Rex E. Dramstad

Rex E. Dramstad

Rex Edward Dramstad, 65, passed away Jan. 16, 2013, after a brief struggle with cancer. Services for family and friends to celebrate Rex's life will be held at Messiah Lutheran Church in Havre at 2 p. m. Friday, Jan. 25, 2013.

Memorials in Rex's honor may be made to the Havre Police Protective Association for scholarships. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home.

Rex was born on May 4, 1947 in Glasgow, Mont. He was the fifth of Etta and Al Dramstad's 10 children. His family moved to Kalispell in 1957, where he graduated from Flathead High School in 1965.

It was during a year of study at Northern Montana College that he met his future wife, Kristine Weyh of Havre, at a Northern football game. Married in 1968 in Havre, Rex and Kris still enjoyed life together after over 44 years of marriage.

Rex served in the U. S. Navy as an aircraft electronics technician from 1968 to 1973, including duty on the aircraft carrier USS Hancock off the coast of Vietnam. After his discharge from the Navy, Rex and Kris returned to Havre.

Rex began his

career in law enforcement in Chinook in 1974, and soon after he transferred to the Havre Police Department. After 21 years of service there, he retired from the department as a captain. He then began working for the U. S. Border Patrol and retired for good in 2009.

Rex was an avid fisherman and hunter. A good day for him was one where he could be out in the fields with his friends hunting for geese or getting his line wet fishing. His excursions generated a lot of stories, which his many friends will attest to.

Rex loved to garden. Many tables were graced with displays of his dahlias, and he generously shared many bowls of produce. He especially loved his pumpkin patch at the community garden spot, where he nurtured the largest pumpkins that he could grow. His skills as a woodworker also blossomed since his retirement, and recipients of his gifts of cutting boards or Lazy Susans were most appreciative.

While Rex displayed a gruff exterior to some, he was a big marshmallow with his grandchildren. He loved taking Bryson and Ethan fishing. The concerts under the stars in Helena with fireworks were a highlight of their summers.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Rex is survived by his wife, Kris Dramstad of Havre; daughter, Lana Dramstad (husband John Stimson) ; grandsons, Bryson Robinson and Ethan Stimson of Havre, sister-in-law Carol (Pat) Fewer of North Liberty, Iowa.

Rex's siblings are Rita (Dick) Bradford of Louisville, Ky., Ellen Dramstad of Boise Idaho, ; Dale Dramstad of Bloomington Minn., Don (Rhonda) Dramstad of Leesburg Va., Max (Sheila) Dramstad of Puyallup Wash., Jim (Sarah) Dramstad of Trout Creek, Mont., Dick (Tracey) Dramstad of Arlington Mass. Linda (Jon) Cavigli of Kalispell Mont., and Harold Dramstad of Helena Mont., and is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.