Dan Balentine

Dan Maxwell Balentine, 79, of Poteau, OK passed away January 24, 2021 in Poteau. Dan was born November 30, 1941 in Monroe, OK to Jesse and Rose (Doyle) Balentine.  He lived in the Poteau area as a child until his mother passed away.  After that, Jesse and Dan moved to California where he finished his schooling.  He graduated from Sylmar High School in California in 1959.  After high school he began working for ITT in space development.  He was part of the team that helped make the electronic components for the Apollo 13 space shuttle.  Even though he enjoyed the challenges that came with the job, his true passion was building and racing motorcycles.  He worked for many motorcycle shops building cycles from the ground up.  He designed many custom motorcycles and dune buggies for many people.  He moved back to Poteau in 1974.  He continued his work in motorcycle shops for many more years.  He was very skilled in many things.  Another true passion that Dan had was gunsmithing.  He loved designing, building, restoring and shooting guns.  He worked on guns at Poteau Pawn and Gun Shop and was considered by many to be a master of his trade.  He was also well known for being a dispatcher for both the LeFlore County Sheriff’s Department and the Poteau Police Department for many years until his retirement in 2013.  He was well known and loved by many.  He will be greatly missed.  Dan is preceded in death by his parents.

 He is survived by his wife, Kathy L. Frazar Balentine; his daughter, Heather (Balentine) Mastin and her husband Gene; grandchildren, Josh Mastin and wife Kari, Nina Mastin; and great grandchildren, Kolbi and Eve.

 A memorial service will be held in the spring in Poteau.  Time and place will be announced at a later date.