Dale A Hudson

Dale Alan Hudson, 92, slipped peacefully into the arms of his Lord Jesus on Friday, April 28, 2023, at Mountain View Manor in Eureka.  He had resided there since a fall at home in May 2022.  While there he had a strong handshake for everyone, and he was a daily witness of faith in his Lord.  Dale was a devoted family man who especially doted on his grandkids and great grands.  No day was complete for him without a kiss from Edie, his wife of nearly 71 years.

Dale was born January 22, 1931, in Billings, MT, to Horace B. Hudson and Bina (Blackburn) Hudson, joining older brother Omer.  The family moved from Hardin in 1938 to make a ranch at Murray Creek, northwest of Eureka.  He went to Eureka schools and graduated from LCHS in 1949.  Following graduation, he entered the US Air Force and was stationed in Texas.  Dale married Edith Butts of Eureka in 1952, and daughter Esther was born in Texas in 1953.  He left his service as a Staff Sgt. and they returned to Eureka. Their son Howard was born in 1964.

Dale loved airplanes and all things aviation.  As a young boy, if a plane flew over, he would jump on his bicycle and head to the nearest airstrip to watch.  He became a pilot for many years and the 1949 Navion he owned was his pride and joy.  Later in retirement he crafted many model aircraft from scratch.

Dale was a self-employed trucker most of his life, starting Kootenai Motor Freight between Kalispell and Eureka through the 1960’s.  He also operated Hudson Heavy Hauling moving logging equipment and hauling logs with a self-loader, and owned Valley Machine Shop.  He served on two school boards for a total of 12 years, was on the Tobacco Valley Improvement Association board, and the Lincoln Electric Board of Directors.  One of his most satisfying achievements came before he was 30, when he supervised the construction of Holy Cross Lutheran Church, built with volunteer labor.  He continued to play an active role there, as congregation president and elder.  He never tired of being a witness for his Savior.

In younger days Dale enjoyed being an outdoorsman, especially camping and fishing, woodworking, fabricating in his shop, and inventing things.  He built the machine to drill his own well; another that could bend square-tubing steel, and could fix most anything he set his mind to.  He made his grandkids a two-seater merry-go-round and they thought he hung the moon.

Dale is survived by his wife, Edie, at the family home; daughter Esther Brandt (Dave) of Eureka; son Howard Hudson of Kalispell; grandsons Paul Brandt of Eureka, and Keith Brandt of Missoula; granddaughter Joan Brandt Kerr (Tony) of Commerce City, CO; 12 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law Joyce Hudson; nieces Peggy and Patty; and other cousins.  

Dale leaves behind many good friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents Horace and Bina; brother Omer; and nephew Alan Hudson.

  Services will be Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Eureka with an interment to follow.

Arrangements are under the care of the Schnackenberg Funeral Home of Eureka, Montana.  Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.

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