David Robert Curtiss, 84

David Robert Curtiss, 84, died quietly at his home Thursday morning, July 7, 2005, after valiantly battling an ever weakening heart for a number of years.

Second son of Alvin and Mary Alice Curtiss, he was born Aug. 13, 1920, at his parents' Deep Creek homestead near Fortine. He attended Fortine public school and after graduating from Lincoln County High School at Eureka, attended Benson Polytechnical Institute at Portland.

After completing aircraft instrument technical training he went to work for the Civil Service and before enlistment in the Army Air Force in World War II, he was employed at what was then Geiger Air Force Base at Spokane.

During his active service in the 8th Air Force in the European Theater, Staff Sgt. David Curtiss was attached to the 853rd Air Engineer Squadron, where he served both as a member of flight crews and as an instrument technician helping patch up other disabled B-17s returning from missions over Europe.

Battles and campaigns enumerated to his credit were: Normandy Air Offensive in Europe; Northern France-Ardennes; and Central Europe-Rhineland. He was one of the first Montanans to be discharged under the point system in 1945. He survived a plane crash during his hitchhike home via Casa Blanca and Brazil, as the Air Force which was still engaged in the Japanese Sector at that time, had no transport for returnees.

He led the V-J Day parade at Gore Hill in Great Falls where later in 1945, he and former schoolmate Aubyn A. Armstrong were married at the base chapel. Worried about the belligerent actions of Russia, upon his discharge he immediately enlisted in the Army Air Force Reserve for another three years. In addition to his two honorable discharges and good conduct medal, he was awarded the European African Middle Eastern service medal.

David returned to his instrument technician position at Geiger Field, which had been held open for him, but the couple wished to return to Montana. There they conducted a logging and mill operation for a time until friends encouraged a trip to Alaska, which turned into a three-year adventure and a unique experience with Morrison-Knutson-Peter Kiewit building the Alaska Railroad Terminal and work on the then-Ladd Air Force Base.

Love of Montana and aging parents brought the couple back home to Deep Creek where they briefly resumed their logging business, but soon launched a family-operated wholesale-retail Christmas tree business. The Koocanusa Christmas Tree trademark was recognized and sought after at retail outlets, not only across the Montana Highline through to Williston, N.D., but at Billings, Hayward and Lafayette in California. David by then was employed by the U.S. Forest Service where he served as fire control officer at the Murphy Lake Ranger Station until his retirement in 1975, due to injuries experience in line of duty. It was during his tenure at the fire desk that the Fortine Ranger District became known on the Kootenai National Forest as the "asbestos district."

David will always be remembered as an outdoorsman, proud to be a native Montanan loving this special part of the world, deeply appreciative of his surroundings which he and brothers explored from their early years - a man desirous of extending the opportunity to all to enjoy this heritage even though unable to hike the mountain trails and wade the streams as he once was able to do.

David loved horses and was an avid hunter and fisherman. One of his most treasured experiences was his participation with his brother, Larry, and his family on the Montana Centennial Cattle Drive.

David will be remembered for his boundless love for his family and for his helping hand extended to any in need. He was a lifetime supporter of the Fortine Community Church, served for a time as 4-H leader, helped organize the Blue Sky Riders Saddle Club, was a member of the Back Country Horsemen, member of Eureka Post #6786 of the V.F.W., and along with Norman Livesay and Chester Apeland, initiated the formation of the refuse system in Lincoln County. He had also been a member of Local 202 of the International Union of Operating Engineers.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Mary Alice Curtiss; brothers, Charles and Alonzo; and an infant brother.

He is survived by brother, Larry and family; wife Aubyn; daughter, Sue; sons, David Marcell and Gareth; grandchildren, Patrick, Heath, Amber, David Marcell Jr., and Aubyn Bluette; and great-granddaughter, Rachel Anne of Joseph, Ore.; and numerous cousins including Grace Johnston and Lew Curtis of Missoula, and Ruth Pomeroy of Kalispell.

Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Fortine Community Church with Dr. David Kaufman officiating; interment services with military honors will follow at Fortine Cemetery. Friends may call at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home in Eureka from 1 to 8 p.m. Monday.

Memorials may be made to Fortine Fire Department or Eureka Ambulance.