Dean Raymond Sprinkel, 89, passed away on Sunday, March 27, 2011, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

He was born on April 4, 1921, in Heppner, Ore., the son of Lee Austin and Clara Alice (Blahm) Sprinkel.

Dean attended schools in Heppner and graduated from Heppner High School. He began working at Boeing in Seattle, where he was an aircraft mechanic.

He was united in marriage to Mathilda E. Anderson on May 12, 1944, in Burien, Wash.

Dean entered the U.S. Army Air Corps and served from November 1945 to his discharge in December 1946. He then returned to Boeing and worked there until his retirement 40 years later. He worked as a mechanic and worked his way up to supervisory positions, which included pre-flight and experimental testing.

Following his retirement, Dean and Tillie traveled the United States in their motor home. They enjoyed seeing new places and spent 18 winters as "snow birds" in Yuma, Ariz.

Dean enjoyed water and snow skiing, scuba diving and golfing. He was a longtime member of the Eagles Aerie No. 1 in Seattle.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lee and Clara Sprinkel; his sister, Margaret Scott; and son, Tim.

He is survived by his wife, Mathilda "Tillie" Sprinkel, of Kalispell.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home with Pastor Wayne Pris officiating.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, 2011, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Burial will follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family. Friends may go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences.