Daniel Story

5/23/1947 — 11/25/2023

Service Date: 12/1/2023
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Daniel Lee Story, 76, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023, at Palouse Hills Assisted Living Facility in Moscow from complications from dementia. Dan was born on May 23, 1947, in Livingston, Mont., to H.O. Jack and Doris L. (Bigelow) Story, as the oldest of three children.

Dan spent part of his childhood in Livingston until the family moved to Moscow and Dan attended St. Mary’s School while his parents operated the first A&W Root Beer stand in Moscow. The family then moved to Lewiston around 1961 where Dan attended Jenifer Junior High School and graduated from Lewiston High School in 1965.

In September 1966, Dan joined the U.S. Navy Reserve and was ordered to active duty in September 1967 with orders to Naval Support Activities Danang, Vietnam, where he worked as a gunner’s mate on a swift boat and also did miscellaneous gunner’s mate duties. Once his year tour of duty was completed in Vietnam, Dan chose his last active duty station at Naval Torpedo Station Keyport, Wash., commenting that he probably could have gone anywhere but wanted to be close to home after his tour in Vietnam.

Dan returned to Lewiston after his active duty stint in the Navy and met Muriel Akkerman and they were married in 1969 while Dan worked various jobs and started his career at Omark CCI/Speer. Dan was involved in an explosion while working for Omark CCI/Speer and left to work construction for a few years, notably helping build Dworshak Dam in Orofino before returning to CCI/Speer. Dan retired in 2003 after over 30 years with the company. Dan loved the people he worked with and had many friends while working for CCI/Speer.

In 1972, Dan and Muriel welcomed a son Neil into the world and their marriage ended in divorce in 1974; they remained friends and helped co-parent their son Neil until he graduated high school.

Dan met the love of his life Debra Piper while they were both employed at CCI/Speer and were married in 1977 and were married for 34 years. A decade later Dan and Debbie’s prayers were answered when a son, Ryan Lee Story, was welcomed into the world on Dec 19, 1986. Dan and his wife were foster parents for many years and in 1990 fostered a daughter Ambrozia Wilson until Debra and Dan’s death; she is considered part of the family. Dan loved his family including his three children as well as his grandchildren Ransom and Renee Story.

Dan enjoyed everything to do with guns, he loved running his jet boat up the Snake River with his family. He liked to call himself a “jack of all trades, but a master of none.” Dan was a Master Mason of the Ancient free and accepted masons of Lewiston. Dan was also a member of the American Legion Post No. 13 and a life member of the NRA.

Dan was preceded in death by his wife Debra Story, parents H.O. Jack and Doris Story, his grandparents Dan and Lora Bigelow of Gardiner, Mont., and his uncle Bob and aunt Alice Murphy of Paradise Valley, Mont. He is survived by his sons Neil Daniel (Sarah) Story, Ryan Lee (Brittany) Story and their unborn daughter coming in March 2024; daughter Ambrozia Wilson, grandchildren Ransom and Renee Story; his brother Jack Story and sister Loretta Nickel of Lewiston and various nieces and nephews.

Dan will be laid to rest next to his wife Debra at Normal Hill Cemetery in Lewiston following a graveside service at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1. Vassar-Rawls Funeral Home of Lewiston is in charge of the arrangements.