Ferald Bertice Dill died March 24, 2005, at Whidbey Island Manor, Oak Harbor, at the age of 96. Ferald was born May 28, 1908, on a small farm near Franklin, Neb., to Bertice Ivan and Christie (Robertson) Dill. As a very young child, Ferald moved with his family to Nebraska, Colorado and Louisiana.

The Dill family settled in Minden, Neb., where Ferald’s father opened a Midget Flour Mill and Ice Plant, which was very successful for several years, but in 1920, the operation failed and he lost everything. The five years they spent in Minden was the longest time they had spent in one town.

The Dill family packed their few belongings and headed for Montana. The family endured the bitter cold of the Montana winters on a small farm. Ferald began his freshman year of school with members of the Crow Indians and his classmates, Peter Left Hand, Bob Yellow Tail, Louis Walks on Ice and Mary Covers Up.

In 1923, Ferald and family moved to Trout Creek in Western Montana. His family rented a small mountain farm. He and his father worked the land and also did some work for the Forest Service. By summer’s end they family moved to Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Ferald attended school in Coeur d’Alene and also worked at a box factory. During the summer, Ferald went to work on a wheat ranch in Colfax, working for P.M. Price. Mr. Price took Ferald in to town to buy his first hat and Ferald met W. F. Cole., assistant manager of the J.C. Penney Store in Colfax.

Ferald moved to Bremerton. His mother operated a boarding home and one of her renters found Ferald a job at the local J.C. Penney store in 1925. Ferald quickly worked his way up through the company ranks. He helped open the Kent store in 1930 and then returned to Bremerton in 1932. He was married to Vivian Culler Sept. 4, 1932, in Bremerton. In 1933 he was made assistant manager of the Bremerton store.

In 1933, he has made manager of the Colfax store and was checked in the W.F.Cole, district manager, the same man who had sold him a hat 12 years earlier. Ferald stayed with J.C. Penney until 1960.

In 1942, Ferald was drafted by the U.S. Army and sent to Fort Lewis. His first assignment was to the Spokane Supply Depot, now known as Fairchild Air Force Base. He quickly moved through he ranks, becoming a sergeant. Ferald was then selected for Officer Candidate School and following graduation was sent to Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., where he became the supply officer. He and Vivian lived in a row house on Eighth and Pennsylvania Avenue. His first supply depot was a newly built aircraft hanger. Ferald was also assigned as the assistant post exchange officer.

The war ended and in 1946, Ferald was discharged from the service. He and Vivian left Washington and took the Southern route back to Washington state.

June 1, 1948, Ferald rejoined the J.C. Penney Company and was sent to Enumclaw. In 1950, he was assigned store manager at Shelton. Ferald realized the company had a mandatory retirement age of 60 and in 1960, at the age of 52, he decided to take early retirement. The district manager suggested Oak Harbor as a possible business. Dec. 5, 1960, Ferald and Vivian opened Dill’s Oak Harbor Bootery on Pioneer Way. The store was a very nice, very successful store. The Dills sold the store in 1970 and retired for good.

Ferald took pride in his ability to be the best salesman he could be. He was a member of St. Stephen’s Anglican Church for the past 45 years. He had been a member of Kiwanis and then a member of the Oak Harbor Rotary Club. Rotary made him a Paul Harris Fellow. He was also a life member of Whidby Island Lodge No. 15, F&AM, Order of Eastern Star, Tula Chapter No. 26, and the Oak Harbor Senior Center.

Ferald love to read and study foreign lands. He became a self-taught history and anthropology buff. He would study one country at a time, learning everything he could about the land and its people. He also loved to watch the news, read the paper and stay abreast on current events and had strong political ideology. He always wished he had been able to go to college and further his formal education. He enjoyed sharing his life and especially his military service with others, but most of all, he loved to talk about his family.

Ferald is survived by his daughter Mary Ann Stine of Marysville and two grandchildren, Erik Stine and wife Kenleigh of Clinton and Tracy Ann Stine of Seattle. His wife Vivian preceded him in death.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, March 28, 2005, at St. Stephen’s Anglican Church with Rev. Carol Harlacher officiating. A reception will follow. Private inurnment will follow.