.Duane "Dode" Montague has lived in Salem for 51 years.  He was born and raised in Payson.  His uncle gave him the nickname "Dode" and it has stuck ever since. 

As a youth he worked on farms because that was about the only job to be found.  He met and married Leone Reynolds Lunceford, who lived in Salem.  She had two children and together they had two more children.  Leone passed away 8 years ago.  Their son, Sam Lunceford and his wife, Joan, live in Salem.  Another son lives in Payson, a daughter in Salt Lake City, and another daughter in Duchesne.  He has 12 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Two years before he married Leone, he did an apprenticeship with the Brick Layers Union and learned the skill of masonry.  This is how he supported his family.  His first involvement in Salem was in helping to develop the Veterans Memorial Ball Park (the downtown ball park).  He remembers going to a council meeting and asking the City to help purchase baseball pads for the ball diamonds.  He was told that many gunnysacks had been worn out as bases.  He was also told that the "new comers" were always trying to change things.  They didn't get the basevall pads at that time, but the City did help get some later.  He said he thinks he made the mayor mad because he told him many people rode to town on a horse or a buggy, but he noticed the mayor had a car in his driveway.

Dode has volunteered his skills in doing the "Welcome to Salem" signs, the "Veterans' Memorial" and part of the brick work at the Loafer View ball field.  But he said he is most proud of the fireplace he did for the DUP log cabin when it was moved to Heritage Park and restored.   (Heritage Park is at 300 West SR-198.)  He said he did these things because he wanted to, and not for the recognition.

Dode said his hobby is farming.  When asked what he liked most about Salem, his reply was "the people". 

We appreciate all that Dode has done for the City of Salem.

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From "Senior Spotlight", Salem City Newsletter, March 2013 -  P 3.