Owen Robert Dukleth, 85

Owen Robert Dukleth, 85, passed away on Friday, Jan. 13, 2006, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

He was born on Oct. 26, 1920, in Devon, to P. Martin and Bertha (Wollan) Dukleth. Martin worked in farming near Devon. Owen had one younger brother William and has an older sister Edna (Kelch) and they grew up with him in the Badrock Canyon area and the Bissell districts of Flathead Valley. Owen enjoyed the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He attended high school in Columbia Falls for two years and graduated from Flathead County High School.

During the Great Depression he was a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. During World War II, Owen worked for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle as a riveter. He met Doris F. Munter in Seattle and the couple married on May 5, 1941. To this union five children were born. Jack and Fred were born in Seattle and Richard, David and Janice were born in Kalispell, where Owen and Doris returned after the war.

Owen's Flathead career years were as a meat cutter with several Kalispell markets. He retired with Albertsons on Dec. 17, 1982.

Owen was a member of the National Rifle Association, an ardent cribbage player and had many other related interests. Owen and Doris were members of Calvary Lutheran Church in Evergreen. Doris passed away in October of 1991.

In October of 1994, Owen married Vera Darling (Green). Vera was a lifelong resident of Columbia Falls, but now resides in Bigfork. They were members of the United Methodist Church of Columbia Falls. Owen entered the Immanuel Lutheran Home on Jan. 10, 2005.

Owen was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife and his brother.

He is survived by his wife, Vera Dukleth of Bigfork; four sons, Jack and wife, Glenda, of Missoula, Fred of Whitefish, Richard and wife, Rozanne, of Havre, and David and wife, Sherry, of Dayton, Nev.; and one daughter, Janice Braaton and husband, Gordon, of Marysville, Wash.; a sister, Edna Kelch of Creston; and Vera's children, Michael Darling of Palm Springs, Calif., and Patricia Darling of Tucson. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Michelle Mandara and Timothy Dukleth of Helena, and Kyle and Robert Braaton of Marysville, Wash.; along with numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services for Owen will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, in the United Methodist Church in Columbia Falls with Pastor David Jones officiating. Burial will follow in the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 until 4 p.m. on Monday at Johnson Mortuary.

The family suggests memorial gifts be given to the United Methodist Church of Columbia Falls, 117 2nd St. West, Columbia Falls, Mont. 59912.

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