Dr. David Ross Schlieman
Dr. David Ross Schlieman, 84, passed away, Monday, May 13, 2013 at the Vintage Sonoma Assisted Living Center, Sonoma, Calif., with his family at his side, following a THREE-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.
David was born in Great Falls on Sept. 17, 1928, to William F. and Imo A. (Wilkinson) Schlieman. He attended grade school and three years of high school in Sunburst, before moving to Missoula with his family in 1944. He completed his high school education at Missoula County High School, where he was quickly assimilated into the senior class and excelled in band as first-chair trumpet.
He enrolled at the University of Montana, where he was a member of the University Marching Band, completing only his freshman year before joining his parents in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, to work in the photo lab of Arabia American Oil Company, ARAMCO.
Later, upon return to the States, he re-entered the university in the pre-med curriculum. He was active in fraternity life, and was a house boy, with his brother Harvey, for the Delta Gamma sorority. Upon completion of his undergrad work at UM, he enrolled at Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., where he completed his DDS degree, and met and married his wife, Joan Portman on Aug. 25, 1956.
Upon graduation he received a commission in the U.S. Navy, and served as a dentist on the aircraft carrier, Coral Sea, for nearly three years, having seen many ports, including one in Japan.
With military service completed, he and Joan settled in the wine country of Sonoma where he opened a dental practice and became involved in many civic and church events. He indulged his diverse passions for horse shows, reading, music, sports cars, family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his stepfather, Don Larkin; his wife, Joan; his sister, Judith Hurtt and brother, Harvey L. Schlieman.
He is survived by his four children, Pamela Schlieman, Heidi Kibbe, David P. Schlieman and Greta Friant (Rick) and his brother, William Howard Schlieman of Spokane; five grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral mass was celebrated on May 20 at St. Francis Solano Catholic Church in Sonoma.