Harold Glenn Oglesbee, 85
Harold Glenn Oglesbee passed away at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center on Jan. 17, 2011.
He was born on May 18, 1925, to Harold G. and Violette Millikan Oglesbee in Spokane, where he lived through his high school years.
He joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 and served as a staff sergeant during World War II as an aerial gunner in a B17. Stationed in England, he and his crew flew many missions over Germany, and for that he was proudly awarded the AAC Air Medal.
After the war he returned to Spokane and began teaching skiing at Mount Spokane. He joined the Professional Ski Instructors of America, of which he became a life-long member. During that time, he also served as a PSIA examiner of instructors all over the West, including Big Mountain in Whitefish.
In 1960 he moved to Sun Valley, Idaho, where he was a well-respected ski instructor for 14 years and taught many celebrity clients. During these years, he also worked as a master finish carpenter.
He met and married Phyllis Claar in 1972 in Sun Valley. They later moved to Twin Falls, Idaho, and then to Anacortes, Wash., where he continued in carpentry and remodeled several historical buildings in the downtown area. In their spare time, he and Phyllis sailed around the San Juan Islands in their 32-foot boat named Calico.
Wishing to live closer to the grandchildren, they sold the boat and moved to Kalispell in 1993. Harold worked on various building projects until he retired.
He was a big fan of jazz music and especially of the Latin jazz group Cocinando. Mark Holston, founder of the group, became his good friend.
He is survived by his wife, Phyllis, of Kalispell; his brothers, Bob Stokes of Spokane, and Dick Stokes of Mesa, Ariz.; his daughter, Janice Dickerman, and husband, Gary, of Kirkland, Wash.; stepdaughters, Susan Maw and husband Steven, and Dallas Traeger and husband William of Kalispell, and Sally Bell and husband Daniel of Hamilton. He has 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
Cremation has taken place at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Memorial services are pending at this time.
To send a note of condolence to the family, please go to www.buffalohillfh.com.