Grover Dale Duffin, 78, of Rexburg, returned to his Heavenly Father on Saturday, April 2, 2011 from natural conditions. He was born in Charlo, Montana on November 21, 1932, the seventh of nine children, to Ervan L. And Ireta B. Duffin. Dale served in the Korean Conflict with the US Army and spent twenty more years in the reserve forces, retiring from the Naval Reserve as a Chief Petty Officer.

He attended school Missoula, Montana, including the University of Montana. He served on the Missoula Fire Department from 1959 to 1977. He retired early as a result of injuries received on a fire a few years earlier. He had attained the rank of Captain and was to be the next Battalion Chief. This job was one of the greatest joys of his life and it was hard for him when he had to leave. Throughout his life he spoke of his experiences there. He later worked at various occupations. He owned three different businesses and finally retired at the age of 60 as a self-employed custodial contractor.

Dale loved being in the mountains. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, and passed this passion on to his boys. He greatly enjoyed cooking and loved to cook wild meat. He loved it when folks would say, "I don't like venison" because he could cook for them and quickly change their mind.

He was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in many callings and enjoyed teaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. From 1998 to 2000, he and his wife Katherine, served a full-time Family History Mission in Salt Lake City. He held the office of High Priest and a Seventy.

He married Myrtle Alice Engebretson on January 26, 1953. They later divorced. He married Evelyn Belle Steele on September 1, 1956. They later divorced. He married Katherine Kington Parmenter on June 26, 1978. He had four children Jim Blodgett Hamilton of Seattle, WA, Tamah (Steve) Kenck and Kevin Dale Duffin of Missoula, and Cameron Kent (Traci) Duffin of Miles City, Montana; and three step-children whom he loved as his own, Michael Kirk (Barbara) Parmenter and Victor Glen Duffin of Butte, MT, and Mary Katherine (Peter) Ivie of Rexburg.

He is survived by his wife Katherine of Rexburg, all of his children; brothers, Ted (Shirley) Duffin of Provo, UT, Glenn (Nancy) Duffin of Lacrosse, WA, Jim (Bonnie) Duffin of Henderson, NV, Linden (Peg) Duffin of Chester, MT; a sister Eleanor (Bill) Wolfe of Moxee City, WA; 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 7, at Flamm Funeral Home, 61 North 1st East, in Rexburg, with Bishop Craig Bell officiating. The family will receive friends Thursday from 12:00 to 12:45 p.m. at the funeral home prior to services. Burial will be in the Rexburg Cemetery.