June 28, 1936 ~ March 17, 2022

Notice of passing….retired Western/Delta pilot Captain James Gary Olsen, age 85.  Captain Olsen joined Western Airlines on 08-29-1966 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 1996.  Widowed with the passing of his wife Kathleen, Gary is survived by his children and his grandchildren.

James Gary Olsen passed away peacefully with his loving children at his side on Thursday, 17 Mar 2022 at the age of 85. He was the first born of five children to James Olsen and Isabelle Janette Parker Olsen.  To avoid confusion over his father’s name he went by his middle name Gary.  He was born at the family home in Ovid, Idaho on 28 Jun 1936 and raised on the family ranch.

Gary was an Eagle Scout and graduated from Fielding High School, Paris, ID, in 1954 with a strong interest in science.  He attended Utah State in Logan, Utah, and joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC), training to be a future officer while going to school.

After two years of college, he was called on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served in Northern California and Nevada.  He first met his future wife Kathleen Mae Decker while on his mission in Nevada.

After his mission in 1958, Gary returned to school and continued his ROTC training at Brigham Young University.  While pursuing a degree in Physics and a minor in Mathematics, Gary also pursued Kathleen Decker who was going to the University of Utah at the time. They were married in the Salt Lake Temple on 12 Aug 1960.

After graduation, Gary was trained as a pilot by the US Air Force and served to the rank of Captain.  He loved to fly, and was first stationed at Craig Air Force base in Alabama flying radar missions over Cuba before serving as a pilot in Vietnam.

Gary and Kathy began a family in 1961, and they had four children by the time he finished his military service in 1966.  He began a satisfying career with Western Airlines but continued to serve through the reserve air national guard from 1967 to 1969.  He flew out of the San Francisco airport until 1985 and then transferred to the Salt Lake City airport where he continued to fly as a pilot for Delta until he retired in 1996.  The generous flying benefits provided Gary with the opportunity to take his family on numerous vacation trips, Hawaii being the family favorite.

Gary served through many callings with the LDS Church and never allowed himself to be idle for long.  In addition to church callings, he stayed active through numerous hobbies including Model Trains and Airplanes, Chemistry, Astronomy, Shooting, Photography, Scuba diving/Snorkeling, Sailing, Tennis, Racquetball, Water skiing, Snow skiing, Hiking, Genealogy, and Computer electronics.  He liked to sing and whistle, make puzzles, listen to classical music, and eat a good meal.

He lost the love of his life, Kathleen, to cancer in 2010 and has been eager for the chance to be reunited with her ever since. Gary was a generous hard-working man, tenacious and organized, and always supportive of everyone he knew.  He will be greatly missed.

Gary is survived by his children: Robert (Donna), Lorraine (Steve), Richard, and Linda, grandchildren: Brandon, Brittany, Ashley and Charles (his mother Marilyn), Jesse (Alesha), Cody, Kurtis, siblings: Bonnie, Charles (Marsha) and Michael (Mona), as well as many in-laws, nieces, and nephews.

~ IN MEMORY ~
Navy veteran, WA/DL Capt. David Carl Evans
December 31, 1936 ~ May 2, 2022

Notice of passing…..retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Dave Evans, age 85.  Dave joined Western Airlines 08-21-1967 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 1996, based 030/SLC at the time of retirement.

Obituary information

Condolences may be sent to the family at:
294 Saint Andrews Drive
Napa, CA 94558-1548

David “Dave” Evans passed away May 2, 2022, from Pulmonary Fibrosis. He was 85 years old.

Dave was born in Rockford, Illinois where he grew up on the family farm. His parents were Barbara and John Evans. He was a naval aviator serving in Jacksonville, Florida, and Corpus Christi, Texas. In May 1962, Dave was part of the naval recovery team which found and initiated the rescue of Mercury astronaut, Scott Carpenter, who had landed off course in the waters southeast of Florida. When Dave retired from the Navy, he joined Western Airlines and, subsequently, Delta Airlines. He flew 29 years as a commercial pilot. He enjoyed 25 years of retirement, playing lots of golf and traveling the world.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Kit, their daughter, Lisa Evans Sennott (Duncan), and 2 grandchildren, Marley Sennott (15) and Jack Sennott (13). He is also survived by his brother Jack’s wife, Dorothy, of Spring, Texas.

A private family service will take place at a later date.

