Duane Lee Kibby
Duane Lee Kibby was born in Burke, South Dakota, on May 20th, 1941. He grew up on a farm southwest of Naper, Nebraska, until he graduated high school in 1959. He attended Wayne State University for a couple of years until he decided to join the United States Navy. He served on the U.S.S. Coral Sea and after two years in the Navy, he was honorably discharged in 1963 due to his younger brother’s death in a tractor accident. He returned home to help his father on the farm and later earned a degree in science from Drake University, Des Moines, IA.
While visiting Tacoma, WA, with his sister in 1966, he met his future wife, Janet Hubbard, and they were married in 1967. Duane worked as a teacher for many years teaching junior high shop, high school science and algebra in the Renton, Washington, area. Duane went back to school and earned a degree in computing and coding. He worked with AI technologies.
Duane and Janet divorced in 1984.
Later, Duane met Patricia McKee and they were married in 1989. Duane and Patty built a home in Billings, MT, and moved there in 2003. Duane worked different jobs including cement truck driver until he retired around 2016. Duane worked on the landscaping around his home tirelessly. He and Patty built a small park at their home which was the host of countless numbers of social, church, and family gatherings.
Duane is survived by his sister Lois Chittim (Dwight), Brian Kibby (Emily), Eric Kibby (Amber), Mark McKee (Myrrissa), Steve McKee (Jenny), Shannon Schlitter (David), Meredith Turner (Tim), 22 grandchildren, 40 great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Duane is preceded in death by his father Clarence Kibby, mother Emma (Stahlocker) Kibby, brother Rollen Kibby, wife Patricia (Taylor) Kibby and one great-grandchild.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to tumbleweedprogram.org or Davids Toy Project Inc. (Facebook)
