Bruce R. Welden

Bruce Randall Welden, of Chico California, passed away on May 8, 2017 after complications from pulmonary embolisms and prostate cancer. He was 63 years old. Bruce was born April 19, 1954 in Santa Monica, Calif., to Austin and Barbara Welden. He lived most of his childhood years in Arcadia, Calif., and attended Arroyo High School where he played JV and Varsity basketball and football. In addition to sports, Bruce also discovered music during his high school years and began learning to play the guitar. After graduating in 1972 he enlisted in the Army and had the tough assignment of being stationed in Oahu, Hawaii. Following his 3 years in the Army, he attended Citrus Junior College and also played football there. He then moved to Northern Calif., and attended Chico State University where he ultimately received his Masters Degree in Archeology/Physical Anthropology. He was very proud of the fact that throughout his entire 14 years of higher education he worked hard to put himself through college, never needing to take out one school loan. One job he held was in the Anthropology Department as a curator of Native American burial remains. He also taught classes in osteology, the study of the skeleton. During the 17 years between high school and his graduation from Chico State, Bruce never lost his love for music. He continued to play the guitar, and was a long-time member of the infamous "Rattlesnakes", playing gigs in and around the Chico area. While in college, in 1987, he also acquired a position with the American Automobile Assoc., working as a claims adjustor and litigator. This position turned into a career that spanned 26 years with the AAA. Because of a transfer, he spent the last 10 of those 26 years working in Colorado Springs, enjoying the beauty and majesty of the Rocky Mountains and especially Pikes Peek. Bruce enjoyed hiking, camping, and fishing, and his love of music continued to grow, as did his talent on the guitar. Although, as much as he enjoyed Colorado, his heart always longed to return to the warmth and familiarity of Chico and the close friends that remained there. In 2013, his 26th year of working with AAA, Bruce's mother Barbara was diagnosed with lung cancer. He made the decision to retire and make the transition to Lynden, Wash., and help care for his ailing mother. For Bruce, this was an easy decision, because of his characteristic giving nature and servant's heart. He moved in with her and became her primary caregiver, enhancing her quality of life for her final two months. After she passed away, Bruce moved back to his beloved Chico, and poured himself into volunteer work. He had a heart for the homeless and volunteered at local retirement and Community Shelters playing music, working in their gardens, and interacting to encourage those less fortunate. Bruce never lost his love for learning, and had an extensive library on several different subjects, but most of them were of history, archaeology, and self-improvement. One of his favorite things to do to was to research his family tree, and he ultimately gifted his parents with professionally bound books that he himself had written about the history of their ancestors. Bruce continued to play guitar, even up to the last weeks of his life, constantly pushing himself to learn new music and technique. One of his last gigs was with the Rattlesnakes, and little did they all know it would be his last. Bruce was pre-deceased by his parents, but he leaves a sister and brother-in-law, Caprice and John Billester, of Lynden, Wash. He also leaves his nieces and nephews - Shannon and Jered Aasheim, Robin and Alan Coombs, and Brandon and Esther Billester - and his 8 great-nieces and great-nephews. He has numerous 1st and 2nd cousins spread over the country that he continued to have contact with. He leaves many, many friends, going all the way back to elementary school…he was a friend to all, and would drop everything to help someone in need. A memorial graveside gathering is planned for Friday June 2nd at the Durham Cemetery at 5:30 PM. The address is 1730 Chico-Oroville Hwy, just south of the Butte Creek Country Club. Following will be a Celebration of Life at Mike Hidahl's home nearby, at 10386 Chayote Dr. in Durham. Food and sodas will be provided, but please bring a chair for yourself. On Saturday June 3rd at 3 PM there will be a Rattlesnake Reunion at the home of Jim and Lisa Carnes, 14051 Westridge Road, Red Bluff. The festivities will be dedicated to the memory of Bruce's life and the many years of performing in the group. If you plan on attending either one of these functions please RSVP by May 28 to Susan Bertozzi at [email protected]. Memorial gifts can be made in Bruce's honor to the following… Prostate Cancer Foundation - 1250 Fourth St, Santa Monica CA 90401 ~ 800.757.2873 Jesus Center (for the homeless) 1297 Park Ave, Chico CA, 95928 ~ 530.345.2640 Bruce was an easy-going guy that kept life simple. He was more interested in giving than getting, and always put a positive spin on a situation. He encouraged others to keep learning, keep growing, and keep optimistic. A favorite quote of his - "Life is not about the destination…it's all about the journey".