Walter Richard (Morgan) Berry, 63, of St. Louis, Missouri, passed away Friday, September 14, 2007 at St. Marys Health Center in St. Louis after a short illness. No services are planned.
Walter was born November 15, 1943 at the Holy Rosary Hospital in Miles City, Montana to Howard R. and Catherine B. (Weinschrott) Morgan. His parents later moved to Minnesota where, at an early age, he lost his father in a car accident. His mother returned to Miles City and Walter along with his siblings, Steve and Sandy, were legally adopted by his step-father, the late Robert W. Berry of Brockway, Montana, whom his mother had married. Walt attended local schools, including Sacred Heart, where he served as an Alter Boy, and the Berry School, a one room country school near Watkins, graduating from Custer County High in 1963. He enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps shortly afterwards and served honorably during the Vietnam War. He was one of only three members of his unit, Delta [artillery] Battery; Second Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, who were not woundedwhen they suffered heavy casualties including 27 deaths and 83 wounded, at Gio Linh, Republic of South Vietnam; an outpost on the DMZ, during a 25 day period of duty in August of 1967. He also participated in Operation Deckhouse V in the Mekong Delta; his unit operating from the USS Iwo Jima.
After finishing his military obligation, Walt returned to Miles City. In March of 1973, shortly after the death of his mother, Walter left and never returned to Montana. He has worked in demolitions in the St Louis, Missouri area since that time. He was a long term employee of Duneman Demolition, Inc of St. Louis up to his recent hospitalization.
Walt never talked about himself. He was a quiet, unassuming person who always put others before himself. He was always clean, hardworking, compulsively thorough, and gifted with a remarkable memory. He never lost his affection for country life. His fondest memories were of branding days in the Brockway community, riding horseback and camping out on Little Sheep Mountain. He loved to read, especially history of the southeastern Montana area and the Old West. He was always concerned for and curious about the circumstances and well-being of his family, friends, and co-workers.
He was preceded in death by his parents and step-father, and his paternal and maternal grandparents.
His survivors include Barbara Collins of St Louis; his companion for the past twenty five years, his brother and sister-in-law, Steve (Berry) Morgan and Elizabeth Morgan of Bryan, Texas, his sister and brother- in-law Sandy and Dennis Kirchheck of Miles City, Montana, his sister Amanda Berry, of Los Angeles, California, his sister and brother-in-law Elizabeth and Dwayne Brock of Plant City, Florida, his nephews, Justin Kirchheck and Jared Brock, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, friends and co-workers. Walt was Roman Catholic.
As was his wish, Walters eyes were recovered by Mid-America Transplant Services of St Louis, Missouri. Family burial will take place at the Custer County Cemetery, Miles City, Montana. He will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society or Mid-America Transplant Services of St. Louis, Missouri.
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