Duane Willis, 78
Duane Willis, 78, passed away on Tuesday March 7, 2006, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.
Duane was born on Feb. 5, 1928, in Lansford, N.D., to Leland and Agatha Behm Willis. He received his elementary education in Shelby, and his high school education at Gonzaga Prep in Spokane.
Duane married Frances Thomas in Butte in 1949. He started out his career in sales with the Fuller Brush Company in Butte, in 1950. He transferred to the Kalispell area in 1959 as territorial manager and representative. From 1970 to 1991, Duane worked as a route salesman for both Eddy's and Snyder's bakeries. He retired in 1991.
He was a member of the J.C.s, a member of Saint Matthew's Catholic Church since 1959, and president of the PTO at the West Valley School in 1963.
Duane loved gardening, bowling and fishing. His warm, cheerful, easy smile would draw people to him. You were never a stranger long in his presence.
His ethic, can-do attitude, and generosity will live on in the lives of his children and friends. He will be missed and held dear in our memories.
Duane was preceded in death by his father, Leland Willis; and one sister, Vera Crisafulli.
He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Frances, of Kalispell; his 103-year-old mother, Agatha Willis of Kennewick, Wash.; three sons and their spouses, Thomas and Carol Willis of Billings, Doug and Kathy Willis of Colby, Kan., and John Willis of Phoenix; four daughters and spouses, Susan Swan and Allan Sorokin of Tucson, Vicki and Norman Proctor of Havre, Michelle Chador of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Alexis and Mike Meehan of Kalispell; four sisters, Lela LeLacheur of Great Falls, Theresa Dunham of Pasco, Wash., Kathleen and Jim Sansaver of Vero Beach, Fla., and Rita and Eugene Glatt of Kennewick; 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Myrtle Christie of Butte.
A Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 13, at Saint Matthew's Catholic Church with the Rev. Vic Langhans officiating.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory caring for the family.