Thomas Dalton 'Tom' Bright, 80

Thomas Dalton "Tom" Bright, 80, passed away on Monday, April 10, 2006, at Health Center Northwest in Kalispell.

He was born on Feb. 22, 1926, at Centralia, Ill., the son of John W. and Elizabeth (Knight) Bright.

He attended schools in Peoria, Ill. and San Diego, Calif.

He entered the U.S. Marine Corps in 1943, and served in World War II where he was a member of the 3rd Marine Division, and served in the Asiatic Pacific Area, the Solomon Islands, Marshall Islands, Mariana's Islands and the Volcano Islands. He was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. He also participated in action against the Japanese on Guam and Iwo Jima. He is credited with the capture of the first Japanese prisoner on Guam. He toured in Vietnam where he received the Bronze Star.

On May 25, 1951, he was united in marriage to Margaret Grover at Williams Air Force Base at Chandler, Ariz. Following his discharge from the Marines, he entered the U.S. Air Force and proudly made the next 26 years his career. He worked as a panel engineer on B-29 Bombers and was also a member of the 52nd Air Rescue Squad. He was stationed on many different duty stations including Newfoundland and Taiwan. His last duty was at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota from which he retired in 1973 as a senior master sergeant.

He and Marge moved to San Antonio, Texas, where Tom began a career of selling real estate. Following a vacation to the Flathead Valley, they loved the area so much they decided to relocate to Kalispell in 1975. He was a licensed hearing aid specialist and worked for Chuck Olson Real Estate for many years.

He loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He also was a very talented woodworker and was a past member of the Artists and Craftsmen of the Flathead Valley. Many of his products have found homes all over the world.

He was a member of the Knights of Columbus where he was a 3rd & 4th degree Knight; a member of the National Rifle Association; the Whitefish Rifle Range and a devout member of St. Matthew's Parish.

He was preceded in death by his son, John Dalton Bright, on April 29, 1984; eight little babies; his parents, John W. and Elizabeth Bright; and a sister, Joy Raney.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret "Marge" Bright of Kalispell; a sister, Joan Ackmann of Elgin, Ill.; two nieces, Rhonda Finke and husband, David, of Paducah, Ky., and Barbara Mars of Nashville, Tenn.; two nephews, Dale Raney and Eric Raney, both of Illinois; and numerous other nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Mass of Christian burial will be 12:10 p.m. on Tuesday, April 18, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church, with Father Vic Langhans as celebrant. A Committal will follow the services at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, April 17 with a Rosary service following at 7 p.m. at the Johnson Mortuary Chapel.

The family suggests that any donations be made to: John Bright Memorial Fund, St. Matthew's Catholic Church, 601 Sixth Ave. W., Kalispell, MT 59901.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Tom's family.