Dale Reynolds

Dale Earl Reynolds, 74, passed away in his sleep Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, due to complications of throat cancer. He was born Sept. 15, 1934, to Merlin and Alice (Nunn) Reynolds along with his twin sister Gale for the whopping price of $12. He often spoke of how the doctor charged Merlin double the going price since there were two babies. They were the fifth and sixth of 10 children. His birth took place in Bemidji, Minn., but his family moved to Montana in 1936, where Merlin found work at the Kalispell Mercantile and Alice was a full-time mother and homemaker.

During his childhood, Dale attended school in Columbia Falls and helped with chores at home along with his siblings. He told many stories of the family garden, and how he enjoyed keeping his assigned portion of it weed free. In his free time, he enjoyed dancing and hunting and fishing in the Montana outdoors.

Dale joined the Army in 1956 and proudly served in Korea until 1958 and upon his return spent a short time in the Reserves. He married Shirley Ann Toftum in 1959 in Forest Grove, Ore. One of their favorite pastimes together was dancing at the Blue Moon. He enjoyed working with his hands and found employment at many sawmills as a millwright, including Rocky Mountain Lumber, Plum Creek, American Timber and Stoltze Lumber.

In addition to millwork, Dale and Shirley engaged in some small business ventures as part owners of the Paul Bunyan Bar from 1979 to 1981. They sold their portion of that business and bought the Park Theater, which they operated from 1981 until it burned Christmas night 1983. For a short time Dale also worked with his sons at a gold mine for Cherhill Resources near Hauser Lake located close to Helena. He had very fond memories of that time — being able to work side-by-side with both of his boys.

Above all, Dale loved and was very dedicated to his family. He passed on his sense of values and love of the outdoors to his children who have since passed them on to their children. After his retirement from Stoltze, he went to work for his son Clint doing concrete work. Dale had many fond memories helping Clint and teaching the younger workers a thing or two about real work ethics. After that, he was content to be at home, watching his family grow, helping care for his beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren, rafting with his family, fishing, gardening, visiting, working in his yard and tinkering in his shop. There was nothing Dale couldn't fix, and he never turned anyone away if they needed help.

Dale will be remembered for his jolly sense of humor. Everyone who knew him has a story involving Dale telling a joke or story that brightened their day. There are just no words to say how much he will be missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother Leroy and his wife Beryl; and sister-in-law Linda Reynolds.

Survivors include his wife Shirley; son Randy (Chandra) of Columbia Falls; daughter Velvet (Mark) Anderson of Whitefish; son Clint (Jodie) of Columbia Falls; brothers Greydon (Pat), Bruce, Jess (Marla) and Don (Mary) of Columbia Falls, and Charles "Chub" (Barbara) of Kalispell; twin sister Gale Bailey and significant other Pat of Columbia Falls, and sisters Murial (Paul "Bud") Jensen of Kalispell, and Pat (Lanny) Luding of West Glacier; grandchildren Jeremiah (Tina), Savannah (Wes' Benbrook, Cindel Reynolds, Skye Anderson, Chase Anderson, Dalton Reynolds and Teagan Reynolds; great-grandchildren Traci Reynolds, Zoe Benbrook and Clarissa Benbrook; and many other relatives including aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws.

Dale's life will be celebrated Saturday, Aug. 15 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the home of Velvet Anderson, 121 Johnson Lane (off Whitefish Stage Road).