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Dale
Koelzer Obituary
Bozeman Chronicle
11/25/06 |
Dale R.
Koelzer of West Yellowstone passed away Friday, Nov.
24, 2006, from congestive heart failure.
Dale was born in Lewiston, Idaho,
on Oct. 20, 1919, to Rupert Lewis and Edna Elizabeth (Spiker)
Koelzer. The family moved from Lewiston to a homestead
in Wilder on the Missouri River where they resided for
several years. They moved back to Lewiston and on to Spokane,
Wash., where Dale attended school through sixth grade.
His mother passed away when he was in sixth grade and
he moved to Clarkston, Wash., and he attended grade school
there. In 1937, he graduated from Billings High School.
Upon graduating from high school, he
went to work in the hide and scrap business with his father
and uncle in Butte. In 1938 they became a part of Pacific
Hide & Fur Depot. He was drafted into the Army in
January of 1942. Dale served with the 256th Quartermaster
Pack Co. in the U.S. and later in Italy. This unit was
attached to the 10th Mountain Division and was active
in the final campaigns in Northern Italy. In 1945 he married
Beuna Belle Vetter of Ennis and they made their home in
Butte. Upon returning from the army, he went back to work
with Pacific Hide & Fur until 1951 when he was recalled
in the reserve and served in Korea. After he returned
from Korea he returned to work for Pacific Hide &
Fur where he worked his way up to executive vice president.
It was under his leadership that Pacific started the new
steel business that has proved to be very successful to
this day. After 35 years he retired from Pacific to his
home in West Yellowstone where he incorporated a cabinet
shop and did considerable custom cabinetry in the area.
He also enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing and traveling.
Over the years, Dale kindled and
nurtured friendships with many in the West
Yellowstone/Island Park, Idaho, area through the work
he did in his cabinet shop. Working with wood gave him
some of his greatest pleasure and satisfaction - that,
and beating family members at cards!
Dale could be very generous and
it was through the efforts of Dale, his late wife Belle
and the late Dutch Spainhower (former Mayor of West Yellowstone)
that land was made available for an exchange so that the
town of West Yellowstone, and the Hebgen Basin, could
have a cemetery.
Dale loved the Duck Creek area
near West Yellowstone, and the pond. He loved watching
the changing seasons, the different wildlife and waterfowl
that migrated through his property there.
Dale is survived by two sons, Bob
(Trizia) of Bozeman, Richard (Sandy) of Boise, Idaho,
his daughter Mary Davis (Ken) of West Yellowstone. Six
grandchildren Robbie, Shelley, Richard Roger (Tammy),
Polly (Bill Kelvie), Travis Uehling (Tiffany) and Spring
(Ron) Binfet and eight great-grandchildren; Eve, Kyla,
Darby, Bryce, Bentley, Oakley, Christopher and Michelle.
He is also survived by brothers Vern; of Billings, Newt;
of Nevada, sisters Donna Gill of Shelton, Wash., Paula
Hansen and Theresa Miller of Kennewick, Wash., many nieces,
nephews and a huge extended family. Also surviving is
a sweetheart from his youth and his golden years, Dee
Conner of Tigard, Ore. Together they traveled and cruised
extensively over the last six years and enjoyed each other's
company immensely.
His parents, brother Jerry, and his
wife of 54 years, Belle, preceded him in death.
A rosary will be held in West Yellowstone
at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church at 11 a.m. on
Monday, Nov. 28, graveside services will follow at Fir
Ridge Cemetery. A celebration life will follow the graveside
at his home on Duck Creek.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Dale's name
can be made to: The West Yellowstone Historic Center and
the Madison Valley Manor in Ennis.
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