Duane Milo Reisch, 91

Duane Milo Reisch, 91 of Whitefish, passed away June 15, 2022, at Logan Health in Whitefish.

Duane was born in Van Hook, North Dakota, Aug. 6, 1930, to Harel Fremont Reisch and Lillian Evelyn Pederson. As a child he lived in Van Hook, Cut Bank, Montana, and Vancouver, Washington. He graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1948 and married his high school sweetheart, Dawn Hope Rougle, in August of 1948.

Duane began his 35-year career with Safeway as a box boy. After two years he apprenticed as a meat cutter and worked his way up to manager of the stores in Choteau, Great Falls and, finally, Whitefish. He managed the Whitefish store for 13 years and retired from Safeway in 1984. He and Larry Jensen partnered in the building and operating of the Pin and Cue in Whitefish. After 16 years, he bought Markus Foods and later began the Reisch Family Partnership which also owned and operated Alpine Market and the Montana Tap House.

A person with seemingly boundless energy, Duane was active in the communities where he lived. He joined Jaycees, Lions Club, the Chamber of Commerce and Rotary. When he wasn’t participating in service organizations, he was playing baseball, raising horses and cattle, calf-roping, hunting, fishing and golfing. For years, during hunting season, he could be found taking pack trips into the Bob Marshall Wilderness.

In later years, he and Dawn began traveling to California for the winters. They eventually purchased a home in Palm Desert and Duane organized golf tournaments for the Montanans who were there for the winter. He loved to be around people and would join friends from Montana for coffee nearly every morning before a round of golf. He continued to play golf until he was well into his 80s.

Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Harel and Lillian, his wife of 69 years, Dawn, his sister, Leora Kiel, and his daughter, Darlene Trebesch.

He is survived by his daughter Diane Kane (Stephen), his son, Dale, and his daughter, Danelle Reisch (Jack Eaton); siblings, Darrel Reisch and Verna Wilson; grandchildren, Erin Libaire (Jake), Deirdre Cook (Charlie), Brendan Kane, Alan Reisch (Michelle), Spenser Eaton, and five great-grandchildren. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

Austin Funeral and Cremation Services are caring for Duane and his family.