Gordon W. Dukleth, 88
Gordon W. Dukleth passed away May 11, 2006.
He was born May 8, 1918, in Kalispell, the son of Gus and Cora Grinde Dukleth. He was reared on a farm at nearby Creston. He attended elementary school in Creston followed by high school in Kalispell. During World War II, he served four years in the Army Air Corps beginning on Oct. 9, 1941. His overseas service was with the Ninth Air Force in England and France where he was a crew chief on A-20 and A-26 bombers. He earned the Bronze Star medal. He was discharged on Oct. 8, 1945.
He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, with a degree in civil engineering in 1950. Following graduation, he accepted a position with the California Department of Water Resources in Sacramento. After 33 years, he retired in 1983 as chief of the division of design and construction. He was a registered professional engineer in California.
During an assignment in Denver in 1962-63, he met and married Margaret Ann Gober, formerly of Oklahoma City.
He is survived by Margaret; son, Tom, in the book business in New York City; son, Don, a professional forester residing in Auberry, Calif.; daughter-in-law, Diane; sister, Margaret Espe; and his brother's family of Portland.
Two brothers predeceased him, Leland in 1938, and James in 1996.
He was a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, United States Committee on Large Dams, University of California Alumni Association, Comstock Club, Ancil Hoffman Golf Club, Sons of Norway, Montana and Northwest Montana Historical societies, SIRS Chapter 102 (Sons in Retirement) and the DWR Alumni Club.
He was editor/publisher of the FCHS '36ers POW-WOW, the newsletter of his Flathead County High School class in Kalispell. He served on national technical committees of ASCE, USSD and the National Research Council. He was president of his veterans group, the 409th Bomb Group Association, Inc.
Services are to be 10 a.m. Friday, May 19 at East Lawn Mortuary, 5757 Greenback Lane, Sacramento.
Donations may be sent to Pulmonary Rehab, Sutter General Hospital, 2801 L Street, Sacramento, CA 95816. "These are the people that enriched our lives to the end with knowledge and love."