David Albert Bear

David Albert Bear 77, of Brainerd, MN, passed away April 23, 2007 in Tucson, Arizona. He was born May 12, 1929 in St. Paul, MN to George and Elise Bear. Dave will be sorely missed by all who knew him, especially his wife of 54 years, Betty and their children, David Jr. (Janice) Bear of Lawton, OK; Elizabeth (Wayne) Yanamura, Portland, OR; Amy Bear (Frank Grant and Justin) of Minneapolis, MN and Kim Hall (sons David Hall and Bobby Hall, husband Jerry Sevick), Oakland, CA. He is also survived by his sisters, Ruth (Douglas) Pflaum of Burnsville, MN and Miriam (Jan) Hansen of Eau Claire, WI. Dave graduated from Murray High School in St. Paul and St. Olaf College. An avid golfer for years, he and Betty worked the summer of 1951 at East Glacier Park Hotel, MT, where he was the golf pro. In 1952 Dave joined the U.S. Army and served throughout the U.S. and overseas in England, Germany, Iceland, Vietnam and Japan. Before retiring in 1974 as a Lt. Colonel, Dave was a public affairs officer in the Philippines during "Operation Homecoming" and traveled to Hanoi for the release of the POW's. After moving 23 times in his army career, Dave retired, and he and Betty returned to Minnesota. Dave was a prolific reader, loved the out-of-doors and gardening, and was a lifelong fisherman. The Bears owned a Christmas tree farm near St. Cloud, MN, for 25 years where Dave built a log home. During the past 17 years the Bears divided their time between their home on Lower South Long Lake and Tucson, AZ. While in Arizona they were active in the Tucson Rose Society, Arizona Pathfinders, Adobe Corral, and the Arizona Historical Society. For the past 11 years they led more than 25 tours to various parts of the southwest. There will be a celebration of Dave's life at the family home near Brainerd, MN on Friday, June 29th at 11:00 a.m. Burial will be at Camp Ripley Cemetery. Plans are pending for a memorial service for Dave in the courtyard at AHS in the fall. Memorials are preferred to the Arizona Historical Society, Arizona Pathfinders or Casa de la Luz Hospice.