Harold Arne “Buz” Dalen Jr., 56

Buz passed away on 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 on May 29, 1967. His high school activities included Football 1 and 2; Ski Team 1 and 2; Track 1 and 2; Quill and Scroll 4; Speech and Journalism 4; high school class play "Take Her She's Mine" 4; and Breeze 4. The class of '67 held a very special place of endearment in his heart, and he was always pleased when their paths crossed. Buz attended Sunday school and church at the Assembly of God in Whitefish for 18 years.

After graduation, Buz enlisted in the United States Navy Nuclear Submarine Service. After basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center, he was assigned to the USS Mariano G. Vallejo as a machinist mate second class. This term was spent between Vallejo, Calif., and Pearl Harbor. In sea for six months and on land for six months, he was very impressed with the sailors' love of country and real patriotism. They were the cream of the crop, the best there is, and he made many real friendships with his shipmates. However, Buz was disturbed by the profanity and bad language some of the sailors used.

Buz devoted six years of his life to serving his country. He wore his uniform with pride. After three years, he was transferred to the USS Daniel Boone, and this term was spent in Charleston, S.C., and Scotland.

Buz received letters from his superiors commending him for his ability to express himself orally, and his talent for relating his thoughts and ideas in writing. They complimented him for his ability to handle men very effectively, saying Buz himself was highly effective and reliable. He got along well with others and was always smart, neat and correct in appearance.

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 made many friends and spent time sightseeing in Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Buz joined the Charleston Sport Parachute Club, and he successfully completed ground and aerial training and performed a sport static line parachute jump in accordance with the basic safety regulations of the United States Parachute Association and received a certificate on Feb. 18, 1973.

Buz was honorably discharged from the U.S. Navy as a petty officer first class on July 19, 1973.

Buz and Becky moved to Fort Collins, Colo., to establish their residence, and Buz entered Colorado State University on July 16, 1974. His goal was to become a doctor of veterinary medicine.

It was a sad day for his family when Buz and Becky were divorced Nov. 25, 1974. A few months later, Buz quit school and moved to Loveland, Colo., where he lived for 25 years.

Buz was trained in all phases of nuclear power. It was difficult finding employment in that field, so he went from one job to another for several years. He worked for a sheet metal company that installed furnaces and air conditioners. He managed a Burger King, worked for Teledyne Water Pik and Century 21. Each job was a golden opportunity to increase his knowledge by learning as much as possible about each one.

He believed in giving his utmost for his employers - that principle was more important to him than his wages.

Buz was an avid Denver Broncos fan. If the Broncos were playing, Buz would be at the game or watching on TV, and the family knew he wouldn't answer the phone.

Buz had a heart for people who were hurting. For years, he helped a group to cook and serve Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless and downtrodden. He loved to listen to their stories and to speak hope into their minds. Many of these people were well educated but had lost their way. Several hundred were fed at these dinners.

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. He wrote his thoughts about her in his journal, which is included on this page in today's paper.

Buz was a big tease; when his mother fell in Fort Collins and broke her back in two places and pelvis, and was on morphine, he had to take a picture of "Mom on drugs." When his mother and father took their poodles, Nipsi and Sassy, to visit him once, he renamed them Muttley and Mooch.

In 1984, Buz married Mary Burkholder. Mary had a daughter, age 7, named Jenny. Buz was a good stepfather and adored that little girl. He called her Jennifer Eckles. 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 would have several projects going at one time. The stress took its toll and he quit Hewlett Packard and moved to Albany, Mo., for a laid-back lifestyle in 2001. In Albany, he began having problems with hoarseness and had to have his larynx removed. He had an implant, which worked well for a while. Then the cancer spread to his heart and lungs. He kept it all from his family as he didn't want them to worry. They thought he was doing well, and one day a hospice nurse insisted he tell them of his condition. Gary and his mom and dad flew to his side, but he died 15 minutes before they got there.

Survivors include his parents, Bud and Ethelyn Dalen, of Whitefish; one brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Gary and Annette Dalen, of Whitefish; two nieces and their husbands, Dr. Paul and Janelle Johnson of Sidney, and Erik and Jennifer Retz of Whitefish; two nephews, Dr. Jeffrey and Jenny Dalen of Kalispell, and Jim Dalen of Whitefish; five grandnephews, Dalen and Daniel Johnson of Sidney, Benjamin and Scott Dalen of Kalispell, and Kaleb Retz of Spokane; two grandnieces, Diana and Denae Johnson of Sidney; three aunts and an 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, Dr. Jerry and Myrna Wilson of Las Vegas, and Dr. Ronald Wilson of Los Angeles; and numerous friends.

The family wishes to commemorate Buz today on his birthday, June 17. Members of the immediate family will be gathering to share memories of Buz. His final wishes were to have his ashes spread in the mountains of Montana.

Also included on today's Records page is a journal entry from Buz Dalen.