Bear grew up in Running Bird township, an Indian reservation in South Dakota. He belonged to the Sioux tribe.



Bear began his service in 1943, joining the 96th Bomb Group at Snetterton Heath. In 1944 he served Thanksgiving dinner to school children with a colleague, it was common for American bases to host local children, especially orphans, during the holiday season. Rationing meant that items in the feast being enjoyed at this table were in short supply – the ordinary allowance of butter and cheese was just 2 oz (50g) each per person per week.



After the war, Bear returned to Mellette, South Dakota where he married Violet Landeaux in 1958.