Marthan "Marty" Marius Bourassa

Marthan (Marty) Marius Bourassa was born in Polson, MT on September 21, 1943, the first child of Marius and Ruby Hanson Bourassa. At his birth, his father was serving in the South Pacific as a medic in the US Army Rangers, and his mother was living with her parents. When Marius returned in 1945, the Bourassa family continued living in Polson until 1952, when they moved to Missoula.

Marty attended Missoula grade schools and Missoula County High School, graduating in 1961. As a teenager, he worked at a local grocery store to save for his first car, which he bought at the age of 14--a 1949 Ford. Marty continued his education at the University of Montana; obtaining his Bachelor’s degree in Accounting in 1966.

His first job was as an accountant with the USFS in Orofino, Idaho, He made the round-trip drive between Orofino and Missoula nearly every weekend to see his family, but particularly, Leora Lila Kane. Leora and Marty married on November 29, 1969. He and Leora moved a number of times over the next 20+ years, as Marty advanced his career within the Forest Service. They lived in Missoula, then Great Falls, back to Missoula, and over to Colville, WA until 1982. Marty finished his Forest Service career in the Region One, Regional Office in Missoula with a promotion to Chief Financial Officer for the Region. He retired in 1999.

Marty’s passion was classic cars, especially the Ford Mustang. Over the course of his life he owned several Rancheros and Mustangs. Marty was a die-hard Ford fan and only worked on the best cars, which in his eyes were exclusively Ford. He always had a car project in the works. With the help of his brother-in-law, Erv Kane and others, he built a Replica 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe from a Factory Five Kit for his 65th birthday. He “souped up” every car he ever owned. His most recent purchase was a vintage 1962 Ford Galaxy 406.

His passion for cars also included helping to organize car shows locally. He was an active member of the Five-Valley Ford Club. The Garden City River Rod Run was first held in 2001. Every year after 2001, working extensively with the Missoula Downtown Association, he helped organize one to three car shows in the Missoula area. Nearly every year, he also participated in at least one car show in the Pacific Northwest, including southern British Columbia. He also loved his poodle dogs who would often keep him company in his garage.
Marty and Leora traveled a fair amount around the US before she passed away from breast cancer in September 2006. Marty’s mother died of cancer the following year. Happily, Marty reconnected with a Forest Service colleague, Virginia Nichols, when she retired in Missoula in 2008. They were married November 11, 2011. Marty and Virginia enjoyed both domestic and international travels.

Marty passed away on May 30 at his home in the Rattlesnake, from kidney failure. His wish was to die at home, and he did. Survivors include his wife, Virginia, her three children Mary (Eddie) Kendrick, Chatsworth, GA; Stewart (Amy) Nichols, Fallon, NV; and Colin (Jolene) Nichols, Forsyth, MT, and her seven grandchildren; his sisters Connie Bourassa-Shaw (Dick), Seattle; Kathleen “Kitty” (Rob) Porch, Corvallis, Judee (Lyle) Enderson, Missoula, five nieces and a nephew; as well as many extended family and a host of friends. Marty was preceded in death by his parents, Frenchie and Ruby Bourassa; wife, Leora Bourassa; sister, Eve and brother-in-law Dale Thompson; and brother-in-law, Erv Kane. Marty cherished the time he was able to spend with his friends and family. He will be greatly missed by them.

A viewing and Vigil service for Marty will be Tuesday, June 7, at Garden City Funeral Home (1705 W Broadway St), from 6-8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church (420 W. Pine St) on Wednesday, June 8 at 10:30 am. A reception at Garden City Funeral Home will follow the Mass. The Mass will be live-streamed at St. Francis Xavier - (sfxmissoula.org) Monetary memorials may be sent to the Five Valley Ford Club, PO Box 3224, Missoula, MT 59806. The Marty Bourassa Memorial Award will be presented at the July 2, 2022, car show in Caras Park.