Denzil 'Denny' Merry

Denzil #8220;Denny#8221; Merry, 84, of Bozeman, passed away Saturday, October 17, 2009. He was born January 11, 1925 in Livingston, MT to Bruce and Margaret (Boucher) Merry. Denny was raised and educated in Livingston, graduating from Livingston High School. He served our country in the Navy, during WWII. He married his high school sweetheart Harriett Swingley on August 21, 1944 in Livingston. Denny worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad for 41 years. He started as a call boy at the age of 16 and advanced on as an officer, serving for the Burlington Northern Railroad. He also served as a general manager for the Burlington Northern Motor Lines in Great Falls. While working for the railroad, he and his family lived in Livingston, Bozeman, Billings, Kalispell, Butte, Helena, Great Falls and St. Paul, MN. He retired from the Railroad in 1982. He moved back to Bozeman, he then sold real estate until he retired again. Denny was an avid fisherman and hunter, until recent years he shot an elk and deer every hunting season with his sons. As a result of his hunting he also owned horses and did a lot of horseback riding. Denny and Harriett spent many winters snowmobiling. He also enjoyed leather tooling and woodworking; his lawn ornaments adorned his yard. Denny was a Mason, a Shriner and he was on the scooter patrol for the parades with the Shriners. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Harriett, 2 sisters Mildred Holland and Mabel Merry and his son-in-law Ted Phillips. Survivors include his son and daughter-in-law Ronald and Kitt Merry of Great Falls; daughter Colleen Phillips of Billings; son and daughter-in-law Wayne and Eleanor Merry of Bozeman; grandchildren Kimberly (Paul) Holefelder of Great Falls, Matthew Merry of Belgrade, Alisha Merry of Missoula, Heather (Zane) Kohlman of Billings, Lisa (Paul) Fabian of Bloomfield, CO and Colt (Angela) Merry of Huron, SD; great grandchildren Drayke, Daylan, Aydan, Keilei, Karrissa, Cara, Frank, Anton, Joseph, Hunter and Lilleionna. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of Denny#8217;s life is planned for Wednesday, October 21, 10:30 am at Dahl Funeral Chapel in Bozeman. Memorials may be made in his name to a charity of one#8217;s choice.