Obituary - Vernon Joseph Dahinden

Vernon Joseph Dahinden was born to Frank and Anna Margaret (Weber) Dahinden on May 15, 1922, at the family homestead south of Joplin. Along with his two older brothers, Bill and Eugene, he attended school in Joplin, where he graduated in 1940.

Vern was deferred from service in WWII to help sustain agricultural effort on home front. When his brother, Eugene, returned from the Pacific Theater they ran the farm together and began raising registered Hereford cattle. 

Several years later, while visiting big brother, Bill, in Great Falls, he was introduced to Marjorie Gannon. They were married November 24, 1951, in Sunburst at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. They made their life at the Dahinden farm in Joplin, where over the next several decades they raised six children. In 1994, Vern partially retired from farming and the two moved to Chester.

During his adult life, Vern was very active in his community. He served on the Joplin school board for 12 years; the Liberty Medical Center board of directors; the Federal Home Loan Bank advisory committee and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Chester. 

Vern, however, did not work all the time. He enjoyed bowling and was even on a mixed-league team with Marjie for several years. His ultimate favorite pastime, though, was watching basketball. He enjoyed seeing his children and grandchildren play during their growing-up years, but he especially looked forward to watching his Gonzaga college team play on television. A little-known fact about Vern was that he loved babies and little kids, and often was referred to endearingly as a "baby whisperer."

Vern is preceded in death by his mother and father; his two older brothers, and twin grandsons Joseph and Lucas Dahinden.

His survivors include his wife, Marjie; children, Anna (Mike) Flynn of Helena, Virginia (Lochiel) Edwards of Big Sandy, Steve (Jill) Dahinden of Joplin, Greg (Susan) Dahinden of Portland, Oregon, Joe (Julie) Dahinden of Bozeman, and Tom (Tanya) Dahinden of Billings; grandchildren, Erin, Laura, Katie, Logan, Holly, Kristina, Evan, Tyler, Cody and Blake; seven great-grandchildren, Evelyn, Molly, Ben, Lochlan, Sean, Graham and Claire; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Vern passed August 5, 2020, while surrounded by his wife, children and several grandchildren.

Vigil services will be Sunday, August 9, at 7 p.m. A funeral service will be held August 10, at 10:00 a.m. Both services will be at St. Mary Catholic Church. A reception will follow the mass outside the church. Immediate family will attend a private burial after reception.