David Duncan

12/02/1933 - 02/15/2010

DUNCAN, David Kelvin David Kelvin Duncan was born December 2, 1933 in Great Falls, MT. David passed away peacefully on February 15, 2010 in Newport Beach, CA surroundedby his wife and children. He was 76 years old. David grew up as an only child in Great Falls, Montana with his parents, Claude and Edna Duncan. He attended Roosevelt Elementary, Paris Gibson Junior High and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1952. He started his college engineering studies at Colorado School of Mines for a year before continuing at Montana State University in Bozeman. He interrupted his studies to serve in the U.S. Army beginning September 1954 until his honorable discharge in March of 1956. Part way through his military service, David married his high school sweetheart, Sharon Darlene Teichrow on June 25, 1955. He went on to finish his degree in Architectural Engineering at Montana State University. After receiving the "Alpha Rho Chi Award" as the outstanding architectural student, David graduated in 1959. David began his professional career with Page & Werner Architects in Great Falls, Montana. He expanded his architectural abilities into Design-Build construction in 1962 when he joined Palmer Construction Co. with offices in Great Falls and Billings, Montana. The company's rapid growth led to a partnership in 1968. The firm's name was changed to Palmer-Duncan Construction in 1979. David sold his interest in Palmer-Duncan to his partner, Jack Palmer in 1984 to more closely pursue his business partnerships with his sons. While in Great Falls, David served on the Boards of Directors for: Great Falls First Interstate Bank, Great Falls Economic Development Corp., Ski Lift Inc. for ShowDown Mountain, Great Falls United Way and Great Falls Rotary; he also served on the following committees: Great Falls United Way Administration and Allocation Committee, Great Falls Chamber of Commerce Executive Committee, Committee of the 80's, Military Affairs and Armco Steel National Dealer's Council. He also held several offices while in Great Falls: President of the Great Falls Contractors Association, President of Great Falls Meadowlark Country Club and for five years was Co-Chairman of the Contractors United Way Campaign. David was a delegate to the Joint Civilian Orientation Conference in Washington, DC in June of 1980 and was a Civilian delegate to the Air War College in May of 1985. One of his proudest moments was being invited to the White House in 1990 to participate in a presidential briefing. David was active in the Al Bedoo Shrine and the Great Falls Delta Masonic Lodge. The Supreme Council of DeMolay's highest senior award, the Legion of Honor, was bestowed on David for outstanding leadership and success in his field of endeavor and service to God, country, community and humanity. David was a devoted member of First Methodist Church in Great Falls until he and his wife moved to Washington in1986. David and Darlene started an independent distributorship with Amway Corporation in May of 1981. They enthusiastically embraced the business and its ideals and achieved the high level of Diamond. Up until David's last days, they were invited multiple times each year to speak and teach business and family principles to crowds numbering in the thousands around the country. To join their children and pursue their family business interests, David and Darlene moved to Redmond, Washington in September 1986. In May of 2001, they moved to Spokane along with some of their children and grandchildren. David's favorite family vacation place was Whitefish, Montana. He visited Whitefish every year since he was four years old. In 1972 he bought property on the lake where he eventually designed and built a family home where many memories were shared. Boating on the lake was one of his favorite activities. The entire family still visits and enjoys this home on a regular basis. David loved his family and any activities that included them. He and Darlene traveled frequently with family trips full of memories to Germany, London, France, the Caribbean, the New England States, Hawaii on multiple occasions and most of the other states in the USA. He loved playing golf all around the country. He loved hunting with his sons, his father-in-law and brother-in-laws. His favorite time was any time spent with his grandchildren. David was diagnosed with a long-term version of leukemia (CLL) nearly a quarter of a century ago. He contracted a severe pneumonia in 2001 that led to a six week coma and months of rehabilitation. That seriously close call was followed by nine wonderful years that blessed his friends and family. David spent the last eight months of his life enjoying the sunshine in Southern California with his oldest son's family while getting special treatment at the University of California Irvine Medical Center. His health had improved dramatically, but the complications to other organs from so many years of leukemia took their toll and spiraled quickly in his last few weeks. David's last discussions and thoughts were happy, smiling expressions of love for his large, close family and his precious Lord. He is survived by the love of his life, Darlene Duncan of Spokane, WA; David's youngest son, Dru Duncan and wife Debra Puryear Duncan and their four children, Austin, Colby, Taylor and Paris of Spokane, WA; David's middle son, Brad Duncan and wife Julie Eckard Duncan and their three children, Brooke, David and Matthew of Spokane WA; David's oldest son, Greg Duncan and wife Laurie Lewis Duncan their daughter Whitney and their son and his wife Devin and Melanie Duncan, all of Orange County, CA. Other relatives include brother-in-law Terry Teichrow and wife Anita Oberembt Teichrow of Helena, MT; sister-in-law Shirley Teichrow Gue of Great Falls, MT; sister-in-law LeIsla Teichrow Crocker and husband Jack Crocker of Great Falls, MT; eight nieces, one nephew and their children. Surviving cousins include Edith Ann Rowe Janetski of Great Falls, MT; Robert Rowe of Great Falls, MT; Ally Lou Rowe Baker of Rancho Mirage, CA; Charles Rowe of Newark, DE; Roy (Bud) Currell of Houston, TX; Lynda Brady Steward of Boerne, TX and Karen Cordrey Coe of Helena, MT. Preceding David in death were his parents, Claude and Edna Duncan; parents-in-law, Orville and Georgia Teichrow; nephew Brian K. Gue; brother-in-law, Kenneth M. Gue. Internment will be at Highland Cemetery in Great Falls, MT. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in David's name to either: Restoration Ranch, www.plowon.org Thom Tsika at 361.588.7190 or Templed Hills, Attn: Shirley Gue, P.O. Box 6371, Great Falls, MT 59406 Celebrations of David's life will be held in two locations: 27 March Saturday 2:00pm, Fourth Memorial Church 2000 North Standard Street, Spokane, WA 99207 and 31 March Wednesday 4:00pm, First United Methodist Church, 610 2nd Avenue North, Great Falls, MT 59401