Bruce R. Purcell

Bruce R. Purcell, 79, of Livingston, Montana passed away on Wednesday, April 22, 2020.Bruce was born on February 27, 1941 in Carrington, ND the eighth of 11 children born to Earl and Gladys (Foulston) Purcell. In 1952 the family moved to Trout Creek, MT. Then in 1955 they moved to Big Timber, MT, where Bruce attended Sweet Grass High School. After high school Bruce worked for Reed Welding in Big Timber, then oil rigs in Wyoming before enlisting in the U.S. Army on March 31, 1959. Bruce served in Germany between the Korean and Viet Nam wars. He was honorably discharged on April 16, 1962.Bruce was united in marriage to Carolyn Wick on June 4, 1967 at the Big Timber Congregational Church. He and Carolyn lived and worked in Big Timber for nine years prior to moving to Livingston in November of 1978. They had made Livingston their home ever since.Bruce worked at Big Timber Farm Supply, fixing and servicing farm machinery for surrounding farmers and ranchers. He also served in the National Guard in the mid-seventies. In 1977 he went to work as a machinist for Burlington Northern until 1984 when the rail yard pulled out of Livingston. He then worked for Stenberg Construction in Big Timber until taking the position of Fleet Mechanic for the City of Livingston in 1992. He served with the city for 14 years, he retired in 2006.Bruce loved anything mechanical. Over the years many people brought their cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors, you name it, for him to fix. When younger he enjoyed hunting and spending time outdoors. After retirement he loved to spend a day fishing with his buddies or riding his bike around town.Bruce is survived by his wife, Carolyn; 3 daughters, Karen Purcell of Sandpoint, ID and her children, Jared and Tristan; Helen Morris of Logan, MT and her children, Jennifer and Starr; Bridget Purcell of Livingston, and her children, Casey and Mariah; and 2 great-grandchildren; siblings, Norma Neumiller, Donald Purcell and Sheila OConnell; numerous nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.Bruce was preceded in death be his parents, Earl and Gladys; siblings, Rawleigh Purcell, Doris Vraa, Wallace Purcell, Wanda Sands, Clayton Purcell, Rosemary Myrstol and Barbara Strobel.A memorial service will take place at a later date. Franzen-Davis Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with arrangements.