Kenneth Rudolph "Ken" Kivela

1949 - 2026

Kenneth Rudolph "Ken" Kivela

January 3, 1949 - January 24, 2026

Kenneth Rudolph "Ken" Kivela peacefully passed away at the Crest Nursing home on Saturday, January 24, 2026.

Ken was born to Johnny and Sylvia Kivela on January 3, 1949 in Minnesota and moved to Butte in 1955. Johnny and his brother, Einar acquired the Broadway Bar in Finntown. Music was always in Kenny's blood.

He attended Butte High School, then studied at Montana State University in Bozeman and Western Montana College in Dillon where he majored in Music and Art Education.

While studying in Dillon, Ken established an upholstery business and also played with Wally Jemmings Band. It was during a band break playing at the "It Club" that he met Judy. It was truly love at first sight and they married on June 10, 1978.

Ken continued the upholstery business and passed realtor exams to join Judy with Kivela realty which served many local and Montana families.

At this time, Ken was also teaching music and art at West Junior High, traveled as a grade school teacher and also taught at Butte High, from where he would retire after many years of service.

Ken and Judy managed to find time to attend many conferences in various U.S. states and traveled on lots of memorable vacations together.

His hobbies included drumming and playing the accordion, along with reading and art. A great lover of animals, he enjoyed his beloved pets Kelso and Phalen, the dogs, and Missy, the cat.

Ken is survived by his brother, Terry Kivela of Butte; nephew, Kevin (Jennifer) Kivela and their family of Missoula, niece, Kris (Kurt) Gillis and their family also of Missoula, niece, Kenna (Travis) Watkins and their family of Portland, Ore., brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Mike and Susan Bruhns; and various other nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday morning, at 10 o'clock, in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home and interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery. Ken is remembered and missed by so many.