David Robert Osterman

David Robert Osterman was born to Mary (Kelleher) and Herman Osterman on June 28, 1943, on the family dairy farm in Monarch and was delivered by his sister Margaret. Dave was the 8th of 9 children, and he spent his first 13 years on the family homestead. When his mother became sick the family moved to Great Falls and she died shortly after. Dave moved out of his father’s house at the age of 16 to live with his sister, Mary, and attend Catholic Central High School for a few years. He moved back to Monarch to help take care of his sister Bernice and he graduated from Neihart High School in 1961 as Valedictorian. After graduating he moved to Great Falls and began working at Triangle Tire. He became the business owner of Triangle Tire with his brother Bud until 1978. He began a new career with Food Service of America for 10 years while also working part-time at his Belt home fixing tires out of his garage. In 1988, Food Service of America closed their doors in Great Falls and Dave had the opportunity to move with the company. Dave decided to open his tire business at his home full time. He worked tires from 1961 to 2010. Dave worked for the Belt Public Schools for 27 years as a bus driver and had lots of fond memories of all the students he carried to school and to sporting events. He retired from Belt Public Schools in 2015. He was in the US Army Reserves from 1964 to 1970. Dave was an extremely hard-working man. Dave met Louise Byre in 1963 through mutual friends. Dave and Louise were married on January 30, 1965, at Our Lady of Lourdes. They were married for 57 years, just short of 58 years as Louise passed away this past November, 2022, from cancer. Dave and Louise were inseparable. Dave and Louise had 5 children, Craig, Brenda, Clint, Tanya, and Preston “PJ.” PJ passed away in an automobile accident in April of 1999. In 2008 Dave and Louise began building a cabin they bought in Monarch and soon after in 2010, they decided to retire and sell their home in Belt and live out a dream of Dave’s, to live below the farm and homestead where he was born.

Dave was very involved at St. Mark’s Catholic Church in Belt for many years.  Dave never believed in missing Mass no matter if he was camping or traveling.  He always made time for the Lord and he was devout in praying the rosary. Dave was a servant to so many in Belt and the surrounding areas. No matter what time it was, morning or night, Christmas or Easter if someone came knocking on the door Dave would be out repairing flat tires, fixing, or welding something. Dave always believed in giving to those in need and helped by giving tires or doing repairs for free when needed. One of Dave's favorite charities and servant work was taking his children, Mgrs. Warner and Fr. Sampson up to the mountains to cut firewood.  Dave and his family would supply firewood for St. Mark’s and Mgrs. Warner for the winter months. There are so many good deeds that Dave did that we cannot list them all.
Dave enjoyed going to Canada fishing with Louise after retirement. Dave’s most memorable time was when he took his children camping, snowmobiling, ATV and motorcycling, boating, and hunting. Dave was a devout follower of the Belt Huskies and even the past two years when he was unable to attend events he always found someone who would keep him updated on how the Huskies played.  He was proud of his children’s accomplishments. He never missed any of their sporting events, music performances, or their school plays.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Mary Osterman; his wife, Louise; son, Preston James “P.J.”; brothers, Louis, Tom, Bud, and Walt; sisters, Margaret Griffin, Helen Thorson, and Mary Boettcher. Dave is survived by his children, Craig and Shannon Osterman of Belt, Brenda and Vern Wheeler of Spokane, Clint Osterman of Belgrade, Tanya and Scott Mycke of Conrad; 11 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; sister, Bernice Breeden of Arizona; sisters-in-law, Gail Brateen of North Dakota and Sharon Munyer of Idaho.
Dave’s health had been slipping and he had an extremely difficult year. The passing of his wife, Louise, left a huge hole in his heart, and he missed her so much. Dave was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic syndrome exactly a month after Louise passed away. Dave is now resting with the Lord and overjoyed to be back with Louise and PJ. Dave will be missed by his family and friends.
Dave's Funeral Services will be at Holy Spirit Catholic Church. The vigil will take place on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. The funeral is on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 10:00 a.m.

Thank you to the following professionals in the medical field who helped Dave in his final months of life: Doctor Nesbo, Doctor Kaae, Nurse Katie, Doctor Taylor and all the nurses in the Great Falls Clinic that did all his transfusions. Thank you to Great Falls Peace Hospice for taking such good care of our father in his final week of life and especially to the best nurse of all, Amanda. Dave appreciated each one of you and commented on how amazing you all are. For everyone that called or visited Dave during his final days in hospice, thank you.