Dennis Sperry Mollander, 92, of Great Falls, passed away on Tuesday, July 12, 2016 at a local care facility, after a long battle with bone cancer. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, July 18, at 1:00 p.m. in the Rose Room Chapel at Croxford Funeral Home. Graveside services with military honors will be done at a later date.

Denny was born on July 21, 1923 in Kalispell, Montana.  He was the son of George T. Mollander.  He grew up in East Glacier Park on his father’s dude ranch.  He attended various elementary schools, as well as being home schooled during tough Glacier Park winters.  He graduated from Cut Bank High School in 1941, and attended the University of Montana until he enlisted in the U.S. Naval reserve on November 3, 1942.  He subsequently served in the Pacific Asiatic theater until his honorable discharge in January of 1946.  He served aboard the USS Hector AR-7 as an Electricians Mate/Gyrocompass Repair EM3C.

After the war, Dennis resumed his studies in veterinary science, and was a member of the Theta CHI Fraternity.  Upon his graduation in June 1950, he married Mary Frances Law (class of 1949) and returned to the family dude ranch.  In the fall of 1950, Dennis and Mary moved to the Two Medicine area east of Browning to ranch.  In 1954, the couple moved to Great Falls and Dennis found employment for a time with Rowe Electric, working on the hospital on east base.  At this time, Dennis became a member of the Church of the Incarnation. 

Dennis earned a teaching certificate, and became employed in the Great Falls School District 1 as a High School English teacher.  Dennis began teaching at Great Falls High in the fall of 1955, and continued until the spring of 1965 when the newly completed C.M. Russell High School was opened.  He taught at CMR until his retirement in 1985.  Afterwards, Dennis continued as a tutor for Title IV, minority and handicapped or low income students.  In 1999, he became an Adjunct English Professor at the University of Great Falls until age 90.  He loved the outdoors, hiking, skiing, hunting and fishing.  He shot his first elk at the age of 86 and skied until age 91. 

Survivors include his wife, Mary Frances; sons, James (Karen) Mollander, George Mollander; daughter, Carol Mollander.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents and an infant grandson, Samuel Peder.  

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