Dana Scott Harvey, 73, of Sheridan

Dana Scott Harvey, a man of wit and wisdom with an uncompromising commitment to his family and friends, passed from this life on August 11, 2025 at the age of 73. He will be remembered for his perseverance and the deliberate way he walked through his life, as well as his uncanny ability to unearth a good story from any situation, with just enough embellishment to guarantee laughter.  Dana was born in Newton, MA to his parents Everett Burton Harvey and Marian Georgia Duke. He spent his childhood in Cheshire, Connecticut and after high school, attended Gettysburg College where he met and still maintains many of his closest friendships.  He and his TKE fraternity brothers created fertile ground for his future stories.

After college, Dana packed up and left to explore his dream of cowboying in the Rocky Mountain wild west. Settling in Virginia City, Montana, he began working as a bandana-cowboy hat-steel toed boot-Carhartt coat wearing ranch hand.  His  recognized talent in welding and metal fabrication created the opportunities needed to start up his own immediately thriving business in Nevada City. He was renowned for his work throughout Madison County, fabricating truck beds, trailers, elaborate fence gates, decorative fireplace tools and screens, ranch signs, and  the occasional jail cell for movie sets. Many of the businesses’ signs and ornate fencing that add to the charm of Virginia City’s historic downtown, were Dana’s work.  If it was made of metal, Dana probably had a hand in it in those days, and with his engineering mind and creative aptitude, the beautiful work still stands the test of time.  

As hard as Dana worked, he applied himself to living a full, laughter filled life. He was a prankster extraordinaire and even when the pranks weren’t especially funny to us, they were extremely satisfying to Dana. He had no bigger joy than watching the opening of 16 boxes, one inside the next, each in its own wrapping paper, to find the annual Costco bearspray Christmas present. He was a rabid UConn Huskies girls’ basketball fan and spent entire games with his remote in one hand and his phone in the other, rehashing heroics and fouls with his family and friends during each game. His joy in those moments was palpable and contagious and nothing stood in the way of his game day schedule. 

Dana also cherished his life in the mountains, giving back to his community every chance that he could. He worked  as a volunteer for the Virginia City Fire Department as an EMT, and with his close friend Jim DeBoer, he volunteered with White Water Rescue and High Angle Rescue.  In his late 40’s, due to his realized passion for the intricacies and challenges of medicine, and with typical Dana tenacity, he made the decision to go back to school in Washington to become a Physician’s Assistant.  He had a cherished cheerleader, advocate, and mentor in his friendship with local Physician Assistant, Ron Handlos, which lasted throughout Dana’s medical career and for the rest of his life. Dana would have wanted his endless gratitude made clear to this man and his lovely family.  

True to form, Dana made a distinct impression on his fellow students, and graduation day presented itself with every newly minted Physician Assistant wearing a tie dyed bandana to celebrate with their cowboy colleague. Returning to the Ruby Valley in his new role, Dana quickly built a reputation as a kind, committed and proficient PA provider in the hospitals and clinics surrounding his home in Sheridan, Montana. When he invested his heart and intellect, every goal was realized.  End Stop.

Dana was a mentor by nature and a lifelong learner.  He had an unwavering spirit of perseverance, and he’d done the hard work to truly know who he was; he was comfortable in his skin and it created a calm, steady, and patient presence that made him an adept teacher and a dependable and principled friend.  Many knew Dana as their “rock”.  He was a trusted confidante, an active listener, a fellow strategist, and a problem solver.  He was also a savvy and curious observer of his world and a chronicler of the characters and landscape that he loved. He became a successful writer and novelist of stories that captured the humor and complexities of both humanity and rural health care. Although Dana consistently denied it, the main character of his books, Ben, had strong similarities to Dana, especially in the areas of dress code, life experiences (with those liberally applied embellishments) and snack food such as anything Miss Debbie’s or Hostess, Reese’s cups,  M&M’s, Swiss Miss hot Chocolate, Sardines, and chocolate chip cookies. His sister Dale and close friend, Judy,  made sure Dana was NEVER without chocolate chip cookies.

A man of integrity and honor, Dana had formed a deep well of courage and was able to face challenges and dark times with a practical, resourceful and solid belief in himself that manifested through health challenges and always in a non judgmental acceptance with those he loved. Dana will be remembered by many for his quiet appreciation and regard for the people and experiences of his life.  He leaves behind his wife of eight years, Ginny Wilshire and her daughter Cally Levine, his best friend and sister, Dale Hutchison and her husband Kyle, his nephew Corey and wife Brit and their new baby, Vance, as well as countless friends, patients, acquaintances, and extended family members.  He was a force bigger than life, and he will be missed beyond measure.

A celebration of Dana’s life will be held September 27th at 1:00 pm at the Alder Firehall, 28 Judy Lane, in Alder, Montana.

If you can make it there, you’ll find a bandana from Dana waiting for you. 

For anyone interested in ordering one of Dana’s books, please contact Judy Edward.

Dana’s family requests those who wish to express sympathy, to consider making a donation in Dana’s name to the Virginia City Fire Department, at 103 W. Wallace St, Virginia City, Montana, 59755.

Axelson Funeral & Cremation is honored to care for Dana and his family.

Please visit below to leave a condolence or a memory of Dana.

Service Schedule

Celebration of Life

1:00 p.m.

Saturday September 27, 2025

Alder Firehall

28 Judy Ln

Alder, Montana 59710

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