Charles Perry "Buck" Moore

1923 - 2013

Charles Perry "Buck" Moore

Charles Perry "Buck" Moore, 90, of Fountain Hills, Arizona, died Tuesday, April 16, 2013, of natural causes at Hospice of the Valley Eckstein Center, Scottsdale, Arizona. Croxford Funeral Home, Great Falls, Montana, has been entrusted with arrangements.

On a warm sunny day in Scottsdale, Arizona, C.P. Buck Moore left us to finish his journey to meet God and reunite with his loving wife Bobbie and beautiful daughter Barbie.

Buck lived an extraordinary life. Born on January 20, 1923 in Butte, Montana to George and Charlotte Moore, he spent his early years on the Moore Ranch in Two Dot, Montana. As he always said, "I grew up fast," doing everything from driving a mule team from the age of 8 to, at the age of 14, helping trail 1,000 head of sheep to the mountains. This early experience and education in the world of agriculture would serve him well later in life when Buck became one of the foremost agricultural experts in the United States.

Upon graduation from Harlowton High School, he enrolled at Montana State College. A member of "The Greatest Generation", he left school and joined the Air Force. It was during the last days of his flight training that he met "The cutest little thing he had ever seen", his bride to be, Roberta Carr.

After a whirlwind two-week romance, they married. A marriage lasted for 57 years. Buck flew a B-17 in the 15th Air Force stationed in Anzio, Italy. He never ceased to amaze his family and friends with his clear recollection of events of that time. One of the most vivid was a mission when as he said, "We were shot up pretty bad," over enemy territory and hearing over his radio. "Don't worry, we got you now" coming from a fighter plane piloted by one of the Tuskegee Airmen. He left the Air Force as a First Lieutenant, having been awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Buck came home, finished his education, and moved his family to Great Falls to go to work for the Montana Extension Service in 1949. From 1950-1952, he worked for the Production Credit Association, then joined the Great Falls National Bank and started his career with Norwest Bank Corp (Norwest now Wells Fargo).

In 1954, he started the Agriculture Business Department for the Great Falls National Bank. In 1969, he left his beloved Montana and moved the family to Aberdeen, South Dakota, becoming president of the 1st National Bank of Aberdeen. In 1976, it was on to Sioux Falls where he became president, then chairman and CEO of Norwest Sioux Falls, and finished his career as chairman of Norwest South Dakota and Montana, retiring in 1989.

Buck's interest in the public service sector stayed with him throughout his entire life. Some of his positions included: Greater South Dakota Chamber of Commerce • President of Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce • President of Sioux Falls United Way • South Dakota Council of Economic Education • Sioux Falls Downtown Development Corp President • State of South Dakota Hall of Fame • South Dakota Investment Council Chairman • Guthrie Theatre Minneapolis Board • University of South Dakota School of Business Advisory Board • Montana Board of Regents Chairman • President of the Montana State Fair Board • Minneapolis Grain Exchange Board Member • South Dakota Symphony Board • Great Falls Chamber of Commerce, Chairman of Agriculture Committee • National Alliance for Business, President South Dakota • American Bankers Association, Chairman of the Ag Credit Committee • Chairman of the Great Falls School Board • Board Member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church Great Falls • Board Member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church Sioux Falls • Board Member of the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Farm Corp

After retirement, Buck and Bobbie split time between South Dakota, Montana and Arizona. Buck loved his family; from his wife and children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren to every one of his extended family of uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws too.

His knowledge of their well being and interests in their activities were very important to him and he remembered everything.

His storytelling was legendary. From the time he was two and had his first pony ride to his WWII missions and B-17 crewmembers. Buck never forgot a name and if he met you and then saw you years later, he remembered you and also something about you. His handshake was firm and his interest in a person sincere.

Buck was preceded in death by his daughter Barbie who died in 1965, at the much too young age of 15; and by his warm and caring wife Bobbie, who died in 2001.

Buck is survived by three daughters Deb (Tony Valazza) Moore, Cathy (Doug) Devries, Becky Knott and one son Charlie (Sheila), along with grandchildren Lindsey, JP, Nate, Andy, Matt, Katie, Abby, Hudson and Charlie and seven great-grandchildren.

Interment will be in Highland Cemetery, Great Falls, April 27th, 10:00 am. The family will host memorial celebrations in Great Falls, Saturday, April 27th, 3:00-6:00 pm, Meadowlark Country Club, 300 Country Club Boulevard. Another Celebration of Life in Sioux Falls on June 15th, 2013, time and place to be announced Wednesday, June 12th.

It is suggested that memorials be sent to the Hospice of the Valley Eckstein Center, 9808 N. 95th Street, Scottsdale, Arizona 85258.

Condolences may be shared at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com