David Albert Bear

Bear, David Albert Age 77 Of Brainerd Passed away April 23 in Tucson, AZ. He was born May 12, 1929 in St. Paul, MN to George and Elsa 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, 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 from St. Olaf Collage. An avid golfer for years, he and Betty worked the summer of 1950 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. He was an ROTC instructor at St. Johns University from 1961 - 1964. 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 POWs. 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 for 25 years where Dave built a log home. A man of many interests, he was active in Scouting, Brainerd Friends of the Library and the Minnesota Historical Society. During the past 17 years, the Bears divided their time between their home on Lower South Long Lake, Brainerd and Tucson, AZ. There will be a celebration of Dave's life at the family home near Brainerd, MN on Friday, June 29th at 11 AM. Burial will be at Camp Ripley Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to The Minnesota Historical Society or to Friends of the Brainerd Library.