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Kelly French Obituary
Visitation is 2 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Creel Funeral Chapel in Lewistown. A celebration of his life is 2 p.m. Thursday at the Hobson School.
Kelly died Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, surrounded by his family.
He attended Utica Elementary School, Hobson High School and graduated from Montana State University in 1971. He was a member of the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity and was a deck sergeant in the National Guard from 1968 to 1974.
He married Janice Lovely in 1970, and in 1972 he returned to the family farm. He raised pigs until 2009. In 1990, Kelly purchased the family farm, where he and his wife have ranched since.
He was very active in the Pork Producer Council, from the local organization to the national organization. He was a member of Montana Stockgrowers, Montana Cattlemen, and a board member of the Ackley Lake Water Users Association. He also was a member of the United Methodist Church.
Kelly was very proud of his kids and grandkids and actively involved in supporting 4-H and sports. He enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons and was an avid animal lover.
Kelly is survived by his wife, Jan French; daughter and son-in-law Sigrid and Brendan Deegan of Hobson and their children, Ashton and Lauren; son and daughter-in-law Garth and Kari French of Hobson and their child Peyton; his parents, Marceline and W.K. French of Lewistown; sisters, Judi and Ray Harris of Simms, Amy and Wayne Thompson of Winnemucca, Nev., and Erika French-Owen and Tom Owen of Seattle; brother Dan and Bobbi French of Hobson; in-laws, Norma and Wendell Lovely, Cheryl and Russ Robinson and Larry and Valerie Lovely, all of Wilsall; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Brock French; and grandparents Rudy and Martha Larson and Hazel and W.R. French.
Kelly lived by old-fashioned values and was truly a gentleman.
Condolences may be posted online at www.gftribune.com/obituaries.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Kelly French
November 11, 2009
Dear French Family,
We are so sorry for your loss.
Bruce & Sue Neumann Family
Kathleen Stordahl
November 10, 2009
Jan & all of you,
Our class of '67 was like a close family of 16, & Kelly brought his truly gentlemanly old-fashioned values, always! ...& now Mark & I join in sadness from our current work-site by the Arctic Circle...Kathleen
Clint Wigen
November 9, 2009
Jan & family,
I will always remember Kelly as a great team-mate in Hobson High, a fine neighbor, and simply a good man. If anything was needed by someone else, he would be the first to come to their aid. A loss to you and your family to be sure, but a loss to the family of man as well. My condolences and prayers go out to you.
Neta Carter
November 7, 2009
Thinking of you, Jan and I am sorry to learn of Kelly's passing.
Will Myers
November 6, 2009
French Family,
Words are few, but prayers are many.
Linda Schlieman/Bacon
November 6, 2009
To all my French cousins,
My prayers have been & will continue to be with you all. It is difficult to lose a sibling, but there comes a time, when they are suffering, that we must release them into a loving God's safekeeping. I pray that same God will in some way bring you all peace.
Connie Berg Cutler
November 5, 2009
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
Butch Gillespie
November 5, 2009
Jan and family
So sorry to hear of your loss. Kelly will be missed by all who knew him. He was certainly an asset to the community and the field of Agr in Montana. Our thoughts and prayers are certainly with you all.
Butch and Doreen Gillespie
Karol Rosman-Hardt
November 4, 2009
My heart goes out to Kelly's family. May you be able to find peace through memory and love.
Lisa Sandstrom
November 4, 2009
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
Brandi Linhart Goodman
November 4, 2009
Jan and Family;
So sorry to hear of Kelly's passing. May you find peace in knowing that he is no longer in pain. He's with God now and all is well.
kraig meeks
November 4, 2009
Jan and Family
So very sorry to here of Kelly's passing. A great loss for your family, community and all how knew him. I truely respected his quiet steady manner. You will all be in my prayers. Kraig Meeks & Family
Krista Lee Evans
November 4, 2009
Jan, Sigrid, Garth and Families --
I am so sorry for your loss. I have such fond memories of Kelly. I will always remember him at fair time in the hog barn. He was a wonderful man and will be greatly missed. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Clint Peck
November 4, 2009
Jan and family... So sorry to hear about Kelly's passing. I liked Kelly a lot and looking back value the times when we were able to work together. 'Will always remember his smile.
Bob Engstrom
November 4, 2009
Jan and Family,
I'm so very sorry to hear of Kelly's passing. What a great man. He will surely be missed by all who knew him. My prayers and thoughts are with you
Janna Kincheloe
November 4, 2009
Jan and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. Kelly had a smile and a kind word for everyone he met. He will be dearly missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Kristin Larson
November 4, 2009
Jan, Sigrid, Garth & Family - Please know my thoughts and prayers are with everyone of you right now. I keep thinking of what a great example Kelly set by being a wonderful husband and father and grandpa. I learned so much from watching Jan & Kelly's relationship get stronger through everything they've been through. You're an amazing family and your memories and strength and love will surround you during this time. Love you guys. Kristin & Family
Aaron Iverson
November 4, 2009
French Family,
We are so sorry to hear about your loss. You are all in our thoughts and prayers.
