Dale H. Aarstad

Dale H. Aarstad, 65, of Troy died Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009 at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital in Libby from natural causes.

He was born Sept. 7, 1943 in Billings to Henry and Ruth Clark Aarstad. His early years were spent in Billings. He moved to Sidney for several years and then to Butte for a year. His last three years of high school were spent in Deer Lodge where he graduated with the class of 1961.

After graduation he worked for a while at Galien as a kitchen worker. He moved to Troy and went to work for St. Regis Paper Co.  In 1970, Mr. Aarstad went to work for the Libby Police Department doing foot patrol. He became a sergeant on the police force in 1976 and chief of police in 1979. He continued working for the Libby Police department until it closed in 1984.

Mr. Aarstad then returned to the mill and worked for Champion International and Stimson before its closure. He returned to school and earned a business degree from Flathead Valley Community College. He worked for the Troy Public Schools until his retirement in 2008.

He married Roberta JoAnn Wickholm in 1963 in Troy. On Nov. 27, 1985 he married Donna Robertson. Family and friends will remember him as a good husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend.

His parents; stepfather, Thomas Gregory; a brother; and two sons, Kurt and Kalvin, preceded him in death. 

Survivors include his wife Donna Aarstad of Troy; children, Korey Aarstad of Libby; Kevin Aarstad and wife Christina of Libby; Ross Robertson and wife Linda of Bonners Ferry, Idaho; and Rex Robertson and wife Carolin of San Diego, Calif.; sisters, Billye Glovan and husband Stanley of Opportunity; Sonya Varver and husband Bill of Sidney; and Betty Colkin and husband Allen of California; and brother, Harvey Benson Jr. and wife Bobbi of Washington.

Services will be Thursday, Aug. 20, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home in Libby. Interment will follow at the City of Libby Cemetery.