Dr. W. Barry Valacich

Dr. Walter Barry Valacich, age 79 passed away Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Peace Hospice from cancer. Funeral liturgy will be held on Monday, October 12, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Ann’s Cathedral. O’Connor Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Born March 2, 1936 at the Columbus Hospital and raised in Great Falls, Barry was the only child of Walter and Helen Valacich. He celebrated his Croatian heritage and grew up surrounded by a large and loving Black Eagle extended family. He attended Emerson grade school, Paris Gibson Junior High, and graduated from Great Falls High School in 1954. After a year at the University of Montana where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, he transferred to the “College” of Great Falls and graduated in 1958 with a degree in Chemistry. Following graduation, he attended Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While at Marquette he was instrumental in starting the magazine Dental Images, which is still published today. He earned his graduate degree in Dentistry in 1961. Upon graduation he entered the U.S. Air Force as a Dental Officer and was stationed at Incirlik AFB, Adana, Turkey. During the three years he was stationed in Turkey, he was able to travel extensively throughout Europe and loved to reminisce about many grand adventures. He was honorably discharged as Captain in April of 1964. Following his military service, on a trip to visit childhood friends in Seattle in June, 1964, he met Carolyn Keightley. After a busy summer of travel between Great Falls and Seattle, they were married in November of that same year. They raised three wonderful daughters, Bari Lynn (R.T.) Day of Flower Mound, TX; Christina Valacich, Hungry Horse, MT and Beth (Bob) Hasquet of Missoula, MT. In January of 1965, Barry began his practice of dentistry in Great Falls which spanned fifty years, until he fully retired in the spring of 2015. Barry was known as an excellent dentist whose patients particularly appreciated his skill at giving pain free shots! With compassion and generosity he donated his professional services in many ways. He was actively involved in the Fourth District Dental Society, holding a number of leadership positions including President. Barry was a natural athlete who excelled in all sports and was always proud that while in Junior High he set an all-city long jump record that stood for many years. In addition to sports such as bowling, skiing and fast pitch softball, another of Barry’s true passions was golf, which began at an early age. He belonged to the Meadowlark Country Club for 50 years, and looked forward to Wednesday afternoons with his golf buddies. A favorite place on earth for Barry and family was Glacier Park. From the time he was born until the year before his death, Barry spent time every summer at Lake McDonald. He climbed mountains and hiked almost every trail in Glacier as a young man, and later instilled his love of hiking and backpacking with family and friends. Glacier memories also include many hours spent on the scenic West Glacier golf course. Barry was a voracious reader and student of history. He was interested in everything from medicine to astronomy, philosophy, anthropology and so much more. Another of his passions was music of all kinds from jazz to classical. He was a fan of the Great Falls Symphony and served on its Board of Directors. He had a beautiful baritone voice which he shared on many special occasions with family and friends. As a dad he was known as an impromptu late night storyteller extraordinaire. He is survived by his wife, three daughters; six grandchildren Tynan, Simon, Anna and Ava Day of Flower Mound TX; Blake and Bryce Hasquet of Missoula; an aunt; and numerous cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Great Falls Symphony, Peace Hospice or a charity of the donor’s choice. The family would like to thank everyone who offered their support and the staff at Peace Hospice for their loving care during Barry’s time there.