Maureen Burns
Wife of NWA Captain Bob Burns
1937 ~ 2025
Maureen Burns, age 88 years, loving mother and wife, devout Catholic with a radiant soul, died peacefully at home surrounded by loved ones. Maureen lived a life that touched many with her unwavering devotion to faith, family, and friends.
She was born in Evanston IL, the only daughter of John and Catherine Neenan Barrett. She attended Marywood High School in Evanston before graduating from Barry College in Miami, Florida. Her life was forever changed when she met her beloved husband, Robert Burns, on a blind date. They were married on September 10, 1960, and shared a remarkable 65-year relationship.
Maureen and Bob eventually settled on Lake Minnetonka near Excelsior, Minnesota where they raised 4 children: Sheila, Kevin, Patrica and Kathleen and entertained 5 grandchildren.
Robert Napoleon Burns
1932-2025
Captain Robert (Bob) Burns, age 92 years, proud father and devoted husband, died peacefully on May 19, nine days after his wife of 65 years, Maureen.
Born in Chicago, Illinois, the youngest son of Richard and Agnes Picard Burns. He attended Marmion Military Academy High School in Aurora, before graduating from The University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. After college, Bob channeled his passion for aviation by joining the United States Air Force where he finished in the top of his class. Bob attributed the Air Force for cultivating discipline, leadership, and a sense of duty that guided him throughout his life. Following his military service, Bob attended law school at DePaul University in Chicago before pursuing a career as an airline pilot with Northwest Orient Airlines.
Dean L. Monteith
1941 ~ 2024
Captain Dean Loftin Monteith, age 83, passed away on December 5, 2024, in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
Dean was born January 8, 1941, in Cando, North Dakota, to Roland and Lucille Monteith. Cando is near Devils Lake, ND. The Monteith family was blessed with four offspring; Dean was number three. His father Roland owned a light aircraft that he used primarily for fox hunting. The aviation bug bit Dean at 6 years old when he had his 1st airplane ride.
Dean graduated from Fargo Central High School in 1959 and went to North Dakota State University at Fargo, ND. Dean was a diligent and hardworking fellow which led him to ‘work his way through college.’ When asked about ‘his college major,’ Dean liked to respond, “Anything to Pass.” While at NDSU Dean completed the Air Force ROTC program earning him a commission in the United States Air Force.
Larry D. Patrick
1945 ~ 2024
Captain Larry Dale Patrick, age 79, was born on July 22, 1945, in Havre, Montana to Ardys Virginia Irene (Olson) Patrick and Russell Gale Patrick. He was the second of three sons (Charles was born in 1942 and Warren was born in 1955). Larry lived and worked on the family farm twenty miles north of Rudyard, MT. In his early years, Larry attended a one-room schoolhouse with his brother Chuck, several cousins and neighboring farm children. He attended the upper grades in Rudyard where the family purchased a “winter” home in town for schooling purposes. His father died unexpectedly at the age of 49 during the summer that Larry turned 16.
Larry graduated from Rudyard High School in 1963 and thereafter attended Northern Montana College in Havre, Great Falls College (MSU), Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD, and Concordia College in Moorhead, MN. After college he enrolled in Herrod School of Aviation in Billings, MT, which was a six-month flying school that took students from not flying at all through their FAA Commercial and Instrument ratings.
David G. Hill
1937 ~ 2023
David Gardner Hill, 87, of Kaneohe, Hawaii, passed away peacefully in Honolulu. Born in Framingham, Massachusetts, David was a man of many passions and accomplishments.
A retired Navy veteran, David served his country with honor and distinction. His love for the skies didn’t stop there. After his service, he continued his career as a pilot for Northwest Airlines, mastering the art of flying, a skill he was immensely proud of.
David was a loving husband to Taiko Hill for 39 years. Their bond was one of mutual respect and deep affection, a testament to their enduring love.
A father to James (Andrea) Hill, Mark Hill, Sarie (Philip) Harris, Mari Hill, Amy (Nicholas) Olds, and a doting grandfather to four grandchildren, David’s family was his pride and joy. His love for them was evident in every interaction, every shared moment.
