Family and close friends of attended the internment ceremony in Arlington National Cemetery for former U.S. Senator and Marine Corps veteran Conrad Burns.
The Burns family released the following statement, “We laid to rest today a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather. Conrad dedicated his life to serving our family and this great state and nation, and we will always hold onto the unconditional love and care he showed our family and the people of Montana.”
Burns served as a Corporal in the Marine Corps from 1955 -1957. He served in Japan and Korea as a small arms instructor.
Burns was elected to the Yellowstone County Commission in 1986. Two years later he defeated then-U.S. Senator John Melcher, D-MT, and went on to serve three terms in the U.S. Senate. Burns lost his bid for a fourth term in 2006 to Jon Tester, a former state Senate President and farmer from Big Sandy.
Burns was perhaps best known around the state as a livestock auctioneer, agriculture broadcaster, and a colorful story teller. His comments often landed him in hot water. He had been quoted using racial slurs to refer to Arabs and African-Americans.
When asked about this in 2002, Burns issued a written statement, I regret the things I’ve said in the past. Those remarks were wrong and repugnant, and I apologize for them once again.”
As a U.S. Senator, Burns was able to funnel millions of dollars to benefit Montana as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. He also pushed to get broadband internet and cell phone service installed in rural areas.
Conrad Burns was born in Gallatin, Missouri on January 25, 1935 to Russell and Mary Frances Burns. Burns came to Montana in 1962 and was married to Phyllis Kuhlmann in 1967. Conrad and Phyllis settled in Billings were they raised their three children; Kate, Keely and Garrett.
Burns died on April 28, 2016 at the age of 81 in his hometown of Billings. He is survived by his wife Phyllis of Billings, daughter Dr. Keely Godwin and her husband Noah of Durham, NC; son Garrett Burns and his wife Kate of Alexandria, VA; sister Judy Norris of Middlebrook, VA; and grandchildren Ella Godwin, Isobel Burns and Riley Burns. He was preceded in death by his parents, oldest daughter Kate, and brother-in-law Stan Norris.
