"B.J." Bennie Holmes, Helena's last prospector dies at 91.
On Sunday morning, May 6, 2007, the sounds of storytelling, harmonica playing and prospecting waters stood still on Last Chance Gulch. Helena's B.J. Bennie Holmes passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family. Bennie embraced a passionate life and was truly an original Montana character.
Known to many as "Two Gun Benny," he was born in Radersburg on Christmas Day, 1915 in the year of the Blue Snow to Helen McCabe a native of the Emeral Isle.
His early years were spent in Radersburg, Elkhorn and Butte with his grandparents. At age 12, he and his brother, Willio, set out on their own riding the rails traveling from Chicago to San Francisco meeting every amazing personality from song to sorrow.
Bennie was a true Irishman he loved music and storytelling. Family members as well as friends and foe enjoyed his company. He had many careers in his lifetime from bell hop at the Placer Hotel to an iron worker, to cab stand owner, to entrepreneur of the satellite tracker, to car salesman, to prospector and bar owner - he did it all.
In 1935, he met "The Peg of his Heart" Lucille Peterson at the Parrot Confectionary and they were married and had four children, Julie, Billy, Sally and Bridgette. During the war years he enlisted for active duty in the Navy and served as a submarine tender in Australia and in the Philippines. In the late 1950s, Bennie and Lucille and the family relocated to California until 1977 when Lucille was called to rest. Returning to Helena, Bennie established the Gold Bar Casino with his daughter, Julie, and revived the Gulch for many years. He traveled with his children across the globe to Ireland, France, England and Spain. In later years, Bennie enjoyed family and friends who gathered at his Stemple Pass cabin where many a hoedown and cowboy story and song were passed.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Holmes; his brother, Willio Holmes; his daughter, Julie Proul; his grandson, Joseph Proul.
Survivors include his children, William Holmes of Helena, Scarlette "Sally" Cossaart of Helena, Bridgette (Michael) Mazurek of Helena. He was "PaPa Ben" to nine grandchildren, Victoria (Steve) Lohman, Daniel Proul, Elizabeth Viera, Heather George, Jennifer (Craig) Thomas, William Holmes, Zachary Holmes, Rhett Ussery and Dillion Mazurek; 10 great-grandchildren, Jaela, Paris, Joseph, Paige, Joselyn, Harrison, Justus, Brett, Jack and Alivia and his loving friend Joan Farmin.
He enriched our lives and charmed us all. He was a character of characters.
Viewing hours will be from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, at Retz Funeral Home. Bennie will be laid to rest Thursday at Retz Funeral Home at 2 p.m. with military honors at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. An Irish wake will follow at the Gold Bar on Last Chance Gulch. Donations can be sent to Hospice of St. Peter's Hospital or Volunteer Services at Fort Harrison Hospital.
Published by The Independent Record, Helena, MT on May 8, 2007
On Sunday morning, May 6, 2007, the sounds of storytelling, harmonica playing and prospecting waters stood still on Last Chance Gulch. Helena's B.J. Bennie Holmes passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family. Bennie embraced a passionate life and was truly an original Montana character.
Known to many as "Two Gun Benny," he was born in Radersburg on Christmas Day, 1915 in the year of the Blue Snow to Helen McCabe a native of the Emeral Isle.
His early years were spent in Radersburg, Elkhorn and Butte with his grandparents. At age 12, he and his brother, Willio, set out on their own riding the rails traveling from Chicago to San Francisco meeting every amazing personality from song to sorrow.
Bennie was a true Irishman he loved music and storytelling. Family members as well as friends and foe enjoyed his company. He had many careers in his lifetime from bell hop at the Placer Hotel to an iron worker, to cab stand owner, to entrepreneur of the satellite tracker, to car salesman, to prospector and bar owner - he did it all.
In 1935, he met "The Peg of his Heart" Lucille Peterson at the Parrot Confectionary and they were married and had four children, Julie, Billy, Sally and Bridgette. During the war years he enlisted for active duty in the Navy and served as a submarine tender in Australia and in the Philippines. In the late 1950s, Bennie and Lucille and the family relocated to California until 1977 when Lucille was called to rest. Returning to Helena, Bennie established the Gold Bar Casino with his daughter, Julie, and revived the Gulch for many years. He traveled with his children across the globe to Ireland, France, England and Spain. In later years, Bennie enjoyed family and friends who gathered at his Stemple Pass cabin where many a hoedown and cowboy story and song were passed.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Holmes; his brother, Willio Holmes; his daughter, Julie Proul; his grandson, Joseph Proul.
Survivors include his children, William Holmes of Helena, Scarlette "Sally" Cossaart of Helena, Bridgette (Michael) Mazurek of Helena. He was "PaPa Ben" to nine grandchildren, Victoria (Steve) Lohman, Daniel Proul, Elizabeth Viera, Heather George, Jennifer (Craig) Thomas, William Holmes, Zachary Holmes, Rhett Ussery and Dillion Mazurek; 10 great-grandchildren, Jaela, Paris, Joseph, Paige, Joselyn, Harrison, Justus, Brett, Jack and Alivia and his loving friend Joan Farmin.
He enriched our lives and charmed us all. He was a character of characters.
Viewing hours will be from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, at Retz Funeral Home. Bennie will be laid to rest Thursday at Retz Funeral Home at 2 p.m. with military honors at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. An Irish wake will follow at the Gold Bar on Last Chance Gulch. Donations can be sent to Hospice of St. Peter's Hospital or Volunteer Services at Fort Harrison Hospital.
Published by The Independent Record, Helena, MT on May 8, 2007
"B.J." Bennie Holmes, Helena's last prospector dies at 91.
