David William Knauth, 77

David William Knauth, 77, of Bigfork, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 20, 2017, at Brendan House in Kalispell.

He was born on Jan. 19, 1940, at Staten Island General Hospital, New York City, to Gustave W. and Mary Agnes (Killeen) Knauth.

Dave attended Staten Island Academy, and graduated from Wagner College in 1962 with a degree in Economics. He played baseball for Wagner College.

From 1962-68, Dave served in the United States Air Force. A navigator-bombardier on B-52 bombers, Dave received Air Medals, a National Defense Service Medal and a Vietnam Service Medal. As a member of the elite S-10, 38th Bombardment Wing crew, Dave Participated in the Strategic Air Command Combat competition held at Fairchild Air Force Base. Forty crews rated as superior performance combat air crews on B52s and B58s competed in October 1966; the S-10 crew from Ellsworth Air Force Base was awarded first place. First Lt. David Knauth served two tours of duty and was stationed at Anderson Air Force Base on Guam during the Vietnam War. He flew over 70 missions and was honorably discharged with the rank of captain in 1968.

Dave met Sharon Sue Alexander, while based at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. Sharon was a fourth-grade teacher at the Douglas School System. They married on Feb. 11, 1967. Dave and Sharon celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary, with their family, this year.

After his military service, Dave worked as personnel manager of Loeb- Rhoades Investment Banking at 40 Wall Street in New York City. He moved his family to Colorado Springs, Colorado, in 1975, where he began a career in administration at Memorial Hospital. In 1980, Dave and his wife, Sharon and sons, Gus and Hal moved to Butte where he worked as the human resources director at St. James Hospital (Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas). After serving as chief operating officer, he left St. James in 1997. Dave and Sharon moved to Bigfork where he had the opportunity to work for CenturyTel. Over the years, Dave became an expert in labor relations and management. Dave retired in 2004.

Dave was proactive in state organizations and nonprofits. He coached both soccer and little league baseball, was president of United Way, and was elected to the school board in Butte. He served as elder of the Presbyterian Church, and is a member of the Community United Methodist Church in Bigfork.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sharon; son Gus, his wife Meg, and grandsons Ethan and Aidan Knauth, of Overland Park, Kansas; son David (Hal), wife, Niki and granddaughters, Gracie and Emma Knauth of Bigfork; his sister, Justine Landis of York, Pennsylvania; sisters-in-law, Judith Alexander Block and Arlowyn Alexander Graham; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his sister Carol Jaeger, of Staten Island, in 2009.

Cremation has taken place with a memorial service planned for early July.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation be made to the Community United Methodist Church, 750 Electric Avenue, Bigfork, MT 59911 or to a charity of your choice.

To send notes of condolence to the family please visit www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.