GREAT FALLS — Members of the Montana Electric Cooperatives' Association gathered in Conrad on Saturday, August 17, 2024, to honor Lucas Fowler.
Fowler, 28 years old, was a lineman for the Sun River Electric Cooperative who died on the job on Friday, August 9, 2024.
The MECA shared a video of a funeral procession, with a "bucket truck memorial" lining both sides of the road.
The agency thanked the linemen from across the state who participated:
- Sun River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
- Beartooth Electric
- Big Horn County Electric Co-op
- Fergus Electric Cooperative, Inc.
- Glacier Electric Cooperative
- Lincoln Electric Cooperative, Inc.
- Marias River Electric Cooperative
- NorVal Electric Cooperative, Inc.
- Park Electric Cooperative Inc
The Sun River Electric Cooperative said in a Facebook post: "There is nothing stronger than the brotherhood shared by electric lineman. A huge thank you to our co-op friends throughout the state of Montana. Thank you also Northwestern linemen. A very heartfelt processional to show what Lucas Fowler meant to everyone."
Brad Bauman, General Manager and CEO of Sun River Electric Cooperative, said last week: “We’re wounded, but we will get through this. God bless all linemen. It's a brotherhood, and this affects everyone, not just us.”
(AUGUST 12, 2024) A community is mourning the death of 28-year old Lucas Fowler, a lineman for the Sun River Electric Electric Cooperative who died on Friday, August 9, 2024.
Fowler was working on a single-phase powerline south of Conrad when the pole toppled over, taking his life.
Fowler joined the team just weeks ago on July 15.
“It’s a very sad time for Sun River Electric,” said Brad Bauman, General Manager and CEO of Sun River Electric Cooperative, Inc.
“When our employees come to work each morning, it is our obligation to try to get them home that night in better condition they came,” Bauman said, “That didn't happen on Friday for Lucas Fowler."
Sun River Electric Cooperative is working to get through the tragedy together, as a company and as a community.
“You know, we are going to provide opportunities for our employees to have counseling,” Bauman said. “We are going to work with them…in the next coming time to offer them every opportunity to talk through this, to share feelings about this, and do the best we can to look out for them.”
The tragedy serves as a difficult reminder of the dangers involved with the job.
“We’re wounded, but we will get through this,” Bauman said, “…God bless all linemen. You know, as I said, it's a brotherhood, and this affects everyone, not just us.”
(1st REPORT, AUGUST 11) The Sun River Electric Cooperative announced on Saturday, August 10, 2024, that an employee died on Friday morning.
The worker has been identified as 28-year old Lucas Fowler.
The co-op said that the lineman died in a "workplace accident." No other details have been released at this point.
The Sun River Electric Cooperative, based in Fairfield, says an investigation is underway.
We will update you if we get more information.
