Daniel Lee (Bodie) Erwin passed away May 12.

He received his long-time moniker, Bodie, when he was a little tyke playing cowboys of the wild west. When he started school, there were so many “Dans” in his class, he volunteered to be called Bodie to help avoid confusion. Cheyenne Bodie, which was the name of his favorite TV character, was his hero, a physically larger than life character with a gentle spirit in search of frontier justice who loved to wander the American West.

Bodie was born July 7, 1954, in Ontario to Bette and Zip Erwin, and the family moved to Burns when he was 2 years old

He graduated from Burns Union High School with the  class of 1972.

In his younger years, he liked to hunt and fish, and his nieces remember him taking them fishing and putting the worms on the hook for them.

He loved to read and work crossword puzzles…and was a pretty sharp Jeopardy aficionado, often besting the champion of the night. His love of trivia was something his Grandpa Little inspired in him.

Bodie was a fantastic cook and his apple pies were out of this world. Don’t even think of leaving freshly cut tomato off a pizza.

Golf was his love for a long time, and we would love to hear some of the stories that his golfing partners might be able to share with us. If he wasn’t playing golf, he was watching it on TV.

Bodie was fun-loving and had a great sense of humor. We all enjoyed his quick wit, and will miss his cute laugh when he “got you”! And he always got you.

Bodie is survived by his mother, Bette Erwin, who lived 60-plus years in Burns and is now residing in Washington State with her daughter and son-in-law. He is also survived by his sister, Nancy Callis, and her husband, Chuck; brother, Tim Erwin, and his wife, Judy; one nephew; five nieces; and a passel of great-nieces and nephews.

Bodie was preceded in death by his father, Zip Erwin; and his brother; Bob.

A memorial service will be held later in the summer. Bodie has hit his hole-in-one and is now playing at a new home course.

He will be sorely missed.