John F. Bouma

John Frank Bouma, 79, of Fairfield passed Saturday, November 14, 2020 at his home with his loving family by his side.

John was born in Choteau on November 24, 1940 to Louie and Nina (Kaptein) Bouma.  He was raised on the family farm and attended a country school nearby in Farmington, MT.  On January 25, 1961 he married Edith Hollo.

Their first home was in Lincoln where he worked as a logger.  They later moved to Choteau for a short time before buying a farm in Fairfield, where he raised his family.  Shortly after moving to Fairfield, he and Edith suffered the heartbreaking loss of their 7-year-old son, Stanley, in a drowning accident.

He patiently taught his children nearly every aspect of farming, from seeding to irrigating to harvesting/haying.   His patience was unfailing.

He enjoyed spending time with his children traveling with their camper or spending time at their family cabin in the mountains.

In 1995 John and Edith sold their farm and moved to Sheboygan, WI.  He purchased a truck and hauled various commodities to and from the eastern and southern states.  They lived in Wisconsin for10 years before moving back to their Montana roots, raising hay on his hobby farm.

John was a deacon, elder and Sunday school teacher for over 35 years.  He frequently spoke to his children and grandchildren, encouraging them to seek first the Kingdom of God.

John’s greatest accomplishment in life was fostering an unwavering, unyielding bond of love among his wife, children, and grandchildren.  This loving bond in his family was his greatest source of earthly joy.

John is survived by his loving and faithful wife of nearly 60 years, Edith; children, Les and Ginger of Anchorage, Loralee and Bryan Schwanke of Lincoln; Raylene and Mark Casson of Chattanooga, TN; Janelle and Scott Teunissen, of Elkhart Lake, WI; Judy and Glenn Rosenbaum of Clancy, MT; Doug and Kelcy  of Fairfield, and Mauricio Morales of Jackson, WI; grandchildren, Jonathan and Leanna Bouma of  Alaska, Jordan, Tyler, Adriana, Calvin Morales, Michaela, Bethany, Kaitlyn and Abigail Teunsisen of Wisconsin, Elliana and Joelle Casson of Tennessee, Elyssa (Morales) Grantham, of AB, Cody, Nathan, Dylan, Kaela Rosenbaum, Kolter, Kaylee, Kail, Kash and Kinley Bouma of Montana; 7 great grandchildren; siblings, Ralph (Cornelia) Bouma, Harold (Johanna) Bouma, Jenny (John) Luteyn, Fran (Larry)  Teunissen, and Henrietta Vandelegemaat; and sister-in-law, Madalyn Bouma. He was preceded in death by his parents,  Louie and Nina Bouma; his son, Stanley Ray; and siblings and in-laws, Peter (Nellie) Bouma, Henry (Paula) Bouma,  Ann (Hugh) Greyn, Herman Bouma Andrew (Marie) Bouma, Francis Bouma, and Wulfert Vandelegemaat.

A funeral service for John will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, November 19, at Old Paths Baptist Church, Choteau.