{"id":3272,"date":"2012-12-16T15:22:06","date_gmt":"2012-12-16T22:22:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/?post_type=case&p=3272"},"modified":"2012-12-17T17:04:36","modified_gmt":"2012-12-18T00:04:36","slug":"fritz-o-behr-age-79-of-helena","status":"publish","type":"case","link":"https:\/\/helenafuneralhome.com\/obituaries\/fritz-o-behr-age-79-of-helena\/","title":{"rendered":"Fritz O. Behr age 79, of Helena"},"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","class_list":{"0":"post-3272","1":"case","2":"type-case","3":"status-publish","5":"entry","6":"has-post-thumbnail"},"acf":[],"fields":{"service_status":"public","event_title1":"","event_date1":"","start_time1":"","end_time1":"","location1":"","address1":"","city1":"","state1":"","zipcode1":"","event_title2":"Celebration of His Life","event_date2":"12\/21\/2012","start_time2":"11:00 a.m.","end_time2":"","location2":"St Paul's United Methodist Church","address2":"512 Logan Street","city2":"Helena","state2":"Montana","zipcode2":"59601","event_title3":"","event_date3":"","start_time3":"","end_time3":"","location3":"St Paul's United Methodist Church","address3":"512 Logan Street","city3":"Helena","state3":"Montana","zipcode3":"59601","event_title4":"Inurnment","event_date4":"","start_time4":"","end_time4":"","location4":"Sunset Memorial Gardens","address4":"7100 North Montana Avenue","city4":"Helena","state4":"Montana","zipcode4":"59602","event_title5":"","event_date5":"","start_time5":"","end_time5":"","location5":"","address5":"","city5":"","state5":"","zipcode5":"","first_name":"Fritz","middle_name":"Otto","last_name":"Behr","date_born":"02\/05\/1933","date_died":"12\/16\/2012","age":"79","city":"Helena","state":"Montana","full_obituary_text":"

(Prior to his death, typical of Fritz, he determined to write his own obituary. Here it is.)<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0Well what do you know? For many years now, every morning I\u2019ve checked the obituary notices to see if my name was there and today, there it is. So here goes.<\/p>\n

\u00a0I was born in 1933 in Cologne, Germany to my Jewish father (Fritz Behr) and my Christian mother (Rose Witteman Behr), a few days after Adolph Hitler came to power in Germany (not the best timing, Fritz). My father was forced to flee to the United States in 1939. He managed to bring my mother, my brother Kurt and me to the U.S. in April of 1941 (thank God before the U.S. got into WWII). Several of my close Jewish relatives perished in Nazi concentration camps. My younger brother, Richard was born in the U.S. in 1942. Both of my brothers have predeceased me.<\/p>\n

\u00a0I grew up in Astoria, Long Island, New York and later on my family and I lived in Hicksville, Long Island, New York. I worked for a time as a paper cutter and book binder before joining the New York City Police Dept. in 1956. I rose through the ranks of that Department as a Police Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Deputy Inspector. While a member of the New York Police Department, I graduated with a Bachelor of Police Science degree from John Jay College (City University of New York) and was awarded a full four year scholarship to St. John\u2019s University School of Law (then located in Brooklyn, New York) , graduating in 1971 with the degree of Juris Doctor (cum laude). I passed the bar exam and was admitted to the practice of law in the courts of New York State. Shortly thereafter, I was chosen by the New York City Police Department to attend the ten week course at the FBI National Academy (Quantico, VA). I was also a Sergeant E-6 in the 42nd<\/sup> Infantry Regiment of the New York National Guard<\/p>\n

\u00a0In 1976 (to the day exactly 25 years prior to the 9\/11\/2001 World Trade Towers incident), I was injured by a bomb left by Croatian terrorists who had hijacked a plane from New York. The explosion killed one of my friends (a fellow police officer) and seriously injured two of our other NYCPD co-workers. I helped to carry my injured friends to an ambulance before being forced to go to the hospital myself. As a result of my injuries, I retired on disability from the NYPD in March, 1977. In June of that year all four of us were awarded the NYCPD Medal of Honor – the Department\u2019s highest award. (The God of my understanding has a terrific sense of humor – now I had the big medal but no longer had a uniform on which to pin it.) In August of 1977, all four of us were also awarded the Federal Aviation Administration Distinguished Service Award by the U.S. Department of Transportation for dealing with that same act of political terrorism.<\/p>\n

\u00a0In July of 1977, I began work for Montana Attorney General Mike Greely as the Administrator of the Law Enforcement Services Division in the Montana Department of Justice. I served in that position until Mr. Greely left office in January, 1989. At that time, I went to work for Montana Governor Stan Stephens as his Executive Administrative Assistant and personal security officer until he left office at the beginning of 1993. At that time I then retired from State government.<\/p>\n

