M. Deane Halter

M. Deane Halter, 80, passed away on Saturday, April 8, 2006 at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. He was born on July 18, 1925 at Sunburst, Mont., the son of Lester and Ina (Christensen) Halter.

He moved with his mother to Woods Bay in 1929 and attended schools in Bigfork. On Dec. 10, 1943 he entered the U.S. Air Force and worked as an aircraft engine mechanic. He returned from the service in 1946 and worked in the woods in the Flathead Valley and also worked on the Hungry Horse Dam. On July 22, 1950 he was united in marriage to Mildred Holmquist in Kalispell. They moved to Spokane, Wash., in 1950, where he did concrete basement work. The family moved to Los Angeles in 1956 where he built swimming pools until 1959 when the family relocated back to Spokane. There Deane worked for Commercial Gunnite building basements. In 1964, they moved to Walla Walla, Wash., where he worked on a farm until 1976, when they moved back to the Flathead Valley where they remained until his passing.

Deane loved woodworking, puttering about, his collection of tools, gardening and his pickup. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

He is survived by his wife: Mildred of Bigfork; three sons: Gilbert "Bud" Halter and wife Sue of Kalispell; Dennis Halter of Bigfork; and Duane Halter and wife Lula Jo of Las Vegas, Nev.; a sister-in-law Barbara Cope and her son Kenny and a brother-in-law Ernest Holmquist and 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives;

Funeral services were held April 12, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Kalispell with Bishop Jon Marshall presiding. Burial will follow the service at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Johnson Mortuary & Crematory is caring for Deane's family.