Leroy Dufner

Glendive, Montana: Leroy Dufner, age 81, passed away on Monday, June 10, 2013 at the Glendive Medical Center Extended Care in Glendive. Visitation will be from 1:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Friday, June 14, 2013 at the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A Vigil Service will be held at 7:00 P.M. on Friday, June 14, 2013 in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Glendive with Father Joseph Ponessa officiating. Rite of Committal with military honors will be held in Dawson Memorial Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. Leroy Edward Dufner was born in Glendive on January 26, 1932, the fourth child of Matt and Mary Dufner. While he was a student at Sacred Heart grade school, Leroy worked as a pin setter for Don Culver at Don's Bowling Lanes, which was located at the current site of Glendive Glass and Paint. The pin setters earned 10 cents a line and could also bowl for nothing. He also worked at Farnum and Gabert Drug for Mr. Gabert, stocking shelves and cleaning. In Leroy’s junior and senior years he worked as a bell hop at the Jordan Hotel. During the summer he was a section hand and later he worked in the car shops for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Leroy graduated from Dawson County High School with the class of 1950. That fall he was drafted into the United States Marine Corps and served during the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge from military service in 1952, Leroy worked in the car shops for Northern Pacific until he was laid off in 1956. He then tended bar at the Jordan Hotel for about four months. Paul Hagan was the owner of the Jordan at that time and Jim Jones was the bar manager. Leroy then began working for Mountain Bell as a lineman until the Dufners bought Purity Dairy in September of 1957. Leroy worked as a delivery man on the wholesale route, delivering to schools, stores and cafes, until his retirement in 1997. During the Dufner Dairy years, Leroy also branched out with his brothers into various real estate ventures, and along the way they started the Jock Stop and Duff's Racquetball Club. Leroy married Ann Hanssen in 1958. Ann came to Glendive in 1956 as a young nurse from Iowa to work at the Northern Pacific Hospital. They were blessed with four children: Michael, Michelle, Dan and Scott. As is well known, he indeed worked hard and long until his retirement and enjoyed a wonderful marriage with his wife, who as his sister Marge claimed "was the most beautiful nurse we ever had in Glendive." Marge also wondered at the time, "What is she doing with Leroy?" Leroy earned a degree of notoriety for his love of many sports, particularly bowling and golf. His early career as a pin setter turned him into a pretty impressive bowler. During his tenure on the alleys, he amassed a few shelves of bowling trophies and is also reported to be the first person in Glendive to bowl a 700 series. And while it is true that he is greater known, not as the best golfer, but rather as the loudest golfer the town has ever seen, he did manage to notch a hole-in-one during a Labor Day golf tournament some years ago. Leroy also excelled as an entertainer. Whether it was some impromptu prank being played in the dairy aisle of the grocery store, or appearing in 20 years of the local Fractured Follies, his performances will not soon be forgotten...and rarely a day passed where Leroy did not engage in frivolity. He and Ann often turned the dining room into a dance floor. He turned the phrase "Rubber Balloons" into an inside joke the town could always share. He could turn a simple daily activity like buying milk into a raucous and memorable event. He turned his hands raw from incessant rubbing. He turned rooms into parties and turned heads with his laughter. Leroy was many other things, as well. He was a long time member of the Glendive city council. He was a devout catholic and spiritual man. Leroy was proud to be a lifelong member of Sacred Heart Church, Knights of Columbus and Veterans of Foreign War. And, of course, Leroy was a loving husband, father and grandfather. But for those who knew him well, Leroy will be best known as a loving and generous man. The love he gave and the love he received was a gift for those who shared his boundless youth, and for those who saw him through his days of sickness. His loving wife, his brothers and sisters, his children and grandchildren, his nephews, nieces, and many friends will forever be blessed to have been with him on his journey. Leroy was preceded in death by his parents, Matt and Mary Dufner; sister-in-law, Caroline Dufner; two brothers-in-law, Hartwick Petersen and Jack Reynolds; daughter-in-law, Catherine and former son-in-law, Tim Kinsey. Survivors include his loving wife, Ann Dufner of Glendive; three sons, Michael Dufner of Redwood City, California, Dan (Brenda) Dufner of Missoula, Montana and Scott (Kim) Dufner of Missoula; one daughter, Michelle Kinsey of Helena, Montana; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; siblings, Floyd Dufner of Glendive, Rose Marie “Toots” Petersen of Miles City, Montana, Marge Reynolds of Glendive, Marvin (Marilyn) Dufner of Glendive, Marian (Dave) Quale of Beach, North Dakota, Jim (Nicki) Dufner of Glendive, Paul (Annette) Dufner of Glendive and Pat (Walt) Easely of Corvallis, Montana and numerous nieces and nephews. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silveranle-silhafuneralhome.com.

Leroy Dufner

January 26, 1932 - June 15, 2013

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Leroy Dufner

January 26, 1932 - June 15, 2013

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

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