Dave Rosay, of Helena, MT, passed away on a cold and blustery winter day, in the comfort of his favorite home, of recurring lung cancer partially related to Agent Orange exposure in Vietnam.

Dave was born on an autumn day in Minneapolis, MN to Katherine A. Rosey (Stewart) and Ben A. Rosey. The family moved to Fairbanks, AK even before it became a state. Dave started to learn skills in the Boy Scouts that would serve him his whole life. In fact, the Hudson's Bay axe he used as a child is still the favorite axe in the household. Exposure to engineering along the way nurtured Dave's creativity.

Dave joined the Navy in 1965, but was soon drafted by the Marines. He spent 13 months in Vietnam as a corpsman (combat medic).

Upon returning back home, Dave worked on Alaska 's northernmost coast at a Distant Early Warning (DEW) Line station in Oliktok, AK. He built a two-story log house with the proceeds that would change the direction of his life.

In 1975, Dave was convinced he should rent out his log house. As fate would have it, one of the tenants, a city girl from Wisconsin, would become Dave's life-long best friend and his first and only wife, Robin. The couple toured the country in a school bus they converted into a motor home looking for the perfect property. They settled in Wenatchee, WA where they lived for many years before returning to Alaska.

The events of the 09/11/2001 attack on the U.S. exacerbated the PTSD Dave had been suffering since Vietnam. He had to take an early exit from the working world and eventually convinced Robin to do the same.

A search for retirement property led the Rosays to Helena, MT. One particular property was so beautiful, it had "happily ever after" written all over it. Using concepts he had in his mind for decades, Dave had an environmentally friendly home built. That is where he did, indeed, live happily ever after.

Dave is survived by his wife, Robin, at home; sisters Rosie Steel (Bob) of Sarasota, FL, Kathy Pettigrew of San Antonio, TX, brother Dan Rosey of Washington state; Brothers-in-law Randy Whitehall (Terry) of West Allis, Gregg Whitehall (Caren Ackley) of Ashland, WI, sister-in-law Gail Whitehall of Boise, ID; seven nieces, seven nephews, nine great nieces, eight great nephews and one great-great nephew, scattered all across the United States. He is preceded in death by his parents, his parents-in law, niece Jeanne Steel and brother-in-law Tom Pettigrew.

No funeral or service is scheduled. All memorial donations in Dave's honor can be made to Helena Food Share, P. O. Box 943, Helena, MT 59624-9974. Please mention "Dave Rosay" and "Kid Packs" in the memo.