Date of Birth:
Monday, July 8, 1946
Date of Death:
Friday, October 24, 2025
Age:
79 years old

Bruce Duncan Morey

Bruce Duncan Morey

7/8/1946 – 10/24/2025

Bruce was born in Williston, North Dakota to Gilbert A. and June Morey.  At the time, his family was living in Culbertson, Montana, but the closest hospital was in Williston, so his mother  had to take the train to Williston where he was born. Bruce’s father was a public school music teacher in small, rural towns of North Dakota – New Rockford, Conrad, MT, Hankinson, Bottineau, Wimbledon, Regent and MInnewaukon. Bruce graduated from MInnewaukon High School in 1964, and graduated from the University of North Dakota with a B.S. degree in Biology. From 1964-1970, he worked for the U.S. Forest Service for 2 fire seasons on the Hungry Horse Hotshot crew, and for 4 fire seasons as a Smokejumper based out of Missoula, MT, Fairbanks, Alaska, and West Yellowstone, MT.  Bruce was drafted into the U.S. Army, serving in Germany 1970-1973. It was there that he met the love of his life, Martha. They were married February 16, 1975 in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

They moved to Billings, MT in 1976, and opened The Animal Farm pet store in Rimrock Mall. Their home at 217 Lewis Ave was soon home to 2 children, Monica (1981) and Amy (1984), and MANY pets. The pet store closed in 1999, and Bruce got a job doing computer work at Diversified Transfer & Storage. Ten years later, he went to work in the Bakken oil fields as a mud-logger on the drilling rigs. Throughout his life, he worked tirelessly as a volunteer on many projects protecting the natural environment. Most recently, removing old barbed wire fencing from the Pryor Mts, debris from the Yellowstone River, and invasive plants and trees from Billings area parks.

In 2016 he was diagnosed with colon cancer, and in 2018 prostate cancer.  He fought the 2 cancers and side-effects of the treatments with the same strength and tenacity that had seen him through countless challenges throughout his life. Stories of the challenges he faced and the battles he fought against cancer have become legendary within the oncology departments of Billings Clinic and Mayo Clinic.

In 2025, Bruce and Martha made the difficult decision to leave their Montana home and move to Rochester, MN in order to be closer to medical care, and their family.  There Bruce died quietly and peacefully on October 24, 2025, with family at his bedside in St. Mary’s Hospital.

Bruce made friends easily and won the respect and admiration of all who met him. He cared for the natural world as passionately as he loved and cared for his family and those he held close to his heart.  We miss him terribly.

Bruce is survived by Martha, his wife; daughters Monica, of Rochester, MN, and Amy (Theresa) of St. Paul, MN; granddaughter Krey of Rochester, MN; sister Jaci Walsh of Salina, KS; sister-in-law Charlotte of Fargo, ND; brother-in-law Rev Richard Smith of Bismarck, ND; and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was preceded In death by his parents, his sister, Toni Smith, his brother, Mike, and brother-in-law, Gary Walsh.

Memorials made be sent to the National Smokejumpers Assoc. c/o Brent Russ, 516 W Kent, Missoula, MT 59801; or, the Yellowstone River Parks Assoc., P.O. Box 1201, Billings, MT 59103.