David Frank DeMars, 71

David Frank DeMars, 71, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 25, 2009, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell. David was born on March 5, 1937, in Nevis, Minn., to David Silas and Mavis (Steel) DeMars. He was raised in Shelby and graduated from Circle High School.

David married Elsie James in 1956, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

After high school, David worked for the U.S. Forest Service doing fire control. He later worked construction, operated heavy equipment, and worked in the trucking industry as a mechanic, partsman and in truck sales.

He enjoyed gardening, auto restoration and building projects.

He was preceded in death by his father, David S. DeMars; a brother, Jerry DeMars; sister, Carolyn Seichting; and a son, Russell DeMars.

David is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elsie James DeMars; his children, Dale DeMars, Darla Czyz, Cindy Cory and Ginny Weber; siblings, Donald E. and Danny L. DeMars, Shirley Koskella and Mavis Gordon; his mother, Mavis DeMars; grandchildren, Nichole O'Masters, Daveleen McHenry, Cassandra and Misty DeMars, Kimberely Crosswhite, Kaitlin Barta, Johnathan Cory, Dalton and Dustin DeMars, and Geoffrey Barta; and several great-grandchildren.

A celebration of David's life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Little Brown Church in Bigfork, with the Rev. Gary Hatt and Mike Steenson serving as co-officiants.

You are invited to go to www.buffalohillfh.com to leave the family your condolences. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.