Henry Edward (Ed) Dignin was born in St Michael’s Hospital in Conrad Mt, on May 11, 1946, to Franklin Chesner Dignin and Mary Trene Deketele. He lived in Conrad, Mt until he was five years old, at which time his family moved to Great Falls, Mt and rented a house at 826 8th Ave N. The next year, his parents bought the house at 901 7th Ave N, where he lived until he passed away. He passed away from health complications on March 2, 2026, in the ICU at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls, Mt.
He attended kindergarten through sixth grade at Whittier Elementary School in Great Falls, and 7th and 8th grade at St Mary’s Catholic Elementary School in Great Falls. Then he went to Great Falls Central Catholic High School, graduating in 1964. He went to the College of Great Falls, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and History in 1968. He went on to get post-graduation credits to get his library certification.
After a brief stint in the Navy, he came back to Mt to teach for a year at Stanford, Mt. From Stanford, he moved to Highwood, Mt to teach English, History, and run the Library for the next 35 years, retiring in 2005 at the age of 59. During his years at Highwood, he put on numerous plays and even made some movies. He was a highly respected teacher and much loved by his students.
He never got married.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Mary (Deketele) Dignin, his aunts Diantha (Dignin) Branen, and Georgia (DeKetele) Sampson. His grandparents and his beloved canine companions, Lady, Sidney, Fez, and Sheena.
He is survived by his sisters Diana (Dignin) Dehne-Killpack and Lorna (Dignin) Nelson, his niece Coleen (Dehne) MacDonald (and family), nephews Aaron Dehni (and family), Michael Nelson, and Frank Nelson (and family). Also surviving is his one and only first cousin, Neal Henke, his canine companion, along with many extended family members and friends.
Funeral arrangements have been taken care of by the Aspen Mortuary in Conrad, Mt. No funeral services were held. Burial was held at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, March 3, at Belgian Sacred Heart Catholic Church Cemetery. A memorial will be held in June 2026 at the Belgian Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
