Dale Curtice Gardner, 73, passed away in his home, comforted by his wife, on November 20, 2014, from Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Dale was born to Curtice and Virginia Gardner on September 10, 1941. He grew up in Missoula, Montana and graduated from Helena High School after his family moved to Helena. Dale attended Montana State University for one year and Northern Montana College in Havre for two years.
Dale married Judy Gardner on May 22, 1965. They made their home in Helena until his death. They adopted two children in 1971 and 1974. Dale was a service station attendant for five years and then he worked for Rock Hand Hardware, Grimes Buick and Brooks Pontiac for about five years before going to work for the Montana National for four years. His last job was with Lewis and Clark County where he worked for twenty-eight years, retiring in 2003, as a mechanic and was also a heavy equipment operator for the last couple years.
Dale military time was spent with the Army National Guard of Montana with the 3669th Heavy Equipment Maintenance Company from July 1965 until July 1973.
Dale loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting and horseback riding. Dale hunted every year, mostly on horseback until he became ill. He and friends put hunting camps in for many years. Dale had some very special hunting buddies and he brought home several deer and elk.
Dale was a member of the Helena Trail Riders for over twenty-five years, serving as president for two years. He liked reading western books. For the last six month, when he could no longer read, he listened to Louis L’Amour talking books. Because of his love for hunting he taught hunters safety for a few years.
Dale was a lifelong member of the Community of Christ church and he was a priesthood member for thirty years serving a few years as Pastor of the Helena Congregation. He was president and served on the board of directors in different capacities for the church’s campground near Avon, MT, spending many days working on campground projects. He was a Red Cross blood doner and donated 150 pints of blood starting in 1966.
Dale has many friends and he met with a group of guys at Jorgenson’s Restaurant for lunch every Friday. He always had a perpetual smile on his face.
Judy and Dale did a little traveling going to Alaska in 1985 and in 2002 they went to Australia and New Zealand. After his retirement in 2003 they hauled their horses to South Dakota and camped and rode around the French Creek Horse Camp with a couple from Illinois they met on their Australia trip. In 2009 Dale and Judy road mules down into the Grand Canyon. Other trips included a trip to Nashville, Tennessee in 2010, a bus tour in 2011 to five western national parks and in 2012 they were able to take another bus tour to the Rose Bowl Parade followed by a cruise to Ensenada, Mexico and ended with a couple days in Las Vegas.
Dale is survived by his wife Judy, sister Velma (Jerry) Johnson, son Shawn (Deanna), daughter Theresa, grandchildren Thomas and Danielle Gardner, all of Helena, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother and father Curtice and Virginia Gardner and brother Allen Gardner,
The family thanks the staff at Frontier Hospice who helped Dale for the last nine months
and also the Montana Talking Book Library.
A memorial service for family will be held at 1:00 P.M. on December 5 at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave. A reception will immediately follow the celebration of Dale’s life in the social center of the funeral home. Burial will be at a later time. In place of flowers the family prefers memorial contributions in Dale’s name to Cure Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, www.curepsp.org or Frontier Home Health and Hospice, 800 Front Street, Helena. Please visit www.aswfuneralhome.com to offer the family condolences or share a memory of Dale.
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
1:00 p.m.
Friday December 5, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the memorial service
Friday December 5, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Service Schedule
Memorial Service
1:00 p.m.
Friday December 5, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
Reception
Following the memorial service
Friday December 5, 2014
Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home
3750 N. Montana Ave
Helena, Montana 59602
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Bob and Jan Braico says
Dear Judy and Family,
Jan and I were so sorry to learn of Dale’s passing in today’s paper. He was a good friend. I will always have fond memories of riding horseback with he and Jack Kelley in the mountains around Helena and, of course, hunting with Dale, Bugs and Charge in Doolittle Gulch. You have our sincerest sympathies.
Sincerely,
Bob and Jan Braico
Rita McNees says
Dear Judy and family,
I’m sorry to hear about Dale passing. I will cherish the memories that I have of him in the Trail Riders. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May God bless.
Rita McNees
Jay Ramlo says
Dale was part of the Hunter Education family at CRA for several years. He always wore a smile. He will be remembered always. Jay Ramlo
Gary & Dianne Bye says
Dear Judy and Family,
So sorry to learn of Dale’s passing-Pray that The Lord will be with you and provide comfort to you and your family during this time of loss. Enjoyed getting to know Dale and have the opportunity to trail ride with him. He had a special sence of humor.
Keeping you in our prayers
Gary & Dianne Bye
George Ballard says
Dale was a great friend
my thoughts are with Judy ann family
Sharon Ellis says
Dear Judy and Family
I am so sorry to hear of Dale’s passing. I so enjoyed him at Helena Trail Riders and the trail rides we went on. He will be missed by many. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
Sharon Ellis
Darrell Miller says
Dear Judy and Teresa,
So sorry to hear about Dale’s passing. We seldom get the opportunity in life to meet someone as pleasant, helpful and happy as Dale. He was a very special person. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Darrell Miller
Darrell and Debbie Smithson says
Dear Judy and family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Dale was a great guy and we have many good memories from the Trail Rider days. He will be missed by many. God bless.
deb ekblom and rudy shiner says
Judy and Teresa,
Rudy and I are so sorry to hear about Dale’s passing. Our thoughts and prayers are with you both. Dale was an amazing man, father and friend. We feel blessed that we had the opportunity to know him. God bless.
Nancy Sacry says
Judy, Shawn, and Theresa,
I am so sorry for your loss, I will never think of Dale that I will not remember his kindness, and his gentle smile. He has truly blessed many lives. He will be so sadly missed by those that had the privilege to know him. I pray that your memories live on in your heart. You will all be in my prayers. He truly was one of the “good” ones.
Bonnie and Dan Dieffenbacher says
We are so sorry to hear of Dale’s passing. We will always have good memories of him at church functions and at camp. Please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you, Theresa and Shawn. His life and service to others were a blessing to all.
Ginny and Corey Winters Family says
I am so sorry for my uncle Dale’s passing. My prayers are with Dale and with you, Judy, at this time. I pray God gives you the strength you will need now Judy, and I pray Dale is at peace in Heaven. I always admired his horsemanship skills and knowledge and know he loved his horses. God’s speed Dale.
Dennis Roberts says
Dear Judy,
I was sadden to see Dales passing he was a wonderful person.
Always had a smile and would take time to talk with anyone.
You and your family will be in our prayers.
Dennis and Jennifer Roberts
Jacksonville Fl.
Morgan says
Theresa and family–So sorry to hear of Dale’s passing. He sure was a great guy and what an interesting life he had! Take care and my thoughts are with you. Morgan
Kevin and Becky Giles says
It’s been many years since we left Helena but we remember Dale’s kind spirit and homey conversations clearly. Dale was always a man you could trust. He did a lot of good for a lot of people and made the world a better place. Condolences to Judy and the rest of the Gardner family. May peace be with you.
Tom and Melony Bruhn says
Dear Judy and Family,
Our prayers are with you at this time. We hope you are comforted,
knowing that your friends are sending their love and comfort to you.
Tom and Melony Bruhn
jenny boyd says
I just found out about your dad i am so sorry that he past away.