JOHN DEWALD, Obituary

MOORELAND, Okla. John Earl "J.E." Dewald, 69, Mooreland, Okla., farmer and rancher and former Havre resident, died Thursday, July 4, 2002, at his home.

Funeral services were scheduled for 10 a.m. today in the Mooreland First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Mike Smith officiating. Burial was to follow in the Mooreland Cemetery.

J.E. Dewald was born Oct. 18, 1932, to Roy and Ada Pearl (Castor) Dewald in Vici, Okla. He started and attended his early school years in Woodward, Okla., then the family move west of Woodward, where he attended and graduated from Tangier High School in 1951. He attended three years at Oklahoma State University, but left school prior to obtaining his engineering degree.

He married JoAnn Peach on June 14, 1953, in Mooreland. They made their home in Wichita, Kan., where he worked as a draftsman for the Boeing Company. Soon after, he was drafted in to the military and served two years in Thule, Greenland, because of his carpentry skills.

The family moved to Havre in 1957 to join JoAnn's parents in a farming operation that they later bought from her grandfather. They lived in the Havre area for the next five years but struggled with the intense winter weather. In 1962, they returned to Mooreland to find winter work. He worked as a construction foreman for the company that built the Western Farmers Plant west of Mooreland. In the spring of 1963, the family returned to the farm in Montana. For the next 26 years, the family continued this pattern, spending winters in Mooreland and the summers in Montana. J.E. was an excellent carpenter and built several houses in the Mooreland area during those winters. In 1980, J.E. and JoAnn bought her parents' farm south of Mooreland. They later enrolled his Montana farm in CRP, which allowed them to live in Mooreland year around. He expanded his farm operation near Mooreland to include a registered Angus cattle herd, which he enjoyed immensely.

His passion was watching his grandchildren compete on the playing field, whether in football, basketball or baseball. He was their biggest fan.

J.E. was preceded in death by his father, Roy Dewald, and his in-laws, Bill and Afleda Peach.

Survivors include his wife, JoAnn in Mooreland; mother, Ada Dewald; sons, Dirk (Sherry) Dewald and Randy (Rita) Dewald, both of Mooreland; daughter, Tammi (Tracy) Jones of Mooreland; brothers, Chet (Elaine) Dewald and Joe (Twila) Dewald; brother-in-law, Lowell Peach; sister-in-law, Boneta Peach; eight grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to the Mooreland First United Methodist Church with the Billings Funeral Home, 1621 Downs Ave., Woodward, OK 73801, as custodians.

The Billings Funeral Home of Mooreland was in charge of arrangements.