Dale Witty
Dale Ivan Witty, 72, passed away July 14, 2008, surrounded by his wife and children at his home south of Buffalo, Wyo.
He was born April 25, 1936, in Oswego to Teddy and Edith Witty. As a young boy, he moved with his family to Columbia Falls, where he grew up and went to school, graduating from Columbia Falls High School in 1955.
After high school he worked for Al Green at the Philips 66 station in Columbia Falls. He married Haroldeen "Deanie" Leighty on May 3, 1957, and they made their home in Columbia Falls.
Dale went to work for Will Warner in 1963 as a log sawyer, where he began his lifelong passion for logging. In 1969, a logging accident persuaded him to begin one of the first confined hog operations in the Flathead Valley. They raised hogs until 1975, when he started hauling gravel for Schellinger Construction.
In 1978 they moved to Trego, and Dale went back into the woods as a logging contractor. In 1983, they moved to Sheridan, Wyo., where he was a woods boss for Bear Paw Logging. In 1987, Dale went to work for Buckingham Lumber as their primary logger.
They moved to Buffalo in 1995, and in 1999, Dale became an over-the-road trucker for Natrona Transfer and Storage. He retired in 2001 but continued his love of timbering by milling lumber for his friends and family. Dale continued living in Buffalo until the time of his death.
Dale was president of the Montana Pork Producers and was nominated for All American Pork Producer in 1971. He was a 4-H Leader and a first sergeant and nine-year member of the Montana National Guard.
He taught gymnastics at the Trego school, was a member of the Old Time Fiddlers and the Spruce Beetles bands that played for many community events. He loved spending time with his family and being in the woods. He led a very colorful and adventurous life and will always be remembered for his way with a chain saw, a story and endless devotion to his wife Deanie.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents and one infant brother.
He is survived by his wife Deanie; sons Mike Witty, of Buffalo, and Monte Witty and wife Kathleen, of Buffalo; daughters Susan Schmidt and husband George, of Whitefish, LeAnn Wood and husband Stephen, of Oakley, Calif., and Carmen Witty and fiance John Christian, of Clearmont, Wyo.; and seven grandchildren.
A celebration of the life will take place will be held at the Johnson County Fairgrounds Community Building in Buffalo on Friday, July 18, at 6 p.m. with Pastor Marty Rostad officiating.
Donations may be made in Dale's name to the Dale Witty Memorial Fund in care of the Adams Funeral Home, 351 North Adams, Buffalo WY 82834. A private family interment will take place in the Flathead.