More details emerge on homeless veteran

PLAINS - World War II veteran Renn Bodeker, 89, of Plains is still swimming in a sea of chaos, although he hasn’t jumped from a plane flying over the ocean in decades. 

The chaos of recent stems from his dealings with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Montana, and how his bankruptcy was denied due to his allegedly concealing assets from the courts. In that same vein of new details emerging, with recent attention spotlighting his situation by media and “patriot” groups nationwide, some facts have been mixed up with non-fact. It was stated Bodeker was given 30 days to exhume his wife’s body from her grave on their property following his eviction. This is false. Due to the statement, Bigfork attorney and trustee of Bodeker’s case, Christy Brandon, sent to Bodeker a motion that states, “the Trustee has requested the court to enter protective order requiring Debtor to post corrective statements.” Brandon also sent a motion to vacate the sale of his home.

And that is only part of it. With legal proceedings still on hold, and with Bodeker vacated from his property, the present time is about waiting. But time and energy are things Bodeker no longer has as much of as he used to.

“I am so tired,” Bodeker said. “The reason I went bankrupt was because of mostly medical bills from my wife having cancer. And no money.”

Bodeker filed for bankruptcy following the death of his wife, Lorna Bodeker, who passed away in July 2011 after a 10 year battle with cancer. During that particular battle, one of many Bodeker has fought in his lifetime, he incurred thousands of dollars in medical bills, living expenses, and alternative treatments for Lorna. Bodeker buried his wife on their property, located just outside of Paradise, and had planned to be buried next to her when the time came. 

When Bodeker’s bankruptcy was denied, Judge Ralph B. Kirscher ordered that he either vacate, sell or expunge his property. Bodeker vacated his property last Monday, on June 18, and emptied it with the help of friends and neighbors of belongings. 

The courts also maintain that Bodeker failed to list assets when he initially filed for bankruptcy; something that in most cases, is a serious offense. The “significant assets” listed in court documents are that of gold and silver coins, farm and tractor equipment, guns, a ram’s head, and $2,000 found in a container atop his refrigerator. All of these assets were seized by the courts.

“I wasn’t trying to evade,” Bodeker said. “There were assets I missed. The mind don’t work like it did. It was all happening so fast. If I had any idea it would be like this, I wouldn’t have even attempted to go through this. They do not explain the ramifications of making mistakes.”

Bodeker stated the ‘mistake’ he made was in signing the legal stipulation that waived his homestead exemption, and sell his property to the first available buyer.

“I never intended to give up my property. I want to start all over,” Bodeker said. “And I want my land back, in my hands, the way it’s supposed to be.”

With the onset of Brandon’s motion to vacate the sale of Bodeker’s home, this could be a possibility. If the motion goes unchallenged, it will be considered by the judge in the courts. 

For now, Bodeker is living with the Ryan family, also of Plains, and is receiving their help in matters regarding his bankruptcy denial and the chain of events that have followed. The family maintains hope through the chaos, and Bodeker is currently waiting for the next wave of the process to break, though he stated the process is corrupt. 

“Justice is everybody’s business,” he said.