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The
Bearcreek Cemetery |
THE
CEMETERY PROJECT – you can help! |
We are presently mapping the
Bearcreek Cemetery.
When completed, the map will serve as a locator for gravesites.
As part of the mapping, we hope to identify unmarked graves.
We need your help. If you know the identity of a person buried
in an unmarked grave please contact us. We are seeking assistance
in translating the writing on some of the Croatian grave markers.
We also want to make some repairs to the fencing that surrounds
the cemetery, and to some of the headstones that have been damaged.
We would like to add an old-fashioned “Bearcreek Cemetery”
sign, and a signboard to post the grave location map and names
of those buried in the cemetery.
How much we can do depends on your generosity. Please mail your
donation to: Bearcreek Historical Project, PO Box 1091, Bearcreek,
MT 59007. Make checks payable to the Town of Bearcreek. Donations
are tax deductible. For more information, click on our Bearcreek
Historical Projects page.
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Buried
at the Bearcreek Cemetery are people of many nationalities who came
here as coal mining families in the early 1900s. The first person
interred at the cemetery, according to date of death records, was
Helen Markovich, who was laid to reast after her death Nov. 21,
1909. There are, however, several unmarked and undated graves at
the cemetery.
Bearcreek Cemetery burial records list 23 of the 74 miners killed
in the Feb. 27, 1943 Smith Mine. The victim and the accused in a
1923 Bearcreek pool hall murder are buried at the cemetery. Walter
Brown was the victim, Joe Naglich committed the crime. Naglich was
sentenced to prison for life, but was later pardoned. Also buried
at the cemetery is Chris Bonovich, who was shot and killed in 1921
in a boarding house brawl at upper Washoe. Stephan Novoda did the
shooting. He was convicted of manslaughter and received a 3-6 year
sentence.
In all, as of 2004, there were 434 identifiable graves at the Bearcreek
Cemetery.
LuDon DeVille compiled the list of Bearcreek gravesites, with assistance
from the Bearcreek Woman’s Club and other volunteers.
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