David (Deke) Gerstenberger

David Lee (Deke) Gerstenberger, 67, passed away on Jan. 29, 2014, in Seattle, Wash., after a courageous battle against amyloidosis.

He was born Jan. 23, 1947, in Havre, Mont., to Bernard and Violin (Frank) Gerstenberger. He graduated from Havre Central in 1965, attended lab tech training in Minnesota and was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1967, where he served two years.

He worked for the Great Northern Railroad starting part time during high school and became full time in March 1966. GNRR later became the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad where he spent 35 years until his retirement in May 2004 due to an injury.

He met his future wife, Cheryl, in a snowball fight in Jan. 1970. They married in Oct. 1970 and enjoyed 43 years together. He liked working in his yard, traveling in his motorhome, wintering in Arizona and loved NASCAR. He especially enjoyed going to the Oregon sand dunes with his family to ride Zippy, his four-wheeler. His last big trip was to North Carolina for the birth of his grandson.

He is survived by his wife, Cheryl; children, Todd (Sheena) of Shoreline, Wash., Hillary (Wes) Cole of Leicester, N.C. and Tim of Great Falls; brother; Greg (Lori) Gerstenberger of Cut Bank; sisters; Denise (Jim) Mead of Austin, Texas, Diane (Curt) Filkins of Puyallup, Wash .; numerous nieces and nephews and his very special grandson Porter Lee Cole.

At his request no services will be held. However, there will be a get-together at the Great Falls Eagles Aerie on Saturday, Feb. 15, at 2 p.m.

Donations may be sent to the Amyloidosis Foundation, 7151 N. Main St, Suite 2, Clarkston, MI 48346 or online at http://amyloidosis.org/Support/ to futher research this rare blood disease.