Danny Joe Fluharty, 72

Danny Joe Fluharty, “Chief,” passed away at home with family and friends by his side on the evening of Sept. 23, 2015.

Dan was born Sept. 5, 1943, to Ada and Glen Fluharty in Cottonwood, Idaho. He was a native of Nez Perce, Idaho, and the son of a city policeman.

After high school, Dan enlisted in the Navy.

His law enforcement experience began in California where he served as a chief supervisor for security in Fremont. He owned Investigation Service System of Concord, California, a business involved with recovery of bail jumpers and private investigations. In Spokane, he owned a private investigation firm, which dealt chiefly in retail security work, and he was on the liquor control board. After working for Burns International Security he became a Granite County deputy in 1981, working in Philipsburg and Drummond until 1984.

He attended the Mon­tana Law Enforcement Academy in 1982 and from 1984 until March of 1986 he assisted the chief of police in Chinook. He served as undersheriff in Granite County until 1997, when he moved to Oklahoma.

In 2002, he moved back to Philipsburg to help Sally Bird at Doe Brothers Soda, at which time he began a very close, trusting and great relationship with Wynette Johnson. Together they moved to Kalispell in 2008 where Dan went to work for Grizzly Security as the security supervisor for Big Mountain from Sept. 11, 2008, to July 26, 2015.

Dan enjoyed hunting, fishing, panning for gold, shooting at the range, drinking coffee and telling stories of the past. He also enjoyed reading his collection of Louis L’Amour, followed rodeos and did some ranching in his younger days.

He was a great friend who helped anyone who crossed his path. He thought of things in a wonderful way, had the warmest smile and a heart of gold. He could make people laugh no matter what, was truly loved and will be greatly missed.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents; three bothers, David, Gary and Richard; and by his uncle, Hugh Timmell.

Dan left behind his trusted, great companion, Wynette Johnson, of Kalispell; son, Justin Fluharty, and his wife Lianne, grandson Logan and granddaughter Hanna, of Missoula; son, Jesse Fluharty, of Kalispell; brother, John Landeby, of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; Teresa Casey and Bry Van Denberg of Hartford, Connecticut, Daniel Casey of Alabama, Rick Johnson of Kalispell, Todd Johnson, Jennifer Gustafson and Kaiden Johnson of Kalispell, Jordan Johnson of Whitefish, Gadge Johnson of Columbia Falls; aunt, Opal Timmell, of Oregon; and many other relatives in Idaho and Montana; adopted son and very best buddy for many, many years, Ezra T. “Bubba” Gray, and his wife and family, Malaki, Amelia, Magdalena, Mordecai and Meshullam, of Marion; as well as his close friend, Curtis Smith, of Philipsburg.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell.

Channels:

Daily Inter Lake, Daily Inter Lake Online