November 4, 2009
Jan & Family,
I was so very sorry to hear of Kelly's passing. Please know that you are in my thoughts & prayers.
Pat (Seitz) Johnson
Kelly Seilstad
November 4, 2009
Jan and Family,
My deepest sympathy goes out to you all during this difficult time. I am so sorry for your loss. May your memories of Kelly bring you comfort. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Kip and Lynda Vandeventer
November 3, 2009
Dear Jan, Sigrid, Garth & family,
When we heard the news of Kelly's passing, our hearts ached for your loss. Please know that although we won't be with you on Thursday, you will be in our thoughts and prayers. We will treasure the memories of the times we spent together as young couples at family get togethers. Love, Kip and Lynda
Joe Vanek
November 3, 2009
Jan, Sigrid, Garth and family,
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Kelly will be missed. God Bless.
joe hankins
November 3, 2009
will miss the visits with kelly -thoughts and prayers
joe hankins
November 3, 2009
will miss the visits with kelly -thoughts and prayers
Mike & M. Jae' Gilkerson
November 3, 2009
Jan:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this the saddest of times. God bless you and keep you.
November 3, 2009
Jan:
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Mike and M. Jae' Gilkerson (Malta, MT)
Tom Crump
November 3, 2009
To Garth & Kari:
On behalf of the entire WWC staff, I send our heartfelt condolences to you and your family during this most difficult time. Garth, I had the privilege of meeting Kelly and your Mom at the MSU career fair a number of years ago and I have come to know that many of your Father's finest qualities have been handed down to you to be further handed down to your children. What a blessing to know that these fine family values are alive and well among those that count the most. May God bless and keep you all.
November 3, 2009
Jan, Sigrid, Garth and families,
You're in our thoughts and prayers. Kelly is a great loss to the Hobson Community and will be greatly missed. May God, family, friends, and many happy memories comfort you. Christy and Sarina Aamold
John & Linda Valentine
November 3, 2009
Jan and family,
Kelly always was a force for reason and truth. What a great smile. The Lord will welcome him home. Our prayers for Kelly, and your family.
Sara Edwards Bigelow
November 3, 2009
Jan and family,
Our deepest sympathy goes out to all of you. We are so sorry to hear about your loss. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
Jeff Barron
November 3, 2009
Jan and Family,
You and all of your family are in our prayers. May the peace of the Lord rest with all of you.
Jeff Barron and Family
Frank & Jennifer Brady & family
November 3, 2009
To the French family's: We are sorry to hear of Kelly's passing. Kelly will be greatly missed by many. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Arnie and Kendra Owen
November 3, 2009
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this tough time. God Bless.
Russell Nemetz
November 3, 2009
Jan and Family,
My thoughts and prayers are with each of you. The agriculture industry will miss Kelly.
Russell
Vince Konesky
November 3, 2009
Jan and family
So sorry about Kelly. He was a great friend of mine in the Air Guard. I looked forward to visiting with him each month on our U T A's (Unit Training Assemblys) in Great Falls. Friendly, hard working, dynamic, kindhearted,with a great sense of humor, Kelly had ALL of the best qualities. He was Way too young to leave this world.
Renee Maynard
November 3, 2009
Our prayers are with you and your family as you say goodbye to such a wonderful man. I have fond memories of Kelly and your family. Our deepest sympathies.
Renee (Fenton) Maynard and family
Gene Surber
November 3, 2009
Jan and family, Please know all of you and Kelly are in our prayers and thoughts. We are so greatful to have been touched by such a great smile and the privilege to have both of you as friends. God Bless. Gene & Vickie
Don and Polly Taylor
November 3, 2009
Jan and Family. Polly and I are so sorry to learn of Kelly's passing. Our thoughts and prayer's have been and are with you now.
Jan, you and Kelly will always have a special place in our hearts. You folks and your family were such great support when Nathan passed away.
There is nothing I can say to make things easier for you but, please know that we are here for you.
We love you dearly. Don and Polly
CLIFF NELSON
November 3, 2009
DAN & FAMILY,
WE ARE SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR LOSS. OUR HEARTS & PRAYERS TO YOU ALL.
CLIFF & NANCY NELSON
November 3, 2009
Our prayers are with the family. Dale and Kathy Longfellow
Jim and Karolyn Ridgeway
November 3, 2009
French Families, We are so sorry to hear of the passing of Kelly. He was such a good man and we are so honored to have known him. You are all in our prayers and thoughts and we are here for you. May God be with you now and forever.
Jim and Karolyn Ridgeway
Jerry L. Pokarney
November 3, 2009
My deepest sympathy
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