Glen Hay

Glen R. Hay, age 94, passed away at St. Luke’s Care Center in Crosby, North Dakota on May 15, 2021.

Glen was born November 26, 1926, in Frazier Township, Divide County, North Dakota, as the third son of Sophia (Drygas) & Duncan Hay. He attended the Frazier Township School through eighth grade, then farmed with his father after his brothers joined the service during WWII. Glen learned to fly airplanes as a teenager and started an aerial crop spraying business in the 1960’s that was later taken over by both his son and grandson.

Glen married Helen Thiel in 1951, and they made their home on his family farm where they raised their four children, Pat, Donna, Bob & Ardis. He passed the fiery temper of his youth to Bob and Donna, and his love for horses on to Ardis. Glen was also known to fly Pat to school, or neighboring women to town during winter months when roads were impassable.

Glen was so proud for his only son Bob, to become a 3rd generation farmer on the homestead, and was able to begin a new chapter of his life as “Gramps” when his oldest grandchild was born. In his semi-retirement, he continued to give Grammy a hard time, and regularly flew back and forth from Kalispell, Montana to help on the farm. Gramps & Grammy also often traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, during the winter to see Pat’s family and spend more time doing the things they loved.

While he was never one for long-winded or emotional sentiments, Gramps showed his family that he loved them with his time. His kids, grandkids, and even his older great grandchildren will forever hold special memories of fishing with Gramps… particularly memories of refusing to give up on cold days even when the fish would not bite, or when the boat’s battery died on Flathead Lake and Gramps’ had to provide reassurance that the boat would not turn to cannibalism for survival.

Gramps also loved horses from the time he was young and had a way of gentling horses with his quiet demeanor and steady presence. His family believes that Gramps could smell donuts from a mile away, and somehow always managed to find himself in Grammy or Carol’s kitchens should donuts be in the works. Gramps was a stoic and private man who his family knew they could count on, which is just a small part of his legacy that will live on through his children and their families who greatly miss his sly smirk and the twinkle in his eye.

Glen is survived by his children Pat (Jim) Walcker, Bob (Carol) Hay, Donna (Chuck) Pummill, and Ardis (Mike) Stewart; grandchildren Gena (Lonnie) Stevens, John (Kimberly) Walcker, Allison Walcker, Adam (Janna) Pummill, Jamie (Brent) Overland, and Whitney (Mike) Montonye; bonus grandson Cliff Lynn; and great-grandchildren Parker & Peyton Stevens, Jordan Kostek, Megan & Emma Hay, Reagan Walcker, Jaron Pummill, Sandee Sepulveda, Layken Lunde, Sophie, Addie & Clay Overland, Spencer Lynn,  and Nash & Evan Montonye.

Glen was preceded in death by his parents, siblings (Markham Hay, Duncan Hay, and Gail Molsberry), wife (Helen), grandchildren Nikki (Pummill) Lynn, Clinton Hay, and Adrianne Walcker, and great granddaughter (Bella Lynn).