Kenneth Hair

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Ken was born in Tekoa, WA on January 6th, 1938 to Carl and Virginia Hair and went to be with Jesus and his beloved wife on June 13th, 2018 after a long battle with COPD.

He grew up in Cheney, WA and upon graduating from high school studied business for one year, then electronics for an additional year prior to enlisting in the Marine Corp Reserves. He served six years in the Aircraft Wing where he became a mechanic for the early jet fighters.

Ken moved to Great Falls, Montana where he worked for the Burroughs Corporation as a Business Machine Technician, traveling regionally to service customer’s equipment. It was there that he met Letha Matthews, who he married and helped raise her son Bob. Soon after marriage they adopted two lovely infant daughters, Teresa and Debra.

Following his divorce to Letha, Ken moved to Kalispell, MT where he met the love of his life and best friend, June Croymans, who he married in 1974, helping raise her children, Ed and Angi. In Kalispell, he spent 16 years as an Offset Pressman, working for Trippet’s Printing, 9 years as fleet mechanic for the Coca-Cola Bottling Company, several years servicing machines for Ace Amusement, then 13 years as Floor Manager for Zauner’s Ace Hardware prior to retirement.

Ken loved serving and devoted 21 years to the Smith Valley Volunteer Fire Department where he made many friends and served in various capacities. He was an avid amateur astronomer and was active in the Big Sky Astronomy Club for over 10 years. Ken had an amazing mechanical aptitude, was very gifted with his hands, skilled in metal fabrication, woodworking, electrical and auto repair. He was the guy everyone brought their broken whatever to for him to fix, and he most always did.

Ken was a positive man, lived life in every situation with his glass always half-full and joyful, always quick to smile and lift everyone’s spirits. Right to the end of his days, he teased and joked with his nurses and family.

He is survived by one sister, Patricia Byrne of Gresham, OR, brother Robert Hair of Puyallup, WA, and children Debra Banzet of Oregonia, OH, Teresa Gregory of Kalispell, MT, Angi Jensen of Kalispell, MT and Ed Croymans of Kalispell, MT. He was preceded in death by parents Carl and Virginia Hair, wife June and a brother Laddie Hair.

His memorial service is yet to be determined and will be announced.