David 'Dale' Purdy, 88

David “Dale” Purdy, 88, of Eureka, passed away of natural causes Tuesday, July 31, 2012, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.  

He was born Dec. 23, 1923, in Eureka, to Lynn and Jessie Purdy. He grew up and worked on the Meadow Home dairy farm/ranch from birth until March 1986.

He married Marie Kuchenski in the Catholic Church, where he continued to be a model Christian throughout his time here on Earth. Dale and Marie worked the dairy farm for 70-plus years and raised their eight children. Dale sold the dairy farm to his son Joe, a fourth-generation Purdy, although he continued to help on the farm until he retired in 1996.

 As a part-time job, Dale drove the school bus on the Glen Lake route for many years and to many sporting events. He was part of the Grange and a Glen Lake Irrigation board member for many years.

Dale enjoyed the town dances and even would take the family to a square dance get-together now and then. But most of all, Dale treasured the many family parties on the ranch complete with a basketball hoop in the top of the barn (whenever there was no hay in it). Baseball and kickball were also a favorite on the front lawn, volleyball in the back, ice skating at the pond on the hill, swimming where possible, but cooling off in the “Big Ditch” was the best.

Dale was an athlete in school, with basketball and track being his favorites.  He enjoyed attending and reading about all the sporting activities of his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids, even those who were spread out over the country. The daily work of milking the cows morning and night for 70 years left little time for traveling, but most weekends included a good pinochle card game and popcorn that didn't end until he won.

He was an active member in the business community of Eureka, as well as in Kalispell and Libby. Dale thoroughly enjoyed living here in this area and was genuinely interested in getting to know everyone he met. That gift and kindness were what often kept so many honest, loyal milk customers.

Most of all, Dale enjoyed his family.

Dale was preceded in death by his father, Lynn Purdy; and his mother, Jane Ann “Jessie” Purdy, who shared his birthday; his courageous brother, Donald Purdy, who was a World War II hero; and his loving and doting sisters, Rae Jane Schermerhorn and Jean Frost; his amazing daughter, Colleen Stacy; and baby, Patricia Jean, who died at birth.

He is survived by his brother, Arthur Purdy and Dolly of Libby; his wife, Marie Purdy; four sons and three daughters, Russell and Linda of Kalispell, Mark and Ivanna of Valentine, Neb., Joe and Rita, and David and Sue of Eureka, Virginia Nichols-Bourassa and Marti of Missoula, Dorothy Sharp and Darrel of Eureka, and Deanna Purdy Curtis and Paul of Maple Valley, Wash.

Dale has 30 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren, with a couple more on the way. Dale has 25 nieces and nephews, many of whom practically lived on the farm and helped out whenever needed over the years to help make it a wonderful place to live, and will also miss him dearly.

We have to mention that Dale has many, many cousins and relatives in the area whom he also liked to give a bad time to, like his older first cousin Edith Douglas of Eureka.

Dale was not into hunting and fishing, “but he was a true ‘fisher of men’ just like his Father in heaven. As it was said at his daughter's service, he, too, has been called up to play for a more important team, and celebrating has begun.”

Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5, at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church in Eureka. The burial will be at the Purdy Ranch Cemetery, followed by a reception at the church. For our dad, brother, grandpa, uncle, cousin, relative, loyal milk customer and acquaintance, there was nothing better than a good gathering with great food, some funny stories, true or not, a little history lesson and a lot of joking around, so please join us if you can.