CHESTER/GALATA Duane Robert Brose, 70, died Wednesday, July 5, 2006, at the Shelby hospital. He had been diagnosed with advanced liver cancer about six months ago.
A graveside service with military rites will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Galata Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday and Sunday at the Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester. Duane was born Jan. 19, 1936, at Sidney to Roy and Dorothy (Putnam) Brose. Duane’s early education was at a country school near the family farm on Burns Creek. He finished his schooling in Savage, where he graduated from high school in 1954. Duane entered the U.S. Army in 1955. During his enlistment, he served in Germany in the 101st Airborne Division, where he received parachute training and attained the rank of Spc. 3rd Class. After more than two years of active service, he obtained his honorable discharge in 1957, then transferred to the Army Reserves. He received his official discharge from the reserves in 1962.
Duane had returned to Montana, where he worked as a commercial painter in Glendive for a few years. He married LaVonne Eiker in 1959. They had three children before their marriage ended in divorce. Duane worked as a professional truck driver during most of his life and was a member of the Montana Teamster’s Union. He was living and working in Missoula when he married his second wife, Phyllis Houle, in 1976. In the late 1980s, they lived at Box Elder and Chester. In 1992, they moved to Galata, where Duane began working at Westermark Grain Corporation, a job he held until his retirement in 1998. Since then, he continued to work part time seasonal jobs, including driving gravel truck for Toole County and worked on the Jerry Smith farm at Galata. In addition, Duane and his friend Gary Layton operated a local scrap metal business for a few years.
Duane was a star basketball player at Savage High School. During his senior year, he played in the Class C state tournament. He continued to be an avid sports fan throughout his life. He loved football, basketball and baseball. In his younger days, he enjoyed fishing and had been a longtime member of the National Rifle Association. Duane was an excellent carpenter, wood-worker and tool-sharpener. He loved all animals, but was especially fond of cats. Duane was preceded in death by his father in 1961; and brother, Victor Brose in 1956. Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Phyllis Brose of Galata; mother, Dorothy Brose of Sidney; children, Gail Ann Stanley, Gene Brose, and Gary Brose, all of Reno, Nev.; brothers, Dwight Brose of Reno, Ken Brose of Glendive and Dean Brose of Florence; sisters, Doris Storlie of Glendive, Evelyn Ross of Mustang, Okla., Lyla DeLamere of Boise, Idaho, and JoAn Hendrickson of Butte; five grandsons; one great-grandson; and many nephews and nieces.
