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Harold Dalen

| June 28, 2006 11:00 PM

Harold Arne "Buz" Dalen Jr., 56, passed away Jan. 31, 2006, in Albany, Mo., from cancer of the larynx.

Buz was born in Whitefish on June 17, 1949, the son of Bud and Ethelyn Dalen. He attended grade school at Whitefish Elementary and graduated from Whitefish High School. Buz attended Sunday school and church at the Assembly of God in Whitefish for 18 years.

After graduation, Buz enlisted in the Navy's nuclear submarine service. Buz devoted six years of his life to serving his country. He wore his uniform with pride. Buz was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy as a petty officer first class on July 19, 1973.

He was a principled, gentle man, suave and debonair. He had a unique walk, and his mother was always proud to walk beside him.

On Aug. 14, 1970, he married his high school sweetheart, Rebecca Bly Faldborg, in Portland. They then left for Charleston, S.C. Buz and Becky later moved to Fort Collins, Colo., to establish their residence, and Buz entered Colorado State University. The couple were divorced Nov. 25, 1974.

Buz received the "Good Samaritan Award" for saving the life of a fellow human being. In Fort Collins, he met a very special 10-year old who was deaf. Buz learned sign language so he could communicate with her.

In 1984, Buz married Mary Burkholder. He and Mary were together 11 years, and then they were divorced in 1995. Buz went to work for Hewlett-Packard and worked his way up to project manager. Using his Navy skills and knowledge, he fine-tuned the whole Hewlett Packard plant and could control the plant's temperature using his computer anywhere he happened to be.

Buz is survived by his parents, Bud and Ethelyn Dalen, of Whitefish; brother Gary Dalen and wife Annette, of Whitefish; nieces Janelle Johnson and husband Paul, of Sidney, and Jennifer Retz and husband Erik, of Whitefish; nephews Jeffrey Dalen and wife Jenny, of Kalispell, and Jim Dalen of Whitefish; grandnephews Dalen and Daniel Johnson, of Sidney, Benjamin and Scott Dalen, of Kalispell, and Kaleb Retz of Spokane; grandnieces Diana and Denae Johnson, of Sidney; aunts and uncle Arlene and Kenny Field, of Kalispell, Lois Glock Torgerson, of Spokane, and Mary Dyer Dalen, of Franklin, W.Va.; cousins David Torgerson, of Whitefish, Brad and Teresa Torgerson Sheflo, of Missoula, Tim and Alex Torgerson, of Whitefish, Mike and Lori Field, of Spokane, Jim and Kim Read, of Eureka, John and Melody Dalen, of Franklin, Andrea Larivee, of Aukland, New Zealand, Dee Sloan, of Whitefish, Phillis Moore and Joanne Hoffman, of Spokane, Jerry and Myrna Wilson, of Las Vegas, Nev., and Ronald Wilson, of Los Angeles; and numerous friends.

The family commemorated Buz on his birthday, June 17. His final wishes were to have his ashes spread in the mountains of Montana.