Dale Jay Singer, 72, passed away on Tuesday evening, Oct. 18, 2005, at Hillside Manor of complications from kidney failure and diabetes. Dale had endured diabetes for 55 years.

He was born on Feb. 13. 1933, in Havre, to John Frank Singer and Hazel Mildred Rakestraw Singer. Fishing the Milk River, boating on the Missouri and Bearpaw Lake and playing football were some of his favorites as a youth. Dale graduated from Havre High School in 1951.

He worked for Clark's Hardware and Bing n Bob's Sporting Goods while in Havre. Dale met and later married Joan Shelby, of Cut Bank on Aug. 2, 1951. Dale and Joan celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary this past summer.

In 1963, Dale, Joan, and family moved to Missoula where he finished his degree in accounting at the University of Montana in 1965. Dale then went to work for Lambros Agency as their accountant. He also sold insurance for Northwest Mutual Life. Dale, Joan and children moved to Bigfork, in 1974, and built a house on Patty Creek, five miles east of town, on the Swan Highway. Dale continued his accounting practice, as well as opening Gateway Realty. Sensing a need for better community coverage, Dale founded The BIgfork Eagle newspaper and successfully operated the paper for several years before selling it.

Dale was a school board member for Swan River School, a Mason, and Past Worthy Patron for the Flathead Lake Chapter 128 Order of the Eastern Star. He enjoyed following and supporting his children and grandchildren in their many events and activities.

Dale retired from his real estate and accounting work in 1999 and he and Joan opened Gateway Nursery. They both loved starting the seeds in February and delivering beautiful flowers and healthy tomato plants to many happy customers. In 2004, due to his health, Dale and Joan sold their beautiful Swan home and moved to Corvallis.

Dale loved making homemade ice cream, 4th of July celebrations, fishing, hunting, reading novels, joking and teasing, eating rare prime rib, taking Joan for boat rides on "the pond," following the Griz, playing with his grandchildren, a good rousing game of pinochle, and his home on the Swan Highway.

Dale is survived by his wife, Joan, of Corvallis; daughter Melodee and Doug Burreson of Missoula; son John and Debi Singer of Billings; daughter Heidi and Lt. Col. Terry Stiff of Stafford, Va.; 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Romerie Singer of Arizona; auntie, Beryl Allick and Sam of Kalispell; his mother-in-law, Beulah Shelby of Hamilton; brother and sister-in-law Jim and Sandy Shelby of Washington, and Marlene and Floyd Hooley of Missouri; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

Memorial services will be held 11 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 25, at the United Methodist Church in Bigfork with a reception to follow at church.

Dale's family thank the many nurses and doctors who showed such compassion and gave him special loving care over the years.

The family suggests memorials to the Dialysis Center Inc., Patient Fund, 135 Commons Way., Kalispell, or the St. Patrick's Dialysis Center, 615 West Cedar, Missoula.

Arrangements are under the direction of Garden City Funeral Home