Dalton TESSIER

Dalton Tessier (1915-2006)

MISSOULA - Dalton D. Tessier Sr., 91, of Missoula, died of natural causes at a Missoula nursing home on Dec. 26, 2006.

Survivors include his wife of 72 years, Elsie May Tessier of Great Falls; daughter, Mary (Charles) Perkins of Great Falls; sons, Dalton (Deanna) Tessier Jr. of Missoula and Dan (Sandra) Tessier of Colorado Springs, Colo.; sisters, Cary Dunbar of Hamilton and Margaret Fleck and Lelah Allen, both of Scappoose, Ore.; brother, Harley (Marlys) Tessier of Wasilla, Alaska; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by two daughters.

Dalton is third-generation Montanan born in Dillon and raised in Sula. He attended school in Sula.

He married Elsie May Wetzsteon and raised a family in Sula, where they operated a ranch and hunting guide service until 1961 when they moved to Hamilton. He retired from the Bitterroot National Forest road crew in 1980. Dalton received the "Farmer of the Year" Award in Ravalli County and he was also involved in Bagdad Shrine Temple, Masonic Lodge and BPOE Lodge.

A memorial service will be held in the spring with the ashes to be spread in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, where he and Elsie spent many enjoyable days.