\u00a0I thoroughly enjoyed my 36 year career in law enforcement. In addition, I had great fun in my active retirement years – downhill skiing, hiking, traveling, staying in shape at local gyms, and lots of volunteer work at St. Paul\u2019s United Methodist Church and on \u201cLitter Patrol.\u201d I had lots of fun and joy in my life and I thank my wonderful wife, Angela, and my many friends for having made that possible.<\/p>\n

\u00a0For many, many years, I greatly enjoyed and looked forward to leading adult Bible study groups. My basic approach to this type of study was a common sense, historical, sociological one and definitely not a literal, factual or inerrant acceptance of the Bible. My beliefs were based on what I had learned from the exercise of my own reason, as validated by the writings and teachings of Hans Kung, Marcus Borg, John Shelby Spong, John Dominic Crossan and others. In my classes, I emphasized the importance of our common Judeo-Christian heritage and faith. I loved St. Paul\u2019s United Methodist Church because, in accord with its adherence to its Open Hearts\/Open Minds\/Open Doors policy, it allowed me to be myself and encouraged me in my conducting of those classes.<\/p>\n

\u00a0The best thing that ever happened to me in my entire life is that on September 21, 1958 Angela Borace became my wife. She was the love of my life. We were married 54 years and she has been THE greatest blessing of my life. That\u2019s why I have so often referred to her as SAINT ANGELA for putting up with me all those years. We had three children – our daughter Lorraine and our sons, Frank and Fred. (Fred has predeceased me).<\/p>\n

\u00a0Survivors include my beloved wife, Angela (Helena, MT); my daughter, Lorraine Behr-Formaz and son-in-law, Pete Formaz (Helena, MT) and sole grandchild, Lauren Angela Formaz (Los Angeles, CA); and my son, Frank Behr and his wife, Kathaleen (of Surprise, Az.) I am very proud of all six of them.<\/p>\n

Another truly wonderful thing that has happened to me is that, by the grace of God as I understand God, I have been a continuously sober member of Alcoholics Anonymous since October 10, 1984 (a total of 28 years, which adds up to more than 10,290 days of sobriety) at the time of my death. For those many years, AA has given me a great opportunity to TRY to be of service to others. That\u2019s why for some time now my personalized Montana license plates have read \u201cAA IOU\u201d and \u201cAA OK\u201d, which, I hope and believe, has not violated A.A.\u2019s anonymity traditions.<\/p>\n

IF:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

By my professional, financial, emotional and spiritual efforts I have been able to improve the lives of my immediate family; and if-<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By my law enforcement work I have been able to make society a little safer; and if-<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By my (admittedly) sometimes corny jokes and stories I have brightened someone\u2019s day; and if –<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By the junk I have picked up and the recycling I have done with my \u201cLitter Patrol\u201d truck I have managed in some small measure to contribute to a cleaner environment in the Greater Helena area; and if-<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By my gifts to charitable organizations I have been able in some small way to alleviate human suffering; and if-<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By my Bible study classes and discussions I have helped a few people (by using their God-given intelligence) to improve their conscious contact with a Higher Power of their own understanding; and if-<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 By my 12th<\/sup> step work in the Alcoholics Anonymous program I have helped even a few of my fellow alcoholics to achieve and maintain continuing sobriety; –<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Then<\/span><\/strong> I consider my life to have been worthwhile and a success. I enjoyed it. It was a \u201cblast\u201d!<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cHaving had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps\u201d(the Twelve Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous) I have \u201ctried to carry this message to other alcoholics and to practice these principles in all my affairs\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u00a0Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Fritz’s life will be held at 11:00 am Friday, December 21, 2012 at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church with a reception to immediately follow in the social hall of the church. Inurnment will take place at a later date in the columbarium niche at Sunset Memorial Gardens cemetery. In lieu of flowers, it is requested that anyone choosing to do so, please make a donation to St. Paul\u2019s United Methodist Church Building Fund, 512 Logan, Helena, Montana 59601, Helena Food Share, P.O Box 943, Helena, Montana 59624, Hospice of St. Peter’s, 2475 Broadway, Helena, Montana or other charity of their choice. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com<\/a> to offer the family condolences or share a memory of Fritz.<\/p>\n

\u00a0P.S. I have received the most wonderful care I could ever have hoped for from my primary care giver, Dr. Don Skillman, MD and from my oncologist, Dr. Justin Thomas, MD. Most of all, thanks and blessings to the marvelous Hospice program of St. Peter’s Hospital and its super-dedicated staff.<\/p>\n

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