Neil Arthur Danford, 89, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, at home.

He was born Nov. 24, 1922, to Jessie Belle Papendick and George H. Danford and was raised on the family farm in the Lower Valley, along with his two brothers, George and Ted.

Neil attended Hodgson Grade School and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1942. He was on the Flathead County High School football team, which won the Class A state championship in 1939 and took second place in 1940.

During World War II he served in the U.S. Army from May 27, 1944, until his honorable discharge on May 11, 1946. Following boot camp at Camp Roberts, north of Paso Robles, Calif., he joined the 1284th Combat Engineer Battalion in the Philippines. In December 1945, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal at San Fernando, Luzon. After the war, he obtained his pilot’s license and flew privately for a number of years. He has farmed in the Lower Valley for over 60 years.

On Oct. 13, 1951, he married Dorothy Mae Keller in Kalispell. Neil, also known as Nick, enjoyed hunting and fishing and served on the Hodgson School Board.

Neil is survived by his wife, Dorothy Danford; daughter, Cheryl and Reed Larson of Parker, Colo.; granddaughter, Marissa Larson of Cheyenne, Wyo.; son, Robert Danford of Lower Valley, Kalispell; and grandson Samuel.

Funeral services for Neil will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home with Pastor Ron Pierce officiating. Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 30 at the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow services at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.