It's a road often less traveled...the road that leads our young men and women to give of themselves entirely in order to serve and protect.
Army Private Timothy Hutton, 21, traveled this curved and sometimes dangerous road.
He joined the Army in January and had only been in Iraq a couple of weeks before he died from injuries not related to combat on Aug. 4.
Friends and family gathered Thursday to honor this local soldier.
For those who have also served on the battlefield, the day was a chance to honor a fallen comrade.
"I'm so proud of that young man. He has been a very good example of what the military is all about," Navy veteran Al Lawson said.
Red, white and blue lined the streets in Dillon, honoring this hometown hero known as Timmy to those who loved him and knew him best.
For this Dillon soldier, who loved fishing and floating the river, there was a stream of nearly 100 people who came out to show their respect.
Patriot Guard Riders led Hutton from the funeral home to the Mountain View Cemetery for a full military graveside service.
As they vow, this fallen soldier will never be forgotten.
Hutton's cremated remains will be taken to Alaska where he will be laid to rest.
(from August 8, 2008)
The community of Dillon is remembering a local soldier who gave his life serving his country in Iraq.
He was such a good friend, that's how people in Dillon tell us they'll remember Tim Hutton.
Sitting in the fragrant and comforting surroundings of the well tended garden in her mother's home, Ingrid Malesich and her mother, Karin, remember the young man Karin raised and who Ingrid thought of as a brother.
"He was well liked because he would do anything for you" said Karin.
Here's what Tim Hutton's all about. Last winter, he was home from basic training and up in some nearby mountains with friends, exploring, when the vehicle goes in the ditch and gets stuck. He left his coat with his friends to keep them warm, walked by himself in a blizzard to get help and then lead the rescuers back to his stranded friends.
His father, his grandfather and at least two uncles all served in the U.S. Army and Tim wanted to follow in their footsteps.
Karin raised Tim from childhood after his family fractured and his father moved back to Alaska and Ingrid remembers playing, and fighting, with her nephew turned brother. They then grew apart before reconnecting as adults. She especially remembers a reunion at her Missoula home.
"He was an awesome hugger.... He's gone."
Funeral arrangements are still pending although the family says it hopes for a Tuesday service.
Tim Hutton will be buried at a family plot in Nome, Alaska and the military says an investigation into his death is under way.
- John Sherer reporting from KXLF in Butte
(from August 7, 2008)
The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed the death of a soldier from Dillon, who was supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Officials report that Private Timothy J. Hutton, 21, died on August 4th in Baghdad from injuries he suffered in a non-combat related incident.
Hutton was assigned to the 54th Engineer Battalion, 18th Engineer Brigade, Bamberg, Germany.
He is survived by his mother of Dillon, his father of Alaska and a sister. Dillon Mayor Martin Malesich is Hutton's grandfather.
We spoke with Karin Malesich by phone on Wednesday night.
She raised Timothy and says he was a hard-working hometown boy and will be missed by everyone in the community.
Karin said Timothy come from a military family and he felt the need to see more of the world.
Timothy undertook some military training in Germany in June and went to Yemen, where he spent a few weeks.
Information regarding the circumstances of his death has not yet been released and the military says an investigation is under way.
The Brundage Funeral Home in Dillon is handling the funeral arrangements.
