David Brian Hahn, 84, of Helena, died Tuesday, Aug.31, 2010, at St. Peter’s Hospital.
Mr. Hahn was born to James and Beatrice Hahn in Helena, October 26,1925, and grew up in the Montana City and Alhambra communities.
With his brother Jim and sister Bette, he attended the one-room Montana City elementary school. The three regularly did the several mile long walk to the school and then back to the homesteader cabin that was their home. He then attended Jefferson County High School in Boulder where he played basketball and football.
In 1942, Mr. Hahn joined the Air Force where he served as an aerial photographer and following his discharge in 1945 enrolled at Carroll College. To help pay for his education Mr. Hahn began remodeling and constructing homes in the Helena area, using some skills he learned from his father and others he taught himself or learned through experience.
What started as a way to pay for school became a life-long career. Numerous beautiful Helena homes and duplexes were built by Mr. Hahn, who became known for his ability to accomplish all aspects of home construction from making and pouring concrete, logging and milling much of his own lumber, building stone or brick fireplaces, to fine cabinet work. He did it all with the touch of a true, fine craftsman.
In the late 1940s he married Lois Lyman and to this marriage, a son, David, was born. They later divorced. He then married Betty Armour with whom he had a daughter, Michelle. They later divorced.
On January 13, 1963, Mr. Hahn married Carol Thieme with whom he shared the rest of his life.
As a boy, Mr. Hahn was taught by his father to play the trumpet. In the process, he developed an affection for jazz, which he shared with his wife Carol and many friends often meeting them in various places to enjoy jamming or to listen to performing jazz artists. In recent years, he and Carol enjoyed going to a yearly gathering of Montana jazz musicians at the ranch of one of the musicians. He was also an omnivorous reader with a taste for history, economics and political philosophy. With both friends and family there were often post dinner sessions engaging in thoughtful and at times vigorous discussions of world events, as well as, Montana history and politics.
Mr. Hahn was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Willard, killed during World War II in a B-17 bombing mission over Germany; sisters, Catherine Hahn and Bette Clarke; son, David; and grandson Mark Thieme.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Carol, Colorado Gulch; daughter, Michelle Brown, Helena; stepson, Roger (Jeri) Thieme, Colorado Springs, Colorado; grandsons, Steven (Amy) Carter, Belgrade, Richard Thieme, Aurora, Colorado, Michael Thieme, Fort Collins, Colorado; granddaughters, Carlin (Vincent) Paddock, Pennsylvania, Tamara Thomas, Corvallis, Oregon; brother, Jim (Wanda) of Clancy. He is also survived by five great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
A memorial celebration for Mr. Hahn will be held at 1 p.m., Tuesday, September 7, at the Anderson Stevenson Wilke Chapel. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com.
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
Share
Michael Depew says
Dear Great Aunt Carol,
Please accept my sincerest condolences at the passing of uncle Dave as well as my apologies for not being able to be there in Helena today for his service. I am so glad to have had the chance to see you both this past July, and will always remember the kindness you both always showed. I will miss uncle Dave and the variegated and determined conversations we had over the many years.
All love to you and yours,
Michael Depew
Lawrence Nelson says
Dear Carol,
I am so sorry to hear of Dave’s passing. He was a true and faithful friend. I will miss him. I will never forget his playing at mom and dad’s music gatherings over the years. I wish I could attend the funeral and reception but I am not in Helena. My thoughts and prayers go to you… Best Wishes,
Lawrence Nelson