Dallas Gronley
Dallas LeRoy Gronley, 60, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on Aug. 18, 2012, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Cente.
He was born in Kalispell on March 8, 1952 to LeRoy and Iris K. (Iverson) Gronley, the first of four brothers. He grew up in Evergreen, graduating from Flathead High School in 1970.
Dallas was an Eagle Scout, living an outdoor life filled with hunting and fishing, wood cutting and camping. He was drawn to the forest, spending 50-plus years cutting Christmas trees, doing sawyer work for Royal Logging, partnering with GNP Logging, and finally owning his own company Beaver Timber.
He earned the Montana Logger of the Year award three years in a row. He was meticulous about having his saws sharp and running to perfection, winning several stock power saw competitions. A master with a chainsaw, he made hard work look effortless.
On Sept. 16, 1972, Dallas married Jane Ann Pokornoski, and to this union was born three children, Travis, Ben and Ashley. Dallas was loved by all who knew him, a true “good old boy” who enjoyed life and all God’s people.
He was a storyteller and a good friend to so many.
His driveway was always filled with friends stopping by to visit.
He loved a good dog, horse or mule, spending his down time in the saddle, on the trail and in camp with the people and animals he enjoyed so much.
A Saturday spent blazing down the trail on his bay horse Two Bits was his favorite place to be.
Joined by countless friends and family he enjoyed the wilderness and all it had to offer. Fall was his favorite time of year. Hunting trips were a family affair, as he shared the outdoor tradition with his three children. Elk hunting trips up the South Fork were the highlight of the year, making memories that last a lifetime.
On Jan. 27, 2006, he married Dianne Mulford, of Cherokee, Iowa, and resided near Columbia Falls.
Dallas was preceded in death by his mother Iris Gronley; sister-in-law Jeannie Cook; father and mother-in-law Joe and Helen Pokornoski; father-in-law Earl Hammer; and close friends Jim Ferder and Dan and Wes Lynch.
He is survived by his wife Dianne Gronley; son Travis and wife April and their children Tyler and Tenley, of Helena; son Ben and wife Kara and their children Quindy and Raya, of Kalispell; daughter Ashley and friend Tony, of Kalispell; father LeRoy Gronley; brothers Jamie and wife Lynne, Delray, and Brad and wife Tracy, all of Kalispell; mother-in-law Elaine Hammer; stepson Nathan Wirth and wife Jen and their children Bailey and Ben, of St. Louis, Mo.; stepson Adam Wirth, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; many nieces and nephews; and special friends Chris Nickol and Shawn Billy Finch.
Memorial services were held Aug. 24, 2012, at the Cowboy Church, in Kalispell, with Pastor Tim Bartholomew officiated.
Memorial contributions in Dallas’ name are encouraged to The Boy Scouts of America, Back Country Horsemen and the Montana Logging Association.