David was a man of intellect and curiosity. He loved puzzles and reading, always seeking to learn more about the world around him. His interests were vast and varied, from astronomy to architecture, reflecting his multifaceted personality.
Known for his kindness, humor, and intelligence, David was a beacon of light to those who knew him. His love for music filled their home with melodies, and his witty humor brought laughter and joy.
David was a “jack of all trades, master of one, flying”. His passion for flying was not just a career, but a calling. It was a part of who he was, a symbol of his limitless spirit and his constant pursuit of freedom.
David leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and learning. His memory will continue to inspire and guide us. He will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on in the hearts of those who loved him.
His journey has been a flight well flown.
(~ Bob Gould)
Terry Juliar
1938 ~ 2024
Captain Terry Arden Juliar, age 86, of Minnetrista, MN was born July 4, 1938, at St. Clair, MN. Terry was the youngest child of Ralph and Rosalia Juliar of St. Clair where he lived and worked the life of a southern Minnesota 'farm kid.' Despite winning a few 4H ribbons for his Black Angus cattle, he determined by high school that farm life was not for him. Seeds were sewn in the attic of that farmhouse where he spent hours building model airplanes and dreaming of life in the clouds.
At the young age of 15, Terry met the love of his life, Nadine Buckhaus at a Youth Fellowship event at church, and within a few weeks of their high school graduation they were married in Mankato, MN. Shortly thereafter they headed west to Los Angeles, California, riding in an unreliable hotrod loaded with a few suitcases, a box of tools, and big dreams.
Terry attended the Northrop Aviation Institute, now Northrop University, at Inglewood, California. A couple of productive years later, Terry and Nadine returned to Minnesota with a freshly acquired FAA Aircraft & Powerplant Mechanics license in hand. Terry had acquired many certifiable aviation skills and was ready for a career in the golden era of aviation. What followed was an improbable path.
Norman R. Anderson
1933 ~ 2024
Captain Norman ‘Andy’ Anderson, age 91, died on September 20, 2024, from the effects of Parkinson’s and associated infections. He was born to Anthony and Miriam Miles Anderson at Lawrence Park, PA on August 21, 1933. Andy was the youngest of 3 sons, his older brothers were Tony and Harold.
Andy’s father, Anthony Anderson, had retired from the US Army. His service included duty as a drummer in the Army Band and service during WW 1. His post-retirement employment was with General Electric. Andy’s mother Miriam, was an elementary school teacher.
The family abode was in Lawrence Park, PA just east of Erie, PA. No doubt Andy could recall many brutal winters and yet in the summer months he often swam in Lake Erie. As a youngster, each summer Andy could be found on the public ball fields playing baseball with his pals. While in high school Andy distinguished himself as an athlete. He played the position of end on the football team. He most distinguished himself as a star basketball player, earning himself a full basketball scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh.
Bill Current
1940 ~ 2023
Captain Bill Current, age 83, of Bloomington, MN passed away unexpectedly on October 17th, 2023. Bill was the youngest of three children born to William and Bertha Current in Harrisonville MO. His father was employed by TWA as a mechanic.
As a high school student Bill was highly focused on football. After high school graduation Bill enrolled at William Jewell College in Liberty, MO. The college is a church school and was founded in 1849. As a college student Bill concentrated on physics and football. Upon graduation, with his college degree in hand, Bill began a career as a high school physics teacher. However, passions for flying were still calling.
It must have been difficult on a teacher’s salary, but somehow Bill acquired his FAA licenses and accumulated the flight time needed for airline employment. His fortitude paid off on September 5, 1967, the he began his 32 year career with Northwest Airlines.
Keith L. Deaver
1923 ~ 2023
Captain Keith Deaver, age 100, died on December 23, 2023. Keith was born on July 6, 1923 on his grandfather’s farm in Nebraska in the same house where his mother was born. He was raised in Des Moines, Iowa but from the time he was 12 years old, he would spend two months at his grandfather’s farm in Nebraska each summer. His job there was herding the milk cows along the rural roads for feed, helping with the milking twice a day, and helping with other jobs especially during haying and grain threshing times. He also kept his grandmother supplied with corn cobs for the cook stove.
