Dennis Joseph Pickavance, 81

Dennis Joseph Pickavance, 81, passed away Monday, July 14, 2008, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. Dennis was born Aug. 10, 1926, in Charleston, W.Va., to Joseph and Ethel (Wilson) Pickavance.

Dennis attended Catholic schools in Charleston, where he graduated from Sacred Heart High School. He was a basketball, football and track star. Dennis also served as an altar boy for all the years he was in school.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during his junior year of college at the University of Pittsburgh and served from 1944 to 1946. After being discharged from the Navy, he returned home and finished his education.

After he attended the university for one year, he married his first wife, Helen Jean Robinson. They had five children and later divorced. He then met and married Louwania Jarrell, and together they had three more children.

Dennis was a glass cutter for Libby-Owens Ford for 15 years and then became a business owner in Charleston. The family then moved to Florida in 1962, where he was a home builder and general contractor in the West Palm Beach and Port Orange areas.

In 1978, he moved his family to Montana and fell in love with the state. He was retired until 2000, when he purchased North Shore Lanes in Bigfork. In early 2008, he and his family started construction of the new bowling center in Bigfork to replace North Shore Lanes. The new center will carry his name.

Other than his love for his family, his second love was being a high school basketball official for 42 years. He had a deep-seeded appreciation for each and every player.

Dennis enjoyed playing golf and fast-pitch softball.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Louwania, at the family home in Bigfork; children, Deborah, Dennis II, Duane, Dale, Denise, Chenna, Diane and David; 23 grandchildren, Eric, Shawn, Amanda, Joey, Timmy, Jennifer, Bryan, Dennis, Tracy, Michelle, Lisa, Dale II, Chrissie, Chase, Ashley, Austin, Matthew, Jessika, Darren, Katelynne, Ryan, Kyle and Jordan; and 10 great-grandchildren.

A wake service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, July 18, at Pope John Paul II Catholic Church in Bigfork, with Deacon Fred Topp officiating. Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 19, at Pope John Paul II Catholic Church, with the Rev. Dan Wetzler as celebrant. Entombment will be at Glacier Memorial Gardens after Mass.

Memorials may be made to the Creston or Bigfork QRUs.

Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family. To send condolences and sign the online guest book, please go to www.buffalohillfh.com