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, WA/DL Capt. Robert M. Frick

August 4, 1936, ~ May 13, 2022

Notice of passing….retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Robert Martin Frick, age 85.  Captain Frick joined Western Airlines on September 6, 1968, and retired with Delta Air Lines.  He is survived by his wife Jo Ann, and by his children and grandchildren, plus many more dear family members and friends.   

Condolences may be sent to the family at (white pages listing):

20 Rollingwood Dr. Spc 71, Jackson, CA 95642

Robert (Bob) Frick of Jackson, CA died Friday, May 13, 2022, after a several years battle with dementia. Bob was born on August 4, 1936, in Orange, CA. As a young boy, and only child he moved with his mother Emily to San Francisco and grew up in the city. At Lowell High School he participated in track and field events. Upon graduation, he attended San Francisco City College for two years and then joined the United States Navy in 1957. He spent 10 years serving his country as a pilot including serving in the Pacific theater during the Vietnam War. After leaving the Navy he went to work for Frontier and then Western Airlines as a pilot and was domiciled in Denver, CO where he met the love of his life, Jo Ann Ayres. They married in Denver in 1967 and his work took them to Salt Lake City and Anchorage, AK before eventually moving back to the Bay area where they lived until 2004. When Western Airlines was purchased by Delta Airlines Bob continued his flying career with Delta, flying routes around the US and Internationally, concluding his career in the then-new Boeing 757. After retirement from Delta Bob flew charter flights, a charter King Air, and was a flight instructor at Navajo Aviation. In 2004 they settled in Jackson, where Bob was active in the Jackson area Lions Club. He and Jo were also active in the New Life Church, in Jackson. Bob’s faith was an important part of his life. Bob was a serious and professional pilot on the flight deck of an aircraft but outside of work he was a great storyteller and possessed a quick wit dispensing his humor with a twinkle in his eye. His family includes his wife of 54 years Jo, his three sons, and their partners, Chris Frick and Brittney Thompson of Sacramento, Tim Frick and Angela Mazziotta of Portland, OR, and Matthew and Adri Frick of Martinez, CA. Grandchildren Alex, Simon, and Neil Frick. His brothers-in-law, John Swisher III of Ann Arbor, MI, and Herb Ayres and his wife Elizabeth Hartman of Kalamazoo, MI, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. 

A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 11, 2022, at the New Life Church in Jackson at 10:00 a.m. Memorial gifts for those that desire could be made to Hospice of Amador and Calaveras Counties.

Uncle Frank, as he was affectionately known by his nieces and their friends, flew West on April 16, 2022.  He was 81. While still in college, Captain Mayne learned to fly at Pacific States Aviation in Concord, California, and continued to fly for them during the early sixties.  He began his airline career at Western Airlines in 1966 and retired from Delta in 2000. In between his airline trips, Captain Mayne enjoyed decades  as a lab instructor in Marine Biology
at Diablo Valley College.

In keeping with his wishes, Captain Mayne’s funeral was private/family only.

By Frank’s side, at his funeral were:
His Sister, Ginny Glavinovich, nieces Natalie Glavinovich, Chelsea McClure and
Chelsea’s husband Kevin McClure.

Following a stroke, Frank remained partially paralyzed for nearly two years. His Sister, Ginny wants those who maintained contact with him during that unbearably lonely time to know that hearing from his fellow pilots served to boost his morale immeasurably. 

Condolences may be addressed to:

Ginny Mayne Glavinovich & Family
3164 Lucas Drive
Lafayette, CA
94549

~ IN MEMORY ~

Military veteran, WA/DL Capt. Don L. Peterson

JUNE 7, 1929 ~ APRIL 20, 2022

Word has been received with news of the passing of retired Western/Delta pilot Captain Don Lemoine Peterson, age 92. Captain Peterson joined Western Airlines on 09-19-1955 and retired with Delta Air Lines.  Don is survived by his wife Toni, and by his daughters, and his grand- and great-grandchildren.  

 Don Lemoine Peterson, age 92, passed away on April 20, 2022, in Park City, Utah. He was born at LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah on June 7, 1929, to Vadal Peterson and Elvira Wood. Don was the youngest of five children, 4 boys, and one girl. (Vadal, Laura, Ray, and Wood) Don graduated from the University of Utah, joined the Air Force, and learned to fly. After four years he returned to Utah and joined the Utah Air National Guard, where he served for 26 years. During the early period of his return to Utah, he began to fly for Frontier Airlines. In 1955 he became a pilot for Western Airlines and flew for them until they merged with Delta. He continued as a senior pilot with Delta until he retired in 1989. 

