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DAVID JOSEPH FILLER obituary

David "Butch" Joseph Filler 69, died peacefully after a long illness, Nov. 1, 2009 at Peace Hospice in Great Falls.

Vigil service will be held on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009, at 7 p.m. at St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church. A memorial funeral Mass will be Friday, Nov. 6, 2009, at 10 a.m., with burial following in the Highland Cemetery. Arrangements are by Edwards Funeral Home of Chinook. Dave was born June 18, 1940 to Eddie "Hap" and Florence Filler in Havre, Mont. He attended St. Jude's Elementary School and graduated from Havre Central Catholic School. In high school he played basketball. Dave served three years with the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged with a hardship discharge after the family home burned down in 1961. Dave went to work for the Boeing Co., delivering supplies to the missile sites around Lewistown, Mont. He later worked at Beneficial Finance Company in Havre and then went to work for Nabisco. He was one of the top sales representatives until his rheumatoid arthritis forced him into disability in 1990. He had one of the longest sales routes for Nabisco traveling from East Glacier to Scobey. Along the way he met many customers and made many friends. It wasn't until recent years that he officially retired from Nabisco. Dave was an avid outdoorsman. He and Sharon loved hunting, fishing, camping and working in his yard. He took a lot of pride in their yard, and it certainly showed. Friends would come near and far to go hunting, and he knew just where to take them for the big prizes. The Bear Paws and fishing were certainly a big part of their lives. Dave was a good man with a big heart. He would be there to help others of which many can attest. He was a family man and so enjoyed activities with his son, Michael. One time during his struggling health, he urged his doctor to discharge him so he could get to Michael's basketball game. His mission was accomplished and he moved from hospital bed to gymnasium bench in time to watch his boy play ball. Perhaps Michael was God's way of providing him strength to live on as long as he did. He was looking forward to the hunting trip this fall with Michael, but it was not meant to be. Dave enjoyed meeting his friends for coffee at 4B's in the mornings. His good friend Dick Danell, from Minnesota and formerly of Havre, came to visit often and join them for coffee. Dave is survived by his loving wife and best friend of 30 years, Sharon; and son, Michael of the family home; children, Jeff of Missoula, Pam (Robert) West of Havre, Christine Lambert of Great Falls; grandchildren, Christopher, Tatiana, Cole, Anthony, Janae and Kamryn; stepchildren, George (Tiger) and wife, Hope Richan of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Angela Richan of Great Falls; stepgrandchildren, Ricky, Dusty, Tyson and Larissa; sister, Mary (Harry) Guetherman and brother, Tom Filler of Great Falls; sister-in-laws Carole Filler of Havre and Faustine Filler of Bellevue, Wash.; many nephews, nieces and loved ones. Dave was a good husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, and he will be missed by all. He was preceded in death by his parents, Eddie and Florence; brothers, Ed, Jim and Bill and daughter, Kim.

 

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