Clifford "Dale" Maki

DARBY – Clifford “Dale” Maki, 81, of Darby passed away Tuesday, October 18, 2016 at his home with his wife of 50 + years at his side.  He was born October 28, 1934 in Victor, MT the son of the late Jacob “Jake” and Violet “Vi” Maki.

Dale was raised in the Victor and Hamilton area.  He was an active member of the football and basketball team along with FFA.  Dale graduated from Hamilton High School in 1953.

He started his sawmill career at the S & W Sawmill in Conner for the shook family.  Dale stayed working in the sawmill through all the owner changes and retired as a saw filer when the mill closed.

On December 31, 1965, Dale married Juanita Shook Palin at the Conner Wesleyan Church, adopting her 2 children, Del Lee and Holly Marie.  The family settled in Darby.

Dale took great pleasure in spending time with family, picnics, camping and rock hunting filling the summers.  Bowling and family gatherings filled the winters.

He was a member of the Rock and Mineral Society as well as the local Grange and Eagles Club.  He bowled on the men’s league and mixed leagues from the age of 16 until the age of 80.

In his retirement years Dale worked for the Darby Forest Service, maintaining the grounds and helping with fire radios.  He enjoyed visiting with his many friends at the Bitterroot Brewery and the Bandit Brewery, being a novice home brewer in his younger years.

Dale is survived by his wife, Juanita, of Darby; his son, Del (Connie) Maki of Darby; his daughter, Holly Maki of Darby; 5 grandchildren, Kyle (Nikki) Maki of Darby, Ty Billings of Darby, Jessi (Everett) Fuller of Tazwell, TN, Cody Billings of Tazwell, TN and Farrli Billings of Darby; and 2 great-granddaughters, Rylee Maki and Aislynn Maki.

Services will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 11:00 A.M. at the Daly-Leach Chapel with a reception following in the funeral home’s community room.  Private family urn placement will take place at a later date at Lone Pine Cemetery in Darby.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made in Dale’s name to the family at 107 Valley View Lane, Darby, MT  59829.