David "Mac" MacInnes

David M. "Mac" MacInnes passed away Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, at the age of 99. Mac was born in Wallace, Idaho, on Oct. 18, 1916, the son of David M. and S. May MacInnes. His father was an engineer on the Northern Pacific Railway until the family moved to northeastern Montana in 1919 to work the family homestead. Mac and his family moved to Helena shortly after his father passed away. There, he went to Helena High School and was on the 1932 Helena Bengals football team when they won the state AA championship. He graduated from Helena High School in 1934.

In March 1935, he was offered a machinist apprenticeship on the Northern Pacific Railway. He worked for the Northern Pacific until July 1940, when he went to Bremerton, Washington, to work at the Puget Sound Naval shipyards.

Mac and Naomi Williams, also from Helena, were married Aug. 20, 1940, in Seattle. Of their marriage were born three children, David M. III, Bonnie Jean and Fredric L

Mac was working at the shipyards when the U.S. entered World War II. During the war, he served as a civilian worker as a machinist lead instructor in the electric shop at PSNSY. He was in a position at the shipyards that the U.S. government required him to stay at for the duration of the war, thus preventing him to seek employment elsewhere or enlisting in the military. He served his country during the war in this capacity.

Soon after the war ended in 1945, Mac, Naomi and the children moved to Helena, where Mac once again became employed on the Northern Pacific Railway as a machinist. He always took pride in his work, which was evident in the projects he became involved in. He was promoted to night roundhouse foreman at Missoula in 1953 and retired from that position from the Burlington Northern Railroad in December 1976.

After retirement Mac and Naomi traveled around the U.S and Canada with their travel trailer exploring as many of the steam railroads, museums and national parks as they possibly could. They enjoyed traveling throughout their lives with their sons, daughter and grandchildren.

Mac was quite involved with many volunteer projects around Missoula. He volunteered with the anti-graffiti programs, RiteCare Clinic with the Scottish Rite of the Masonic organization, construction and maintenance of A Carousel for Missoula, and helping with the maintenance of both Holy Spirit Episcopal and Atonement Lutheran churches. He was a member for many years of the Missoula Masonic Lodges 49 and 13 and 33rd degree member of the Western Montana Scottish Rite.

In later years, when he was unable to volunteer or travel, you could see Mac taking his daily walk in the lower Rattlesnake area of Missoula. He really enjoyed his walks, and his daughter and he would talk about their daily walks on the phone several times a week, often comparing what the temperature was. Living in California, hers were quite warmer than his most of the time.

Mac was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of nearly 71 years, Naomi; son David; brother William; sister Helen; and a special grandson, Russell. He is survived by his daughter, Bonnie Daniels of Elk Grove, California; his son, Fred (Carlene) of Missoula; 13 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the many friends Mac had in his "families" at Atonement Lutheran Church, Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, the Masonic organization, his breakfast groups and A Carousel for Missoula. Also, thanks to the staffs at St. Patrick Hospital and Village Health Care and a special thanks to daughter-in- law Carlene for the several years of making sure he was cared for.

Always upbeat until the end, he would reply to the question of how he was doing with, "Can't complain," and he didn't.

Donations in his memory may be made to the RiteCare Clinic at the University of Montana, Missoula Children's Theater, Eleanor's Project and/or A Carousel for Missoula.

There will be a celebration of his life announced at a later date.


Read David MacInnes's Obituary and Guestbook on www.missoulafuneralhomes.com.