Max Dramstad, 77

Max Raymond Dramstad, 77, of Puyallup, Wash., died on Saturday, July 11 shortly after his wife and daughters were able to say their final goodbyes. 

Max was born December 2, 1948 in Glasgow, MT, to John Albert (Al) and Etta Mae Dramstad. His family lived in Saco, MT, until moving to Kalispell in 1957 where Max graduated from Flathead County High School in 1966.

Max was the sixth of ten children in the Dramstad family and was one of the seven siblings who entered the US Navy. In 1967, Max enlisted together with his brother Rex. After basic training at San Diego, they were both stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station in California. Max then trained as an air traffic controller at Glynco, Georgia and was then stationed at Kingsville Naval Air Station in Texas and in Kenitra, Morocco before leaving the service at the end of 1970.

In December 1976, after a courtship of just two weeks, Max eloped to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, with Sheila Williams of Libby. Though some friends and family were skeptical about their long-term prospects, Max and Sheila proved them all wrong and went on to enjoy a loving marriage that lasted nearly 50 years. They were blessed with two wonderful daughters, five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Max was always enthusiastic about working in retail, starting with his paper route for the Daily Inter Lake in Kalispell. In 1962, he won a newspaper subscription contest. His prize was a trip to the World’s Fair, his first trip to the Seattle area where he would later spend a large portion of his life. While still in school, Max worked at Ferguson Shoes. To help boost store traffic, he pressed his youngest brother Harold into carrying a sandwich sign around downtown Kalispell in the summer heat. After high school, he worked as a salesman at the B&B Red Carpet Shoe Store that was part of the Fred Meyer store chain. After his time in the Navy, Max returned to work at the B&B, while also being active in the Jaycees, attending Flathead Valley Community College and enjoying golf.

His job at the B&B was just the first stop of a 55-year career at Fred Meyer that brought him to positions of growing responsibility in Montana, Idaho and all-over western Washington. He served as a salesman, department and store manager, and in regional and corporate director roles. Along the way Max was known for his humor, honesty, integrity, flexibility and support of his co-workers. He served as a mentor to a diverse workforce and as a trainer of future store leaders in recognition of his leadership skills. He formed enduring friendships with many fellow employees.

In his youth, Max enjoyed playing baseball, though one of his seasons was cut short when his brother Rex slammed his leg in a screen door. It’s been a long-concealed family secret, but Rex is also alleged to have accidentally shot Max in the arm while they were out hunting. He was active in school organizations, including Demolay and Key Club. He and some of his friends gained a degree of fame when they drove past nearby Whitefish high school at lunchtime, shining a special form of moonlight from their vehicle. Max differentiated himself from his car-mates by choosing to “shine his light” from the open trunk of the vehicle, since the windows were all occupied by his friends. According to a fellow participant in this activity who wishes to remain anonymous, their apologies at an assembly afterwards drew cheers from the Whitefish student body. 

Max was extremely supportive of his family. Though a long-time fan of all of Seattle’s professional sports teams, in recent years, his loyalty to the Seahawks has been sorely tested by his extreme pride in his grandson Jonah securing roster spots on five other NFL teams. His brother Jim credits him with saving his life when Max drove Jim to an alcohol treatment facility through the falling ash from the explosion of Mt. Saint Helens in May 1980. 

Max was preceded in death by his parents, sister Rita Bradford, brothers Rex and Donald, and infant daughter Aby Leah.

He is survived by his wife, Sheila Dramstad of Puyallup; daughters Brittnee (Jason) Williams of Meridian, ID, and Sadie (Ryan) Heather of Puyallup; sisters Ellen Dramstad of Helena, and Linda (Jon) Cavigli of Kalispell; brothers Dale (Penny) Dramstad of Bloomington, Minn., Jim (Sarah) Dramstad of Trout Creek, Dick (Tracey) Dramstad of Arlington, Mass., and Harold Dramstad of Helena; grandchildren Jonah (Kennedy) Williams and children Walker, Dustin and Remi, Savannah (Levi) Irwin and children Blakely, Dawson and Brooks, Tyler Williams, Ashlee (Caleb) Lamb and children Oaklee and Bohdi, and Ellie Heather; and numerous nieces and nephews.

There will be no funeral. The family has chosen to celebrate Max’s life with a private gathering.