Bertrand J Sawyer, 87 peacefully passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at the Glendive Medical Center in Glendive, MT surrounded by his loving family.

Bertrand J. (Bert) Sawyer was born June 2, 1939 to Elizabeth A. (Mason) Sawyer and John B. Sawyer in Sidney, Montana, joining sisters Helen and Ardelle.

Bert was raised on the family farm 15 miles west of Sidney in the 3 Buttes community. He attended Sidney schools, graduating in 1958. He then went to Whapeton State School of Science, graduating with a 2 year course in auto mechanics and Diesel maintenance.

In 1961 he enlisted in the US Air Force and was stationed in San Antonio, TX. Beloxi, Mi. and Grand Forks, ND, working on Com Nav gear on F101 interceptors and T33 Jets. Was honourably discharged in 1965 after 4 years in the USAF. In 1966 went to work for Control Data Corp. and moved to the Chicago area as a customer engineer working on Data Collection equipment in a foundry & Naval Ordnance plant. In 1969 moved to Minneapolis, St Paul area with Control Data as a technician working on computer & display equipment. In 1973 he moved back to the family farm and lived with his father there until his death in1983. Bert bought the family farm in 1975. He served on the board of Lower Yellowstone REA for 14 ½ years and the Lonsdale United Methodist church board for several years.

In 1980 he went to Australia with his nephew Denny Palmer. In 1982 Bert went back to do a 34 day tour around Australia where he met a lovely widow lady named Marie Outtrim & brought her back to the USA as his bride. Bert & Marie worked at the Mondak Heritage Center for several years. They lived on the family farm until 1995 when she expressed a desire to move to Australia to be near her two adult children and grandchildren, her three sisters & her mother.

After selling the farm and immigrating legally to Australia, living in Bathurst NSW, Bert worked on a landscape tree farm as a worker & sometime foreman. He was a warden for 2 Anglican churches.
In 1999 Bert and Marie climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge and in 2000 they hiked the 55 kilometre, Milford Track on the South Island of New Zealand.

In 2003 his beloved Marie developed lung cancer and passed away. Bert became an Australian citizen on Jan. 26, 2004, which is, Australia day. At this time he acquired dual citizenship with the USA. He continued to work on the tree farm until 2004 when he retired and moved to Cowra NSW to be closer to his stepdaughter and stepson and grandchildren. He continued living in Australia, visiting back to the USA during the American summer until 2013, when he came back to the USA for the 55th class reunion of Sidney High School. Before the reunion he renewed acquaintance with a classmate, Barbara Dashner. They were married in Watertown, S.Dak. attending the reunion together. He took her back to Australia to sell his house and do some touring. On returning to the USA they settled in Glendive, MT. Bert and Barb enjoyed traveling, visiting many places to see the country and visit friends and family.

Bert was preceded in death by his father, John and his mother Elizabeth (Mason), his first wife Marie, sisters, Helen Palmer, and Ardelle Smith, brothers in law, Gene Palmer and Lyle Smith, and one nephew.

Bert is survived by; his loving wife Barbara and 4 nephews, 5 nieces and their families.