Albert "Dick" Hawes

Albert Richard "Dick" Hawes, 80, passed away from complications of Parkinson's disease at Brendan House in Kalispell on Oct. 18, 2008.

Dick was born on Aug. 9, 1928, in Detroit, the only child of English immigrants, Albert Victor and Flora (Robertson) Hawes.

He grew up and attended school in Michigan. He graduated from the Ford Trade School and worked for a short time in tool and die.

Dick served in the Air Force from 1948 to 1953 and flew an F86 in and out of Korea. After being honorably discharged in 1953, Dick served in the Michigan Air Force National Guard and the Air Force Reserves until July 1958.

In 1955, Dick began a 32-year career flying for Trans World Airlines. He flew both domestic and international flights, reaching captain very early in his flying career and flying some incredible aircraft — the Constellation, the L1011 and his most favorite, Boeing's 747.

While in the military, Dick was in a plane crash that he was not piloting. One of the propeller blades cut into the fuselage and cut up his seat just inches from his body.

In 1971, Dick found himself with a hijacker on board only 20 minutes from LaGuardia en route to Chicago. Dick convinced the hijacker the plane was not equipped to fly to Italy and that they needed to return to LaGuardia to get a larger plane. The man agreed and was ultimately shot by an FBI sharp shooter.

In 1959, Dick married Karen York. They were married 26 years before divorcing.

He moved to Montana in 1991, started building a home and met Carol Fitzpatrick. They were married July 13, 2002, at their home between Kalispell and Bigfork.

Dick was a racquetball, squash and motorcycle enthusiast who loved many kinds of music, literature, American history and talking politics. He loved watching elk, deer, wild turkeys and the occasional bear from his living room window. He loved his family and his dog, Ruby.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Flora Hawes.

He is survived by his wife Carol; daughters Tracy Hawes, of Boca Raton, Fla., and Susan Hawes, of Washington, N.J.; son Jeffery Hawes, of Sparta, N.J.; stepdaughters Quinn Fitzpatrick and husband Brad Lamson, of Whitefish, and Shannon Kimball, husband John and their children Carolyn and Noah Kimball, all of Kalispell.

A memorial celebration was held at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork on Nov. 3, 2008.

Memorials may be donated in Dick's name to the United Veterans of the Flathead Valley, 620 Eighth Street East, Whitefish MT 59937.