Don always loved to fly and continued after his retirement to fly small planes and joined the World Beechcraft Society. He and his wife attended many fly-ins and made many friends throughout the country. Post-retirement he worked as a simulator instructor for Morris Airlines. Don was an avid skier and loved to fish. He traveled to Alaska every year to a fishing camp and brought home the spoils. He and his wife belonged to the Saturday Night Dance Club and the Delta Pioneers. He babied his dog Coco who came to live with him after his brother Wood Peterson passed away. 

Don is survived by three daughters from his first marriage, Pamela, Sherrie, and Karrie. He has nine grandchildren, and several great-grandchildren. In 1988 Don remarried Annette (Toni) Cefalu and they lived happily for 34 years. Don related well to his stepson Michael Fabri who has a daughter Alexandria.

Funeral services will be held at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park on Saturday, April 30, 2022, at 1 pm. No flowers, please. Donations may be made in memory of Don to any kind of animal rescue or adoption agency.

To view the obituary online please visit Dignity Memorial

For those who wish to send condolences, white pages list their current address as 

8681 Gorgoza Dr., Park City, UT 84098.

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, WA/DL pilot William Gordon Simons

October 25, 1938 ~ April 19, 2022

William Gordon Simons, 83, of Springfield, Oregon, passed away on April 19, 2022. Bill was born to parents Guy and Helen Simons in Seaside, Oregon on October 25th, 1938. He graduated from Springfield High School and obtained a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oregon, after which he joined the Air Force and married Marilyn Williams. 

He spent eight years in the Air Force as a fighter pilot, including a year in Vietnam, and later enjoyed a long career as a commercial airline pilot with Western Airlines and Delta Airlines. After many years away due to his career, he moved back to Springfield and married Judith Yates. Following his years as a pilot, he briefly taught student pilots at Lane Community College before serving as the first Justice of the Peace for Lane County. Upon retirement, he fulfilled a lifelong desire to write a novel and continued to travel the world with Judy. 

Bill is predeceased by his parents and his older brother James, as well as his wife Judith. He is survived by his two sons, Lee and Steve, and four wonderful grandchildren. 

(Thanks to Carol Faulkner)

Posted online on April 30, 2022Published in The Register-Guard

~ IN MEMORY ~

WA/DL Capt. Wm. C. “Bill” Evans

July 16, 1929 ~ April 9, 2022

Notice of passing….retired Western/Delta pilot Captain William Cooper “Bill” Evans, age 92.  Captain Evans joined Western Airlines 05-01-1957 and retired with Delta Air Lines.  He is survived by his wife Sherry and his son Doug plus his grandchildren and many more dear family members and friends.

The Evans’ most recent mailing address is listed in white pages as:

 1058 N. Paseo Iris,  Green Valley, AZ 85614

Retired Western/Delta Airlines Capt. W.C. “Bill” Evans was cleared for final takeoff Saturday, April 9, from his home in Green Valley, AZ.

Expected to greet him upon arrival at his final destination are his sons Scotty, Jim, and Jerry, his parents Jerome and Inez; also Roslyn, Marty, and other loved ones who got there first.

Those left in the waiting area include his wife Sherry, son Doug (wife Meghan), daughters-in-law Suzie and Melinda, sister Gray Darden, grandchildren Ty, Tanner, Hope, and Quinn. And many nephews and nieces. And a legion of those who loved him.

Bill was born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1929 where he lived until high school graduation. He then went to Colorado A & M (now CSU). He served in the Air Force in Korea as a fighter pilot. After the Air Force, he started with Western Airlines which merged with Delta. He flew for 32 happy years.

When he retired, he moved to Ennis, Montana, where he met his wife, Sherry. He also resided at times in Ft. Collins, CO, Estes Park, CO, Sequim, WA, and finally in Green Valley, AZ. But his heart was always in Montana.

His smile, kindness, and sense of humor will be fondly remembered and missed.

A celebration of life will be held at Desert Hills Lutheran Church on Saturday, April 23, at 11 a.m. followed by a reception at the Green Valley Country Club.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the GV Food Bank.

Good news! Our quarterly luncheon is ON for Thursday, 21 April!