On Sunday morning, May 6, 2007, the sounds of storytelling, harmonica playing and prospecting waters stood still on Last Chance Gulch. Helena's B.J. Bennie Holmes passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family. Bennie embraced a passionate life and was truly an original Montana character.
Known to many as "Two Gun Benny," he was born in Radersburg on Christmas Day, 1915 in the year of the Blue Snow to Helen McCabe a native of the Emeral Isle.
His early years were spent in Radersburg, Elkhorn and Butte with his grandparents. At age 12, he and his brother, Willio, set out on their own riding the rails traveling from Chicago to San Francisco meeting every amazing personality from song to sorrow.
Bennie was a true Irishman he loved music and storytelling. Family members as well as friends and foe enjoyed his company. He had many careers in his lifetime from bell hop at the Placer Hotel to an iron worker, to cab stand owner, to entrepreneur of the satellite tracker, to car salesman, to prospector and bar owner - he did it all.
In 1935, he met "The Peg of his Heart" Lucille Peterson at the Parrot Confectionary and they were married and had four children, Julie, Billy, Sally and Bridgette. During the war years he enlisted for active duty in the Navy and served as a submarine tender in Australia and in the Philippines. In the late 1950s, Bennie and Lucille and the family relocated to California until 1977 when Lucille was called to rest. Returning to Helena, Bennie established the Gold Bar Casino with his daughter, Julie, and revived the Gulch for many years. He traveled with his children across the globe to Ireland, France, England and Spain. In later years, Bennie enjoyed family and friends who gathered at his Stemple Pass cabin where many a hoedown and cowboy story and song were passed.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Holmes; his brother, Willio Holmes; his daughter, Julie Proul; his grandson, Joseph Proul.
Survivors include his children, William Holmes of Helena, Scarlette "Sally" Cossaart of Helena, Bridgette (Michael) Mazurek of Helena. He was "PaPa Ben" to nine grandchildren, Victoria (Steve) Lohman, Daniel Proul, Elizabeth Viera, Heather George, Jennifer (Craig) Thomas, William Holmes, Zachary Holmes, Rhett Ussery and Dillion Mazurek; 10 great-grandchildren, Jaela, Paris, Joseph, Paige, Joselyn, Harrison, Justus, Brett, Jack and Alivia and his loving friend Joan Farmin.
He enriched our lives and charmed us all. He was a character of characters.
Viewing hours will be from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, at Retz Funeral Home. Bennie will be laid to rest Thursday at Retz Funeral Home at 2 p.m. with military honors at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. An Irish wake will follow at the Gold Bar on Last Chance Gulch. Donations can be sent to Hospice of St. Peter's Hospital or Volunteer Services at Fort Harrison Hospital.
Published by The Independent Record, Helena, MT on May 8, 2007
On Sunday morning, May 6, 2007, the sounds of storytelling, harmonica playing and prospecting waters stood still on Last Chance Gulch. Helena's B.J. Bennie Holmes passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family. Bennie embraced a passionate life and was truly an original Montana character.
Known to many as "Two Gun Benny," he was born in Radersburg on Christmas Day, 1915 in the year of the Blue Snow to Helen McCabe a native of the Emeral Isle.
His early years were spent in Radersburg, Elkhorn and Butte with his grandparents. At age 12, he and his brother, Willio, set out on their own riding the rails traveling from Chicago to San Francisco meeting every amazing personality from song to sorrow.
Bennie was a true Irishman he loved music and storytelling. Family members as well as friends and foe enjoyed his company. He had many careers in his lifetime from bell hop at the Placer Hotel to an iron worker, to cab stand owner, to entrepreneur of the satellite tracker, to car salesman, to prospector and bar owner - he did it all.
In 1935, he met "The Peg of his Heart" Lucille Peterson at the Parrot Confectionary and they were married and had four children, Julie, Billy, Sally and Bridgette. During the war years he enlisted for active duty in the Navy and served as a submarine tender in Australia and in the Philippines. In the late 1950s, Bennie and Lucille and the family relocated to California until 1977 when Lucille was called to rest. Returning to Helena, Bennie established the Gold Bar Casino with his daughter, Julie, and revived the Gulch for many years. He traveled with his children across the globe to Ireland, France, England and Spain. In later years, Bennie enjoyed family and friends who gathered at his Stemple Pass cabin where many a hoedown and cowboy story and song were passed.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille Holmes; his brother, Willio Holmes; his daughter, Julie Proul; his grandson, Joseph Proul.
Survivors include his children, William Holmes of Helena, Scarlette "Sally" Cossaart of Helena, Bridgette (Michael) Mazurek of Helena. He was "PaPa Ben" to nine grandchildren, Victoria (Steve) Lohman, Daniel Proul, Elizabeth Viera, Heather George, Jennifer (Craig) Thomas, William Holmes, Zachary Holmes, Rhett Ussery and Dillion Mazurek; 10 great-grandchildren, Jaela, Paris, Joseph, Paige, Joselyn, Harrison, Justus, Brett, Jack and Alivia and his loving friend Joan Farmin.
He enriched our lives and charmed us all. He was a character of characters.
Viewing hours will be from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 9, at Retz Funeral Home. Bennie will be laid to rest Thursday at Retz Funeral Home at 2 p.m. with military honors at Sunset Memorial Gardens Cemetery. An Irish wake will follow at the Gold Bar on Last Chance Gulch. Donations can be sent to Hospice of St. Peter's Hospital or Volunteer Services at Fort Harrison Hospital.
Published by The Independent Record, Helena, MT on May 8, 2007
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