David Brian Kohles

David “Dave” Brian Kohles, former Sunburst resident, passed away Friday, Nov. 6, 2015, in Twin Falls, Idaho.

A memorial service will be held Friday, Nov. 13, at the United Methodist Church in Sunburst at 10:30 a.m.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Whitted Funeral Chapel in Shelby.

Dave was born May 29, 1953, in Shelby to Bernice Lorraine Lynch Kohles and Arnold Wesley Kohles. The youngest of three sons, Dave and brothers, Les and Lyle, all attended school in Sunburst. Dave graduated from North Toole County High School in 1971 and attended Northern Montana College in Havre, studying Diesel Technology with the intent of teaching. After student teaching, he decided to join his dad on the farm instead.

Dave married Patty Hunt from Shelby and they later divorced.

He then married Marie Ann Cunningham on June 26, 1978.  Dave and Marie Ann were married for 26 years and raised three children, Kari, Kelly, and Cindy Tomsheck, who Dave shared with her dad, Rex. Dave and Marie Ann divorced in 2004.

Active in all sports, Dave continued to play basketball and softball long after high school. He was a ref for many years, officiating local junior high and high school sports, drove team and pep buses and was a substitute route driver for the school district. Dave also enjoyed hunting, waterskiing, playing pinochle and ice fishing.

Dave farmed with his dad until his health declined due to MS and the farm was sold. After moving into Sunburst he remained as active as he could and still enjoyed attending all of the school sports events. In 2005 Dave moved into the nursing home in Shelby and in 2007 he relocated closer to daughter, Kelly, moving into the Twin Falls Center, where he resided until his passing.

Dave is survived by his brother, Les Kohles of Cody, Wyo.; daughters, Cindy (Tomsheck) Gillund and her husband, Briar, and grandsons, Noah, Kadin and Preston, of Whitefish; Kari Tomlinson and her husband Jason, and granddaughter, Maggie Lorraine, of Newark, Ohio; Kelly Sparks and her husband Tom, grandsons, Damian and Brogen, and granddaughter, Taitom of Twin Falls, ID.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arnold and Bernice Kohles; older brother, Lyle; infant son, Brian Lyle; infant granddaughter, Ella Claire Sparks; his grandparents and many beloved aunts and uncles.