Danny "Dan" Lee Beaty

HAMILTON - Danny “Dan” Lee Beaty passed away at his home Wednesday, September 21, 2022, in Hamilton, Montana, following a long battle with heart disease. Born Danny Lee Beaty, March 18, 1949, in Garrett, Indiana to Chalmer LeRoy (AKA Mike) and Mary Ellen (Rude) Beaty of Spencerville, Indiana. Dan was the third child in the family of seven children. Graduated from Eastside High School, Butler, Indiana in 1967. Completed Air Force basic training in San Antonio, Texas and Technician School at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver, Colorado in 1968. First time in my life I had seen the mountains and fell in love with them.

Married Kathy Mock in June 1969. Worked as a metallurgical lab technician for Borg/Warner Corporation until 1971. Became a Civil Service employee for the United States Department of Defense working on weapons systems on jet fighter aircraft as a Weapons Technician along with Air National Guard Service as a Tech Sargent on weekends until 1977.

In 1977 moved with my wife and two daughters to Estes Park, Colorado where I purchased a small cottage court of seven cabins and a log home. I also started my own insulating and roofing business. We returned to Indiana in 1981; by this time, there were three daughters, my wife and I divorced shortly thereafter. Upon returning to Indiana, I was fortunate enough to regain employment as a Civil Service employee and return to the Air National Guard at Bear Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Through mutual friends, I met my wife Kathryn Harkins in Nashville, Tennessee in 1986. Being raised in a Masonic family as well as her own membership in Eastern Star, my wife felt it important that I inquire about Masonic membership. My father had been a Mason since the 1960s, but it had never before occurred to me that it may be an organization that I would be involved in. Once I asked Dad and his Masonic friends about being a Mason, the wheels turned fast and here I am today! I have no regrets of becoming a Mason. I don't believe I was ready for that phase of my life before then.

Kathryn and I both so love the mountains and were blessed with the opportunity to move to Hamilton, Montana in 1989 where we remain today. I soon began Paradise Property Management, purchasing another property management business. I owned and operated this business, managing more than two hundred properties until I sold the business in August 1999. I also managed a thirty­ four-unit low-income housing project until the end of 2009. I began working part-time at the Hamilton Post Office in 2004. In 2009, I transferred to the Main Post Office in Missoula, Montana, retiring in 2013.

We have four daughters, ten grandchildren, and three great grandchildren. If we had known that grandkids were so much fun, we would have had them first!

Dan was preceded by both parents; sister, Sharon Kaye Meredith; and brother-in-law, Bo Smith.

Dan is survived by wife of 36 years, Kathryn Harkins Beaty; daughters: Lori Anne Bennett, of Ashley, Indiana, Jennifer Fay Snow, of Hudson, Indiana, and Sara Beth Beaty, of St. Joe, Indiana; step-daughter, Kristina Warren, of Georgia; “adopted” son, Fred Harbeck, of Hamilton, Montana;  grandchildren: Alexis Rose Bennett, of Auburn, Indiana, Tanner Reid Bennett, of Foley, Alabama, Demara Grace Bennett, of Ashley, Indiana, Cheyenne Marie Snow (and her three children) of Kansas, Baylee Lynn Snow, of Butler, Indiana, Makayla LeeAnne, Kylee Fay, & Wyatt Lee Snow, all of Hudson, Indiana, Kamden Shay and Kennedy Reese Miller, both of St. Joe, Indiana; numerous brothers, sisters, in-laws, nieces, nephews and other extended family, not forgetting those ‘adopted’, as if they were his own.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests trees to be planted in Israel through the Jewish National Fund, shiva.com or kkl-jnf.org. Of course, donations to any Masonic philanthropy or Order of the Eastern Star. Any time spent with loved ones, whether helping others, having ice cream, hot air balloon ride or motorcycle ride is time well spent!

A Memorial Service with Military Honors will be held Saturday, October 8, 2022, at 3:00 p.m., at the Daly-Leach Chapel, in Hamilton, Montana. Condolences may be made at www.dalyleachchapel.com

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