Dale Edwin Kraft

Dale E. Kraft, 80, of Corvallis, Montana passed away Tuesday, August 21, 2024 at his home. He was born November 29, 1943, in Bozeman, Montana, the son of Earl C. and Melva M. (Skank) Kraft.

Dale was raised on a farm south of Bozeman, Montana. He participated in 4-H. at Bozeman High School. Dale excelled in gymnastics and wrestling, winning a wrestling state championship in 1963 which earned him a full ride scholarship to Montana State University in Bozeman. There he won the Big Sky Conference championship in wrestling which earned him the opportunity to wrestle in the NCAA national wrestling tournament in Iowa. Dale’s 1964 – 1966 wrestling team was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame. At MSU Dale studied Industrial Arts and received his Bachelor’s Degree. Dale provided for himself during these years by working construction for Martel Construction where he developed a passion for building and the trades.

In 1969, Dale married Mary M. Montgomery in Bozeman. Dale and Mary then moved to Silverton, Oregen where he began his first teaching job and coached wrestling in the fall of 1969. Dale and Mary eventually settled in the Bitterroot Valley in 1972 where Dale taught Industrial Arts and Construction Trades for 24 years. Mr. Kraft developed a revolutionary Construction Trades program at Hamilton High School wherein his class built and sold a single- family home every school year. The proceeds from the sale of the house were used to fund scholarships, a week-long field trip to Seattle for his students to learn about careers and education opportunities in the trades, and the following year’s home project.

Dale also began a custom haying operation during his summer months away from school. Dale and Mary began acquiring farm ground and expanding the operation to an eventual 455 acres of prime farm ground in the Corvallis area. Dale retired from teaching in 1994 to pursue farming full time. Dale had a passion for farming, raising hay and grain crops, and improving the land. Dale retired from farming in 2015.

Dale enjoyed camping, boating, hunting, and snowmobiling with his family. As a young man Dale built and raced stock cars with his brothers at the Gallatin Valley Speedway. This is a passion Dale carried throughout his life traveling with Mary to many regional and NASCAR races throughout their retirement.

Dale is survived by wife Mary of Corvallis; two sons, Doug of Bozeman; Dan and wife Jode of Powell, Wyoming; two granddaughters Baylee and Aubree of Powell; brother Charles and wife Pat of Bozeman; brother Melvin and wife Carol of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta; brother Keith of Belgrade; along with many nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, August 29 at 2:00 PM at Daly-Leach Funeral Home in Hamilton, Montana. A reception will follow the services at Daly-Leach followed by a private family interment at Corvallis Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorials be made to the Dale E. Kraft Vocational Scholarship on the Friends of Hamilton School Foundation website.