David L. Biggar

David L. Biggar, 83, of Belgrade, formerly of the Bigfork and Polson area, passed away February 3, 2008, at the Billings Deaconess Hospital. He was born January 28, 1925, in Littleton, CO, to David N. and Ella (Borgen) Biggar. His mother passed away when he was very young. His father later remarried and he was raised by his step-mother Millie Olson Biggar. Dave was raised and attended school in Littleton. At the age of 17 he enlisted into the US Navy to serve his country during World War II. He was assigned to the USS Pinkney, an evacuation transport, in the South Pacific. The Pinkney provided aid during the Battle of the Salomons Islands, Guadalcanal, Peleliu, and Iwo Jima. In April of 1945, while off Okinawa, the Pinkney was attacked by a Kamikaze plane. Following repairs the Pinkney spent the last part of 1945 and the first months of 1946 supporting the occupation of Japan and returning veterans to the United States. Following the war Dave returned to Colorado. He met and married Alta Moore on September 9, 1947, in Littleton. They made their home in Littleton where Dave worked as a lineman for Colorado Central Power. In 1961 Dave and Alta and their children left Colorado and moved north to the Flathead Valley. Dave started to work for Pacific Power and Light and soon after arriving in Montana, he and Alta purchased their home in Woods Bay that included a cherry orchard. He was a lineman for Pacific Power and Light and also became a cherry farmer. Dave retired from Pacific Power in 1983. He and Alta moved to Polson in 1989. In Polson Dave enjoyed wood working and taking care of the wild birds that flocked to his bird feeders while Alta enjoyed gardening and quilting. Alta passed away on November 2, 2001. Dave remained in Polson until he moved to Belgrade, MT, in 2005. This past December he moved into Highgate Senior Living, where he made many friends in a very short time. Dave was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Alta. Survivors include his four children, Debbie Clark and husband Marc of Reno, NV, David Biggar and wife Debbie of Kalispell, Rebecca Layton of Bozeman, and Robert Biggar; grandchildren Timothy, Adam, Kayla, Emily, Bonnie, Bryce, Bryan, Seth, Tyler, and Katelin; great grandchildren Quentin, Aidan, Gabriel and Seth; and two sisters Mary Ann Friend and husband Don of Missouri and Joy Verhoeff and husband Justin of Colorado. A celebration of Dave's life will be held on Saturday, February 16th, at 4:00 pm in the Community Room at the Central School Museum, 124 2nd Ave East, in Kalispell. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.dahlcares.com (the beautiful website created by Dave's daughter Rebecca).