BARRY BRET WELCH
White Sulphur Springs – Barry Bret Welch, 43, died of natural causes in White Sulphur Springs, Montana, on Thursday, October 19, 2017. Barry, youngest of twelve siblings, was born in 1974, in Malta, Mt., to Charles E. and Barbara Welch.
Barry graduated from elementary school at St Mary’s Catholic school in Malta. He attended one year at Malta High School before he and and his parents moved to White Sulphur Springs in 1990. Immediately upon graduation from White Sulphur Springs High School Barry joined the U.S. Army. Always fascinated with video games and electronics, he rapidly advanced in the Stinger Missile program and was tapped to test fire a one-man shoulder-held Stinger missile. Toward the end of his enlistment, Barry was deployed to Cuba to help guard the military base at Guantanamo Bay, overseeing the incarceration of Cuban boat people awaiting processing and transfer to the United States or return to Cuba proper. Upon His father’s death the Army brought Barry back to the States where he completed his army commitment.
Barry married Tara Barth of White Sulphur Springs, in Bozeman, Montana. They had two daughters, Alexis (Lexie) now sixteen and Lauren, now eleven. The couple started a pizza franchise in Manhattan and Three Forks. Later, after they divorced, Barry left the pizza business to pursue his passion: off road and all-terrain vehicles. He started and owned Performance Motor Sports in Three Forks, which expanded to include snowmobiles, boats, and motorcycles, as well as ATVs.
In 2012, Barry was diagnosed with lymphoma. After six months of chemotherapy, he was declared cancer free, but later his health continued to decline. In 2017, he moved back to White Sulphur Springs, and resided at Conestoga Campground RV Park for several months until his death.
Barry is survived by his mother Barbara (Jim) Richard of White Sulphur Springs, her children: Martin Jansen, Randy Jansen, Chuck Welch, and Tamie Eklund, and children of Charles and Dorothy Welch: Danny Welch, Bonnie Hedrick, Kaye Davis, Janet Ruhkamp, Jerry Welch, and Ronnie Welch, aunt Helen Mae Depuydt, of Saco, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Barry was preceded in death by his father Charles, and a sister Rita and her baby, who were killed in a car wreck by a drunk driver.
A memorial service with military honors will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 28, at the Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 103 E. Garfield St. in White Sulphur Springs. A reception will follow at the Meagher County Community Center, 101 1st Ave. SE. In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Barry are suggested to the Meagher County Community Center, 101 1st Ave. SE, White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645. Cremation has taken place. Please visit below to offer the family a condolence or to share a memory of Barry.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday October 28, 2017
Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
103 E. Garfield St.
White Sulphur Springs, Montana 59645
Reception
Following the service
Saturday October 28, 2017
Meagher County Senior Center
101 1st Ave. SE
White Sulphur Springs, Montana 59645
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
11:00 a.m.
Saturday October 28, 2017
Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
103 E. Garfield St.
White Sulphur Springs, Montana 59645
Reception
Following the service
Saturday October 28, 2017
Meagher County Senior Center
101 1st Ave. SE
White Sulphur Springs, Montana 59645
Share
Rick and Jeanne Gilman says
Barbara, Jim, Tara and girls,
We are so saddened by Barry’s passing. We understand his fight all to well. May he rest in comfort and peace.
Rick and Jeanne Gilman
Linda Graveley Frisbie says
So sorry to hear of Barry’s passing, he was so young. May he rest in peace and my deepest sympathy to his Mother, Jim, Tara and his girls. Linda Frisbie
Ryan Solyst says
Barry- You will be missed….Rest in peace. Keep climbing those big deep snowy chutes in Heaven…..sleep well my friend.
Ron and Jo Carter says
To Barbara, Jim, Tara and girls. Ron and I are so sorry for your loss. Please know our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Ron and Jo Carter says
To Barbara, Jim, Tara and girls. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Michael Joseph McCarthy says
15 avaway,heck of a great guy great friend and neighbor. The neighborhood respected him always always ready to help some one my condolences to family and friends ,will be missed
Susan Green says
I was saddened to hear this news. Many fond memories of him from our younger years & the summers he would come back to Malta & stay with Tammy. Great guy!! You’re all in my thoughts & prayers!! He will be missed.
Love, Peanut
Colleen M.Johnson says
I extend my deepest heartfelt sympathy to family and close friends. I am a cousin to Barry, with a significant age difference, I remember him as a little boy and so enjoyed being his face book friend this past few years. He had a great sense of humor and we shared political beliefs. Rest in peace, sweet boy. Colleen DePuydt Johnson