Tate Brandon Hess

This is a copy of Tate's obituary, written by his mom, Bonni and her sister, Tami Stukey.

An incredibly unique young man, our so very beloved son, brother, nephew, cousin, and friend, Tate Brandon Hess, began a new journey after thirty adventurous years. A tragic accident took Tate's well-lived young life, along with his two faithful dog companions, Cassidy and Baxter, on July 2, 2005. 

The one-truck accident occurred along Swan Lake on MT Highway 83, near Bigfork, MT-only twenty miles from where he was driving to meet his dear family at the Flathead River Hess Family Montana home that Tate loved so much. He was on his way to celebrate the 4th of July weekend to hike, to fish, to practice archery, and to share special family time together. With his great passion for life, he fought for four courageous hours to live despite the gravity of his injuries in this unsurvivable accident. 

His family expresses their deepest gratitude to the many responders who tried so desperately and compassionately to save him. His accomplished journey here on earth has now ended, but the legacy of his life and his beautiful spirit lives on. 

Tate began his life's journey on May 22, 1975 as the first born child of Jim and Bonni Hess. He was later joined by his brother, Colby Tyler, and sister, Brittany Shandell. He grew up on Lake Sammamish in Issaquah, Washington. He attended elementary school at Sunny Hills, middle school at Pine Lake, and graduated from Issaquah High School in 1993. He then followed his heart to Montana-where both of his parents were born and raised. He attended Montana State University, joined the Sigma Chi Fraternity (of which both his father and brother Colby are members), and graduated in 2000 with a degree in Construction Engineering. Tate lived in the Bozeman, Montana area for most of the past 12 years where he studied, worked, and spent any free time fishing the rivers and hiking the mountains of Montana that he loved so much and knew like his backyard. With his great love of the open roads, Tate also enjoyed motorcycling. 

His zest for life, quest for knowledge, and drive to always explore new horizons made him an expert on history and guns and let him develop his talents for writing, music, fly tying, photography and so much more. He lived his life to the fullest with purpose and strength. Since 2002, he has been employed as a Project Manager at Cascade Homes, Inc. in Bozeman and had planned to break ground on his own home in Gallatin Gateway this summer.

Tate's name and the words "Almost Home" are on a wooden cross on a tree about 20 feet up an embankment at mile marker 75.6. His mom, Bonni, tries to change the flowers for the seasons. The accident site overlooks Swan Lake approximately 20 miles from Jim and Bonni's home.

May 22, 1975 -
July 2, 2005