Karl Duane Pinkerman

Karl Duane Pinkerman passed away on Friday, November 10, 2006 at Community Medical Center in Missoula after a long and courageous battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis.

Duane was born in Denver, Colorado on June 24, 1928 to Karl Clifton Pinkerman and Violet Hazel (Gauss) Pinkerman. He was raised in Anaconda, Montana until 1941 when the family moved to the East Shore of Flathead Lake.

Duane graduated from Polson High School in 1947 and then worked at Security State Bank in Polson for one year after which he enrolled in Eastern Montana College in Billings where he earned a degree in education. Duane taught in Rollins, Noxon, White Sulphur Springs, Three Forks and Hardin, Montana where he retired after 37 years of teaching, 32 of which were in Hardin.

While teaching in Hardin, he met Ruth (Lewis) Giles. On May 27, 1960 they were married in Three Forks, Montana and were married for 46 years. He retired in 1999 and returned to the East Shore of the Flathead Lake where he had a cherry orchard business for over 30 years. In 2002 he turned over the orchard business to his daughter and son-in-law Kari and Mike Nelson.

Duane belonged to Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork, the Montecahto Club and the Yellow Bay Club along the East Shore and the Masonic Lodge in Polson and The Order of the Eastern Star in Hardin where he was Past Patron. Also throughout the years he was involved in the Montana Wildlife Federation and the Hardin Rod and Gun Club.

He was an avid hunter and fisherman and spent many years in the hills and rivers of Big Horn County doing what he loved to do. He also loved to cook and was known for his cookies and candy making. In addition, Duane had great interest in gardening and horticulture.

His parents, Karl and Violet, preceded him in death. He is survived by his ever loving wife Ruth, of the East Shore; his daughter Kari Lei Nelson and her husband, Mike and Hannah Marie Nelson his only grandchild, of Missoula; his stepson, Kenneth (Kip) Giles and his wife, Mary Ann of Buckland, Alaska; his sister, Viola Lewis and her husband, Escoe of the East Shore; his Aunt Mary Gauss, and cousins Arleen Kutney and Maureen Davis all of Canada. Also surviving him are several nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2006 from 9 am to 5pm in the Grogan Funeral Home, Polson and on Thursday, November 16, 2006 in the Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork from 12pm to 2pm. Funeral services will be held in the church at 2:00 pm with Rev. Jack Shannon officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Noah's Ark, a center for youth activities located in Bigfork or a charity of your choice. Condolences to the family www.groganfuneralhome.com