Owen Dukleth

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

He was born Oct. 26, 1920, in Devon to P. Martin and Bertha (Wollan) Dukleth. Martin worked in farming near Devon and grew up in the Badrock Canyon area and 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.

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

Funeral services for Owen were held Jan. 17, 2006, in the United Methodist Church in Columbia Falls with Pastor David Jones officiating. Burial followed in the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

The family suggests memorials be given to the United Methodist Church of Columbia Falls, 117 Second St. West, Columbia Falls MT 59912.