We have room for four (4) more so let Paul AND Curt know if you can make it.

See the Wallybird post of 28 March for more details

If we don’t have the required minimum attendance of twenty responding by Monday 10 April we will have to cancel the planned SFO Wallybird Luncheon once again.

If you intend to attend, please reply to BOTH Paul AND Curt at

<pjbro@sbcglobal.net> and <curt@taylorsinpv.com

Respond even if you have previously responded as planning to attend.

~ IN MEMORY ~

USAF veteran, WA/DL Roderick Montgomery Duncan

September 27, 1934 – April 2, 2022

Notice of passing…..retired Western/Delta pilot Roderick Montgomery “Rod” “Monty” Duncan, age 87, of Butte, Montana.  Captain Duncan joined Western Airlines 06-05-1967 and retired with Delta Air Lines in 1994 based LAX. He is survived by his wife Kay and their blended family of children and extended family members.

Obituary information is available online at Butte Funeral Home

For those wishing to send condolences, the family address is:

135 Larkspur Lane,  Butte, MT 59701

Roderick Montgomery “Rod” “Monty” Duncan, age 87, of Butte, Montana

Obituary

Roderick M Duncan “Rod” “Monty” passed away at home on April 2, 2022.   Rod was born to Judge Philip and Kathryn Duncan in Whitehall, MT on September 27, 1934. 

Rod was raised in Whitehall and graduated from Whitehall High School in 1952.  He attended the US Maritime Academy in Long Island, New York being one of two Montana appointees.  He then attended West Point Military Academy, Western Montana College and The University of Montana earning a bachelor degree in History and Political Science in 1957. 

Rod enlisted in the Air Force in 1957 requesting pilot training.  He was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1958 as a 2nd Lt Strategic Air Command Team.  He served two tours of duty in Vietnam in 1965 and 1966 as a pilot of KC-135 refueling B-52 Bomber planes.  He discharged in 1967 as a Captain.  He received the United States Air Medal for Meritorious Achievement for his service during this time.

Rod continued his love of aviation as a commercial pilot for Western and Delta Airlines for a total of 28 years as a line pilot/Captain.  He retired in 1994. 

In August 1963 he married Sally A Brooks. Together they raised four children – Teri Eubanks, Debbie Bowman, Melanie Labrum, and Monty Duncan.  They made their home in Orange County California. 

Rod had many hobbies which included fishing, photography, computers, history, building trains, anything to do with aviation, gadgets and “tinkering”. 

In 1997, Rod returned to his Montana roots, renewing old high school friendships where he then became known to all as “Monty”.   He re-ignited a high school prom date crush — Kay (Carmody) Spackman and in 1999 they were married.  Together they rekindled many old friendships and cherished these times.  They made their home in Butte and spent their retirement years traveling as much as humanly possible, enjoying many trips abroad as well as within the United States going coast to coast.  They took every opportunity to visit family and friends and always enjoyed being a part of activities of their large extended family.   Monty was a dedicated supporter of the World Museum of Mining, where he volunteered his extensive photography experience in restoring historical photos.  He loved and supported the arts and the Mother Lode Theatre, he loved Butte, Whitehall and Virginia City history.  He is survived by his wife Kay, and children Teri Eubanks, Debbie (George) Bowman, Melanie Labrum (Craig),  Monty (Candace) Duncan, Darla (Ric) Palmer, Susan (John) Breining, Renee Spackman, Tim Spackman, Kim (Kelly) Hayes, and Jill (Mark) Allen.  He was preceded in death by Kay’s son Jeff Spackman, and great grand-daughter Penelope Hintz and his brother David Duncan. 

He was proud of his blended family where he and Kay are survived by 23 grandchildren and their spouses and 16 great grandchildren.  He is also survived by his sisters Jane Duncan, and her children, Irene (Tom) Erdie and their children and brother-in-law Lee Hurley.

Visitation

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 9th at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on the corner of Caledonia St. and North Western Ave. in Butte.

Funeral Mass

Funeral Mass will begin at 10 am at the church. Rite of Committal with Military Honors will be held at 2:30 pm at the Whitehall Cemetery in Whitehall, Montana. Memorials in honor of Monty are suggested to Jefferson Valley Museum, PO Box 902, Whitehall, MT 59759, or Motherlode Theatre, PO Box 522, Butte, MT 59703, or World Museum of Mining, P.O. Box 33, Butte, MT 59703.