Kenneth Glen Bolton
Kenneth Glen Bolton, a loving, kind, witty, and wise father and husband will be dearly missed as he passed away on December 20, 2018. He was born August 7, 1929 to Braden and Katherine Bolton in the coal mining town of Drumheller, Alberta, Canada.
Dad is preceded in death by his 2 beloved brothers, Emmert and Archie, and sister Blanche. He moved to Terry, MT when he was 16, where he graduated from high school. He then worked in the old fields in Alberta near Ponoka where he met Dorlene Johns, a spunky Canadian girl, who became the love of his life. Before they were married, Dad joined the US Navy. The couple were married in Ponoka on December 24, 1952, and moved to Bremerton, WA until Dad was discharged from the Navy. Dad started work for Humble Oil (Exxon) in 1953, and retired in 1986. Dad was a hard worker and was very proud of both his service in the Navy and his work at Exxon. He and Mom raised 4 children in Worden, MT. Terry (Pat) Sauer of Billings, Barry (Dena) Bolton of Lewistown, Cindy (Jon) Wittman of Huntley, Brad (Elizabeth) Bolton of Houston, and Jacque Sherman of Lewistown.
We loved growing up on our ‘Funny Farm’ as Dad called it. We worked hard but Dad always made plenty of time for fun: family vacations, swimming, skiing, skating, sledding, camping, and fishing, just to name a few. Dad loved laughing and a good joke. He especially loved laughing with his 10 grandchildren: Megan, Lisa, Elizabeth, Troy, Barry Jr., Brian, Autumn, Rachel, Jessica, Bridger, and his 12 great grandchildren.
Dancing with all of his girls brought immense joy to Dad .Whether he kicked up his heels for a lively polka with daughters and granddaughters or gracefully swirled Mom around the floor in a waltz, Dad loved to dance.
Dad loved his birthday, and all of ours too. We often thought his love for family celebrations came from losing his mother at a very young age and being raised by his father, who worked long hours in a coal mine and later by his Aunt Hazel in Terry.
Dad loved reading history and he had a large library. He had a way of making history come alive and we all came to love it as well. He took us to many historical sites, especially in Montana.
Being active in the Huntley Project Community was important to Dad, as he served on the school board, Lions Club, and was a member of the HP Players (a ‘comedy’ group that performed plays and skits). He enjoyed spending time with all of the ‘Crazy 8’s’ as well as the Saturday Morning Pryor Creek Breakfast Club. Friends from the Worden community and Wyndstone were dear to Dad.
We would like to especially thank the thoughtful, caring staff at St. John’s and Billings Clinic doctors Gregory, Pueringer, and Lee for their expert handling of all of Dad’s medical needs. A special thank you also goes to Becky at the VA as well as Madonna and Nell at Riverstone.
There was no better cheerleader than our Dad. He loved hearing about our families, our work, our travel, and supported our mission work in Africa and Central America. Whatever was important to us, was important to Dad. We love you Dad, and we know you are rejoicing with the angels in Heaven. Peaceful journey, sweet Dad.
Memorial services will be held at Heights Family Funeral Home at 1:00pm on January 4, 2019. A reception will follow the service and internment will take place at Ballantine Cemetery. In keeping with Dad’s love for animals and children, in lieu of flowers, if you wish condolences can be made to a ministry which helps orphans in Ethiopia, checks can be made out to Tomorrow Come Foundationat 2725 Montana Avenue, Billings, MT 59101, or the Billings Animal Shelter.
