Funeral services will be held at 11:00 AM Tuesday, November 20, 2012 at the Choteau Pavilion for Jesse Alan Briggs, age 28, of Choteau, MT who died November 9, 2012 at his apartment in Missoula. Burial will be in the Choteau Cemetery under the direction of Gorder Jensen Funeral Home of Choteau. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Monday, November 19th at the funeral home.
Jesse was born November 14, 1984 in Choteau, MT, the son of William Paul Briggs Jr. and Amy L. Kullikowski Briggs. He was living in Missoula while attending the University of Montana. In addition to being a student, he was a firefighter and farm laborer helping his parents on the farm during the summer.
Jesse served in the US Marine Corps from 2003-2007. As a marine, he served with Lima Company of the 3rd Battalion, 25th Regiment from Ohio in 2005 primarily in Anbar Province Iraq . His unit suffered heavy casualties during its tour. An article published in the San Francisco Chronicle discusses some of the events Jesse was involved in while serving in Iraq. It can be found at http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/U-S-Iraqi-troops-counterattack-Insurgents-2650139.php
Jesse enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. He also loved playing games with his brother, working on and restoring old cars, and drawing. He also enjoyed cooking, baking and spending time talking with his fiance.
He is survived by his parents, William P. Briggs Jr. and Amy L. Briggs of Conrad, MT; his fiance, Kate Buss of Lake Forest, IL; his brother, James Frederick Briggs of Kennewick, WA; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Mary Barnhart and Henry Kulikowski; his paternal grandparents William Paul Briggs Sr. and Madeline Virginia Briggs; an aunt, Theresia Briggs and an uncle, Gary Richem.
Memorials are suggested to the Wounded Warrior Project; PO Box 758517; Topeka, Kansas 66675 or to the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Foundation of America; PO Box 690748; Houston, Texas 77269. Online condolences may be left at www.gorderjensenfuneralhome.com