William Scott (Bill) Dunbar passed away peacefully on April 24, 2026, at age 93 in Helena, Montana, just 4 days shy of his 94th birthday. He was surrounded by his loving family while he slipped peacefully across the divide during last rites.
Bill was born April 28, 1932, in Portland, Oregon to Murray and Isabella Dunbar. He attended Portland public schools, then Portland State and Oregon State Universities. His college summer road surveying job took him to Burns, Oregon, where he met Helen McDonnell. Their wedding was June 4, 1954, in Burns, days after Bill graduated with a Civil Engineering Degree. A honeymoon on the Oregon coast followed.
Bill was hired by the Federal Highway Administration after college. They welcomed their first three children in Portland (Maureen, Susan and Mary). He was a devoted father, with family always being his focus. Bill built their first home in Portland. Shortly after it was completed, he was offered a position in Helena, Montana, setting a new trajectory.
The family settled on Highland Street in 1961 in Helena. Two more children joined the clan (Jim and Patty). Bill traveled a fair bit for his highway work as the interstate system in Montana took shape. There were always hikes, camping trips and winter adventures to fill the weekends.
Bill leveraged his engineering background throughout his life. He helped build homes and cabins for numerous family members. As the first in his family to graduate from college, he encouraged all to further their education; helping his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren with college costs.
Bill was a runner, participating in the Governor’s Cup race and Mt Helena run for many years. Tennis kept him fit and active into his 80s.
2024 brought great sadness with the passing of son Jim then of Helen. Bill’s faith pulled him through such times. He prayed daily for Helen, son Jim, great grandson Anthony, then the pope, the priests, the bishops and his family.
Bill and Helen’s marriage of 70 years matched two like-minded souls. Love one another was the central tenet. He will be sorely missed.
He is preceded in death by great grandson Anthony Bjerke Erickson, son Jim Dunbar, and wife Helen Dunbar. He is survived by daughters Maureen Cole (Larry), Susan Bjerke (Ardine), Mary Rogers (Brad), Patty Rowsey (Russ), daughter-in-law Jackie Dunbar, grandchildren Hailey Cole (Quinn McCauley), Andrea McKeever (David), Leslie Poling (Brad), Jessica Bjerke-Owens (David Owens), Meaghan Bjerke (Paul Simonich), Maureen Bjerke, Caleb Rogers (Rachel), Lucas Rogers (Danielle Woolen), Lindsay Rogers (Robby Larkin), Emily Lewis (Ty), Ross Rowsey (Jenny), Rylan Rowsey, great grandchildren Payton McKeever, Addison McKeever, Joseph Poling, Kylie Poling, Alex Owens, Isabella Owens, Madelyn Simonich, Marshall Simonich, William Rogers, Claire Dunbar Rogers, Joel Rogers, Felix Rogers, Roxanne Rowsey, Ryder Rowsey, brother Kenny Dunbar and several nieces and a nephew.
Thank you to Touchmark and Hospice for the excellent care and support and to Father Christopher Lebsock for the ministry of last rites which gave him the peace to slip away.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Peter’s Hospice or Helena Food Share.
A funeral at Saint Mary’s is scheduled for Saturday, May 9th at 11:00. Lunch will be served following the service in the Social Center at Saint Mary’s.
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Saturday May 9, 2026
St. Mary's Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
Immediately following the Mass
Saturday May 9, 2026
Social Center of the Church
,
Rite of Committal
Approximately 1:30 p.m.
Saturday May 9, 2026
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, Montana
Service Schedule
Funeral Mass
11:00 a.m.
Saturday May 9, 2026
St. Mary's Catholic Community
1700 Missoula Avenue
Helena, Montana 59601
Reception
Immediately following the Mass
Saturday May 9, 2026
Social Center of the Church
,
Rite of Committal
Approximately 1:30 p.m.
Saturday May 9, 2026
Resurrection Cemetery
Helena, Montana
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Patty and Dave says
Bill was such a friendly and welcoming neighbor to everyone on Highland St. Our condolences to the family.
Gary and Margo Anderson says
Enjoyed your holiday get-togethers for years that brought friends and neighbors together. You and Helen were wonderful neighbors and friends. Every year Bill was out filling potholes in the alley….pretty bad this year…..where are you Bill? Our sincere condolences to friends and family.
Dave Dunbar says
I am DNA family of Bill’s, we are 6th cousins 3 times removed. He was a pioneer of DNA testing almost twenty years ago and sat alone in “haplogroup I” until I came along. He was extremely helpful in explaining Nova Scotia family and help me break a paper wall in Scotland moving a couple of hundred years back.
My thoughts are with his family at this time. I would love to hear from whichever of his children, when appropriate, who inherited the genealogy passion.
Yours Aye
Dave Dunbar
Penne and Dennis Curey says
Our condolences to the family.
Zach & Penny says
Zach and I send our love and condolences to the family. While we didn’t have an active relationship with Bill, we have enjoyed Mary, Maureen, and Susan’s families and loved ones over the years. Our hearts and prayers go out to them as they navigate this new path without their father.
Zach & Penny