John Brumley

John Harry Brumley was born November 7, 1946, oldest son of James (Jim) and Betty Lou Cool Brumley, at the Scared Heart Hospital in Havre, Montana. He passed away at his home in Syracuse, Utah on July 20th. He graduated from Havre High School and attended the University of Calgary in Alberta receiving Honors B.A. in Archaeology in 1971 and a M.A. in Archaeology in 1976.

From very early on John showed a great interest in archaeology. At the age of 15 he brought the Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump to the attention of the proper authorities. He continued his interest in this site for most of his life writing several articles and booklets about it’s history.

In August of 1969 John married Laurie Milne and they had two children, Mary Elizabeth and Sarah Anne. They later divorced.

After graduation, he started his own business, Ethos Consultants Ltd in Medicine Hat, Alberta. In 1983 he married Anna Knopp Sawyer in Billings, Montana. He opened a branch office, Ethos Consultants Inc. in Havre, Montana in 1985. John has authored or co-authored over 300 published and unpublished reports. John’s main interest was tipi rings and medicine wheels of which he wrote several technical reports on them. John always said he was very fortunate to spend his life doing something he really loved.

He shared his enthusiasm for archeology with many in Alberta and Montana. He was instrumental in forming the Southeastern Alberta Archaeology Society in Medicine Hat, Alberta. Summer time was spent going on field trips, floating various rivers including the Missouri – many good memories were made.

John received many awards during his career including the 1994 Distinguished Service Award, Archaeological Society of Alberta; 2002 Montana Archaeological Society Conservation Award and 2013 Montana Governor’s Humanities Award.

John is survived by his wife Anna, brother Kenneth (Pam), daughter Sarah Anne, grandchildren Ben, Ava, Gunnar, Sam and Baron, and step son Flint (Cheri) Lachenmeier. He was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Mary Elizabeth.