Officials ID Iowa snowmobiler who died in Montana avalanche

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Officials in Gallatin County released the name of an Iowa snowmobiler who was killed in an avalanche west of Yellowstone National Park over the weekend.

Bradie Hrold Becker, 30, of Algona, Iowa, died Sunday in a slide in the Lionhead area west of the town of West Yellowstone, Sheriff and Coroner Dan Springer said in a statement Tuesday.

He died of asphyxiation after being buried in avalanche debris, Springer said.

Becker had been separated from a the rest of his group at the time of the avalanche, Springer said. When they found him, resuscitation efforts were unsuccessful.

He was wearing an avalanche airbag that deployed and was also wearing a helmet, Springer said.

Becker's was the third avalanche death in Montana this season. Minnesota snowmobilers Jesse and Carl Thelen were killed on Dec. 27 north of Cooke City, Park County officials said.