HANK DAVIS AND LINDA DAVIS obituary

COLUMBUS - Hank Davis, 51, and Linda Davis, 50, of Columbus died in a motor cycle crash on Friday, July 16, 2004, doing what they loved most.

A service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Old Columbus High School Gym. Interment will be in Mountain-view Cemetery. People are encouraged to ride their bikes to the service.

Hank was born in Belle Fouche, S.D., on May 20, 1953, to Ivan and Delores Davis. He graduated from Darby High School in 1971 and joined the U.S. Navy. During his time in the Navy, Hank spent time in Vietnam and stateside. While serving on the USS Tripoli in San Diego, Calif., he began a lifetime love for rodeo, which carried with him back to Montana. While in the service, his good buddy Jimmy Espeseth introduced him to the love of his life, Linda.

Linda was born in Glasgow on Aug. 9, 1953, to John and Carole Espeseth. During her senior year, Linda traveled around Europe on the trip of a lifetime. She returned and graduated from Havre High School in 1971. After graduation, Linda attended Northern Montana College. On a trip to visit her brother in California, Linda met the love of her life, a rodeo man named Hank.

Although Hank spent the majority of his life as a trucker, he wanted to spend more time at home, so in 2000, he and Linda purchased the NAPA in Columbus. Not a day went by that you wouldn't see the two behind the counter with a smile.

Hank and Linda were wonderful parents and loved nothing more than spending time with their kids. Their biggest passion was taking the family motocross racing. It was here that they taught their children that everything they did in life should be fun. Hank and Linda especially enjoyed spending time together on their Harley-Davidson and never missed a chance to ride.

Hank and Linda gave their children every opportunity to succeed in life. They never missed a chance to put a smile on someone else's face or their own.

They were preceded in death by Linda's father, John Espeseth.

Survivors include their sons, Dusty (Regan) of Bozeman and Nate of Columbus; Hank's parents, Ivan and Delores Davis of Hamilton; sister, Rosalie Harms (Dan) of Hamilton; Linda's mother, Carole Espeseth of Havre; sister, Janet (Keith) Nordrum of Havre; brother, Jimmy Espeseth (Jill) of Valier; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, aunts, uncles and numerous friends.

Memorials are suggested c/o United Bank to benefit education for the Davis children.

Smith Funeral Chapel-Columbus was in charge of arrangements.