Frank Paliga, 89

Frank Paliga, 89, entered into the hands of his Lord and Savior on Thursday, March 18, 2010, at the Pondera Medical Center Extended Care in Conrad, of natural causes. A memorial service is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, April 3, at the Pondera Medical Center Extended Care. Pondera Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Frank was born on March 15, 1921, in Stockett, Mont., where he grew up and attended school. He was born to Mike and Julia Paliga and was the second youngest of 12 children. During his formative years he moved to Great Falls and worked for the Great Northern Railroad. It was during this time that he noticed most of the men he worked with were being drafted into the service, due to American involvement in World War II. On his 21st birthday he followed their lead and enlisted in the Army. Paliga attended aerial gunnery school in Harlington, Texas. Soon after, he joined the Army Air Force 44th Bomber Group. Frank became an engineer and top-turret gunner for a B-24 where he eventually rose to the rank of staff sergeant. Frank was quickly sent to the European Theater where he completed 24 successful bombing raids. On his final mission he was shot down in enemy territory, where he was eventually captured. He spent just under two years in a German prisoner of war camp (Stalag 17B). After escaping on a march, he and a friend made it to Allied territory where they were rescued and in his words were soon headed back to the best country in the world, the good ole USA. For his courage, bravery and valor he received numerous citations, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, one of the highest honors an airman could receive. Upon his return he soon met the love of his life, Joan A. Jerome. After a brief courtship they were married in 1945. At the time of his passing they had been married for 65 years. After their marriage they moved to Libby where Frank worked as a self-taught carpenter for a period. After that he joined the Montana Highway Patrol where he was stationed at Wolf Point, Havre, Kalispell, and finally MHP headquarters in Helena. After a heart attack he quit the MHP for health reasons. After recuperating for over a year, Frank and Joan moved to the Flathead area where they resided for the next 40 years. While there, Paliga got his real estate broker s license and opened the hugely successful real estate office, Valley Realty. He and his wife ran the business for approximately 15 years before he retired to spend more time with his church and family in Kalispell. In 2007 he and his wife moved to Conrad to be closer to family. Frank had an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and was self-taught in everything, from all of the building trades to guitar that he played professionally in his early and later years. He also loved nothing more than spending time with his numerous nieces and nephews. To entertain them when they were little, he would always perform his world famous magic tricks to much amazement and laughter. He was an avid outdoorsman as well. He was also a devoutly religious man. He attended the Assembly of God church his entire life and lived to help whomever was in need, regardless of time or money. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mike and Julia; along with 10 brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife, Joan (Jerome) Paliga, of Conrad; an older sister, Margaret Albertini, of Libby; a younger sister, Lucille Halderman, of Vancouver, Wash.; a brother-in-law, Don Jerome, of Cut Bank; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers the family request that any donations be made to the Kalispell Hospices.