Ross Toole and Howard Toole. He was raised in Missoula, where his grandparents and great-grandparents had settled as early as 1859.
After graduating from Missoula County High School in 1942, Bruce enlisted in the army. He served for several years as a Private First Class in the anti-aircraft artillery in England and Germany until he was injured in Germany.
After the war, Bruce graduated from the University of Montana and the University of Montana Law School in 1949. He practiced law for two years in Missoula and then moved to Billings in September 1951 to join the law firm of Coleman, Jameson and Lamey. That same month, he married Loris (nee Knoll) Toole in Wisconsin. Together, they settled in Billings and enjoyed 54 years of a full and happy life.
Bruce practiced law for 50 years with the same firm, now known as Crowley, Haughey, Hansen, Toole, and Dietrich. He was proud of his success as a trial lawyer and cherished his colleagues and many friends around the state. He was president of the Yellowstone County Bar Association and the Montana State Bar Association, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the Ninth Circuit Senior Advisory Board. Among his many awards was the Yellowstone Bar Association Area Lifetime Achievement award.
He contributed time and effort to numerous community projects and was pleased with his work to save and restore the Billings railroad depot. Through Bruce's efforts, the Billings Depot Inc. was created. He loved hiking in the mountains, traveling extensively and pursuing his great interest in photography, law and Montana history. The final years of his life were affected and impaired by dementia.
He showed a great interest in the education and happiness of his children and grandchildren. Bruce shared his love of reading and history with his family and enjoyed numerous outings with them in the mountains. He would always partake in the curiosity of his grandchildren, whether it was through trips to Yellowstone Park or extending the imaginations of the grandchildren during the Christmas season.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, John and K. Ross Toole. He is survived by his wife, Loris Toole; a daughter, Marjorie (and Angus) Fulton; and sons, Ryan Toole and Allan (and Ann) Toole, and eight grandchildren.
The family thanks the staff at Billings Health and Rehabilitation for their exceptional care. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Billings YMCA, the Billings Depot Inc., or a charity of one's choice.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 310 N. 27th St., Billings.
Michelotti-Sawyers is in charge of arrangements.
The Billings Gazette - September 18, 2005
After graduating from Missoula County High School in 1942, Bruce enlisted in the army. He served for several years as a Private First Class in the anti-aircraft artillery in England and Germany until he was injured in Germany.
After the war, Bruce graduated from the University of Montana and the University of Montana Law School in 1949. He practiced law for two years in Missoula and then moved to Billings in September 1951 to join the law firm of Coleman, Jameson and Lamey. That same month, he married Loris (nee Knoll) Toole in Wisconsin. Together, they settled in Billings and enjoyed 54 years of a full and happy life.
Bruce practiced law for 50 years with the same firm, now known as Crowley, Haughey, Hansen, Toole, and Dietrich. He was proud of his success as a trial lawyer and cherished his colleagues and many friends around the state. He was president of the Yellowstone County Bar Association and the Montana State Bar Association, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and a member of the Ninth Circuit Senior Advisory Board. Among his many awards was the Yellowstone Bar Association Area Lifetime Achievement award.
He contributed time and effort to numerous community projects and was pleased with his work to save and restore the Billings railroad depot. Through Bruce's efforts, the Billings Depot Inc. was created. He loved hiking in the mountains, traveling extensively and pursuing his great interest in photography, law and Montana history. The final years of his life were affected and impaired by dementia.
He showed a great interest in the education and happiness of his children and grandchildren. Bruce shared his love of reading and history with his family and enjoyed numerous outings with them in the mountains. He would always partake in the curiosity of his grandchildren, whether it was through trips to Yellowstone Park or extending the imaginations of the grandchildren during the Christmas season.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers, John and K. Ross Toole. He is survived by his wife, Loris Toole; a daughter, Marjorie (and Angus) Fulton; and sons, Ryan Toole and Allan (and Ann) Toole, and eight grandchildren.
The family thanks the staff at Billings Health and Rehabilitation for their exceptional care. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Billings YMCA, the Billings Depot Inc., or a charity of one's choice.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 21, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, 310 N. 27th St., Billings.
Michelotti-Sawyers is in charge of arrangements.
The Billings Gazette - September 18, 2005
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