Trygve 'Trig' Merle Kvande

Trygve "Trig" Merle Kvande, 85, of Polson, died of natural causes at his home on Aug. 28, 2004.

Trig was born on May 2, 1919, in Alamo, N.D. to Gunnar and Mathilda (Sandaker) Kvande. He attended school in Alamo and graduated from Alamo High School. He moved to Bremerton, Wash., and worked as an instrument maker in the shipyard during World War II.

Trig married Theresa "Tracy" Smith in Bremerton on Jan. 31, 1944. Trig attended school in Washington, D.C. for nine months. After his schooling they moved to Havre in 1948. He owned and operated "Trig's Electric Supply," an automotive wholesale and electrical contracting company in Havre for 40 years. He was a master electrician and held the No. 5 license for Montana Electrical Contractors. Trig was very proud of his profession and truly loved his work.

Trig and Tracy moved to Polson in 1988 where he semi-retired. He served as Governor of the Montana Electrical Contracting Association.

He was a member of Kiwanis Club, Toastmasters, Eagles, Elks and the First Lutheran Church in Havre. Trig was also an active member in the Girl Scout Program and was the past president of the Havre and Polson Sons of Norway lodges.

Trig enjoyed pack trips in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, snow skiing as well as being a private pilot.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two daughters, Joyce Kvande and Nancy McCracken; four brothers, Gordon, Herman, Alvin and Earling, and one sister, Malinda Anderson.

Trig is survived by his wife Tracy of Polson; one son, Duane A. Kvande of Longview, Wash. (currently serving in Kuwait with the Army National Guard); two daughters, Sally Chvilicek and her husband David of Havre; Patty Damschen and husband Barry of Helena; son-in-law, Jack McCracken of Port Orchard, Wash.; six grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Selmer of Grand Forks, N.D., and Clarence of Great Falls; four sisters, Verna Nelson of Dalton, Minn., Helen Smith of Port Orchard, Wash., Bernice Eid of Columbia Falls, and Florence Westerso of Great Falls.

Funeral services will be Friday, Sept. 3, at 10 a.m. in the First Lutheran Church in Havre. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery.

Arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home, Polson and Holland-Bonine Funeral Home in Havre.Memorials may be sent to Sons of Norway, P.O. Box 273 Big Arm, MT 59910