Dacre Gowan Olmstead's Obituary
Dacre Gowan Olmstead
Born in Dupree, SD September 19, 1924
Met his Father in Heaven on January 6, 2012
Dacre G. Olmstead
September 19, 1924 – January 6, 2012
Dacre was born in Dupree South Dakota to Ben J. and Fern M. Gowan Olmstead. Fern passed from the flu epidemic when Dacre was very young. Ben remarried to Evelyn, which Dacre knew as his Mom. Dacre was one of five children and had six step siblings. Dupree was a small town and if you stood in the middle of town, you could see the end of the street in both directions. Dupree was in Sioux country so he had many Native American friends growing up. Dacre learned what it was like to be a ranch hand and how to run a farm.
After high school, Dacre joined the US NAVY as a Radioman. He completed Basic Training in Farragut Idaho and deployed from Chicago, Illinois on the LST561 USS Chittenden County where the NAVY carried troops from North Africa to Southern France during Hitler's war on Europe.
After his Honorable Discharge, Dacre worked for some time in Montana on the railroads operating telegraphs. On July 22, 1975 he married Ruby E. Belflower Harris. He then spent most of his later life working in lumber mills and eventually retiring from Friesens Lumber in Saint Helens, Oregon in 1988. Dacre did some part time work after retirement to keep busy at the local Wal-Mart where a lot of the community remembered him. Dacre was a life member of St. Helens VFW Post 1440.
Dacre leaves behind his Wife of 36 years, Ruby, Children; Leigh Brunner, Nancy Durant, Deborah Stansbury, Barbara Dickerson, David Olmstead, David & Dan Chronister and Linda Brunick and a multitude of Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren. All who loved him very much. Pre-deceased by daughter; Margarite Jeffries.
Funeral Services will be held, 11am, Tuesday, January 10th, 2012 at Columbia Funeral Home in Saint Helens, followed by a procession, committal and military honors at Columbia Memorial Gardens in Scappoose, OR off of Highway 30.
On line condolences can be made to the family at www.columbiafh.com
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