Charles
Edward “Grandpa Dick” DeKaye, 90, of Cut Bank, passed away Tuesday, May 31,
2005 at the Glacier Care Center in Cut Bank. Visitation is 11 a.m.-5 p.m.,
Thursday at the Whitted Funeral Chapel in Cut Bank with a vigil service at 7
p.m. at St. Margaret’s Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be 2 p.m., Friday at
the church with burial to follow in Crown Hill Cemetery followed by a reception
at the Parkview Senior Center. Condolences can be sent to the family at
www.whittedfuneralchapel.com.
Dick was born June 25, 1914 in Ambrose, N.D., where he spent his childhood with his five younger siblings. He married Sylvia Jacobsen in 1938. They moved to Cut Bank in 1940, where he worked as a meat butcher at Buttrey’s for two years. Dick founded Quality Cleaners Dry Cleaning in 1946 and later expanded the business, adding linen supply and laundry services. Quality Cleaners was passed down to his son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Deb, in 1971.
While in business, Dick was an active member of the City of Cut Bank Park Board, Knights of Columbus and the Elk’s Club. Dick also served as Glacier County Commissioner for one term. On a state level, Dick also served as president of the Montana Textile Services Association. Upon retirement, Dick stayed quite busy, maybe even busier than during his years at the cleaners. During the summer months, you would find Grandpa Dick mowing your lawn without being asked. He enjoyed doing the “job” (good excuse to strike up a conversation) so much, he continued to mow lawns for over 10 years. Grandpa Dick also had a passion for fishin’. Whenever there was an opportunity to fish, he took it whether there was rain, wind, snow or shine, and he would always try to outfish his fishin’ partner. If the fish weren’t biting, you would find Grandpa Dick at Albertson’s with the “great coffee bunch” in the morning and at the Parkview Senior Center in the afternoon. He enjoyed playing “nerts” or “rummy”, and more than often giving the women a hard time with his uplifting personality. Grandpa Dick’s ability to live his life positive every day was his most known trait. As Grandpa Dick would say “God love ya”.
Surviving are his daughter, Judy Schwartz of Minneapolis, Minn., his son and daughter-in-law, James and Deborah DeKaye of Cut Bank, his son, Mike of Cut Bank, his son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Molly DeKaye of Cut Bank, his son and daughter-in-law, Daryl and Betty Lou DeKaye of Glendive and Don and Sylvia Jacobsen of White Bear Lake, Minn.; 19 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Sylvia.
Memorials are suggested to the Cut Bank Parkview Senior Center.