David Koester

MISSOULA - Dave Koester, 78, passed Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at Bee Hive Homes in Missoula, after a long, difficult battle with Parkinson’s disease and congestive heart failure.





Dave was born to Dorothy and Fred Koester on March 3, 1930, in Painesville, Ohio. He attended Mentor High School in Mentor, Ohio, where he excelled in most sports, setting state records in track, especially high and low hurdles.





After graduation in 1948, he continued his education at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. A member of Sigma Chi fraternity, he was also a swim team member in 1950 and 1951 and team captain in 1952. He continued setting records in track for high and low hurdles.





He graduated with a business degree in 1952, and that same week married Rudy Dickinson of Bexley, Ohio, whom he met at OU.





After graduation, Dave joined the Air Force as a second lieutenant. Dave and Rudy lived in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina, near or on Air Force bases where he was trained and worked as a radar aircraft control officer.





At one time, he received a letter of commendation for guiding four Navy Corsair pilots who were lost over land and nearly out of fuel to a safe landing. They remarked that they were landing on fumes as all fuel was gone.





Dave was discharged from the Air Force as a first lieutenant. He and his wife lived in Denver, Painesville and Minneapolis as he learned finance and banking.





In Minneapolis, he started Medical Oxygen and Equipment and as president partnered with Twin City Oxygen.





In 1989, the company was sold and Dave and Rudy decided to move to Missoula, and enjoy the many advantages of mountain and outdoor living. This eventually helped make his family more accessible.





Dave fully enjoyed his life in Montana. He did some volunteer work through RSVP and continued his love of sports by following the University of Montana football and basketball teams. His greatest joy was his family and friends.





Dave was preceded in death by his parents; his younger brother, Dan; and an infant daughter, Cynthia Ann.





He is survived by his wife, Rudy; their daughter, Linda Lybert of Seattle; and their son, Douglas of Missoula; Linda’s two daughters and sons-in-law, Erika and Shane Hickey of Missoula and Melissa and Steve Kartak of Minnesota; and Linda’s son, Matthew of Wisconsin. Also surviving are Doug’s two sons, Timmy Koester of Missoula and Michael Williams of Bozeman. Dave has one brother, Paul, who lives in Louisville, Ky.





Dave and Rudy are proud and loving great-grandparents of Simon and Gus Hickey, Abbey and Alice Kartak and Tyson Lybert.





Dave is loved by many and will be sorely missed.





In lieu of flowers, his family asks that donations be given to the American Heart Association or American Parkinson Disease Association.





Services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12, at Livingston, Malletta and Geraghty Funeral Home followed by interment at the Western Montana State Veterans Cemetery.
Read David Koester's Obituary and Guestbook.