David Armstrong

David William Armstrong, 56, passed away at his home on the North Fork Road, near Columbia Falls, on July 27, 2011.

He was born March 1, 1955 in Bemidji, Minn., to William and Mary Armstrong. He was baptized and later confirmed in the Lutheran faith.

The family moved to Columbia Falls when he was an infant. He attended Columbia Falls schools. One of the highlights of these school years was playing saxophone in the Columbia Falls High School band and the Columbians. He was a member of the band that Don Lawrence and Chaperones took on the first Band Trip to Europe.

He worked at several lumber mills in the area until one by one they closed. He worked at the Herberger's department store in Kalispell and recently had been in the Glendive rea applying for work in the oil fields. He got sick from heat exhaustion, was able to come back home and then acquired pneumonia.

He married Patricia Robert and they had a son, Joshua. David later married Karla Reid and they had a son, Gabriel, and a daughter, Sarah. On July 22, 2000, he married Diana Randolph and gained a stepson, Russell.

David was one of the first hang gliders to soar off Teakettle Mountain. He loved to "fly," fish, hunt deer and elk and most of all he loved his family.

He leaves his family to mourn his early and untimely passing, including wife Diana Armstrong; parents William and Mary Armstrong; children Joshua Armstrong, of Glendive, son Gabriel Armstrong, of Columbia Falls, and daughter Sarah Armstrong Hylton and husband Louis, of Kalispell; sister Diane Armstrong Lalum and husband Allen and brother Bradley Armstrong and wife Karla, all of Columbia Falls; stepson Russell Ryan and stepgrandson Hunter Ryan; nephews William Lalum, of Renton, Wash., and Nathan Lalum and wife Rev. Katie Nelson, of Columbia Heights, Minn. He is also survived by many cousins in Minnesota, Montana and Arizona and his childhood friend Andy Fisher, of Arlee.

David was preceded in death by his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins Karla Glawe and Paul Armstrong, and special friends Bill Ladenburg, Charlie Ladenburg, Jim Ladenburg and Glen Speer.

Memorial services were held Aug. 2, 2011, at Our Savior Lutheran Church, in Columbia Falls, with Pastor Peter Erickson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Our Saviors Lutheran Church or a charity of choice.