David L. Biggar, 83

David L. Biggar, 83, of Belgrade, formerly of the Bigfork and Polson area, passed away Feb. 3, 2008, at the Billings Deaconess Hospital.

He was born Jan. 28, 1925, in Littleton, Colo., to David N. and Ella (Borgen) Biggar. His mother passed away when he was very young. His father later remarried and he was raised by his stepmother, Millie Olson Biggar. Dave was raised and attended school in Littleton.

At the age of 17 he enlisted into the U.S. Navy to serve his country during World War II. He was assigned to the USS Pinkney, an evacuation transport, in the South Pacific. The Pinkney provided aid during the Battle of the Solomon Islands, Guadalcanal, Peleliu, and Iwo Jima. In April 1945, while off Okinawa, the Pinkney was attacked by a Kamikaze plane. After repairs, the Pinkney spent the last part of 1945 and the first months of 1946 supporting the occupation of Japan and returning veterans to the United States.

After the war Dave returned to Colorado. He met and married Alta Moore on Sept. 9, 1947, in Littleton. They made their home in Littleton, where Dave worked as a lineman for Colorado Central Power.

In 1961, Dave and Alta and their children left Colorado and moved north to the Flathead Valley. Dave started to work for Pacific Power and Light and soon after arriving in Montana, he and Alta purchased their home in Woods Bay that included a cherry orchard. He was a lineman for Pacific Power and Light and also became a cherry farmer.

Dave retired from Pacific Power in 1983. He and Alta moved to Polson in 1989. In Polson, Dave enjoyed woodworking and taking care of the wild birds that flocked to his bird feeders, while Alta enjoyed gardening and quilting. Alta passed away Nov. 2, 2001. Dave remained in Polson until he moved to Belgrade in 2005. This past December, he moved into Highgate Senior Living, where he made many friends in a very short time.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Alta.

Survivors include his four children, Debbie Clark and husband, Marc, of Reno, David Biggar and wife, Debbie, of Kalispell, Rebecca Layton of Bozeman, and Robert Biggar; grandchildren, Timothy, Adam, Kayla,Emily, Bonnie, Bryce, Bryan, Seth, Tyler, and Katelin; great-grandchildren, Quentin, Aidan, Gabriel and Seth; and two sisters, Mary Ann Friend and husband, Don, of Missouri, and Joy Verhoeff and husband, Justin, of Colorado.

A celebration of Dave's life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 16, in the Community Room at the Central School Museum, 124 Second Ave. E., in Kalispell.

Memorials may be made in Dave's name to the National Audubon Society, Department W., 700 Broadway, New York, NY 10003

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.dahlcares.com (the beautiful Web site created by Dave's daughter Rebecca).