Dale
William Heath, 95 of
Shelby, passed away on July 27, 2008 at the Marias Care Center due to
natural causes. Services will be held at
10:30 am on Saturday, August 2, 2008 at the Community United
Methodist Church with burial to follow in the Mountain View Cemetery .
A reception will be held at the church following the committal.
Due to the special care Dale received, the family suggests memorials
be directed to the Marias Care Center, PO Box 915,
Shelby MT 59474.
The only child of William and Carrie Heath, Dale was born July 1, 1913 in Faribault, Minnesota . The family moved to a farm southeast of Shelby, Montana in 1917. After his father’s tragic death, Dale’s mother sold the farm and moved with her young son into Shelby . He became good friends with his neighbors, the Welkers, and met his future wife. Dale graduated from Shelby High School in 1932 and began working as a mechanic and bookkeeper for a local car dealership. In the summer of 1935, he married Alma Welker and they began farming in 1936. They had two children, William and Sharlene.
His hobbies included gardening, pool, bowling, cards, fishing, and above all, mechanics. He enjoyed the simple things in life such as coffee with friends and his love for animals. He farmed until his grandson, Steve Ahrens, took on the farming responsibilities in 1982. He remained happily married until Alma ’s passing in 1999, where upon he moved into the Marias Heritage Center, then eventually the Marias Care Center where he remained until his passing.
Dale is survived by his son, Dr William D Heath (Sharon), Clark, Wyoming and his daughter, Sharlene Brandes (Gordon) of Billings, Montana; grandchildren, Alan Heath (Anne) of Sisters, Oregon, Jana Anthony of Temecula, California, and Steve Ahrens (Julie) of Shelby, Montana. He leaves behind five great-grandchildren: Jessica and Jacob Heath, Brandi Anthony, and Dustin and Sharelle Ahrens. His brother-in-law, Howard Welker, and two sisters-in-law, Betty Welker and Norma Welker, also survive Dale.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 64 years, Alma, and grandaughter, Monica Heath.