Harold Kellam
KALISPELL — Harold Kellam, 65, was safe in the arms of Jesus following an accident at his home in Kalispell on Sept. 9, 2006.
He was born June 13, 1941, in Camden, N.J., to Harold and Laura (Mayers) Kellam. Harold grew up in rural Kirkwood, N.J. He graduated from Haddonfield High School and Shelton College in New Jersey. On Aug. 29, 1966, he married Naomi Anderson in New Jersey, whom he had met in Tacoma, Wash., while working for the railroad. They then attended college together.
Following graduation from Faith Theological Seminary in Philadelphia in 1968, he was ordained as a minister in the Bible Presbyterian Church and served as pastor of the Bible Presbyterian Church in Kalispell from 1968 to 1973. During that time he helped organize the Flathead Evangelical Ministers Fellowship.
In 1974, he moved his family to Missoula to work toward a degree in Medieval History in order to teach Church History, which he was able to do at the University of Minsk in Belarus in 1994. While in Missoula he also became organizing pastor of two churches, (Ronan and Missoula) in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church.
In 1974, Harold was called back to Kalispell to organize and pastor Faith Covenant Presbyterian Church where he ministered as senior pastor for 21 years.
Having pastured four churches in 32 years of ministry, his passion in recent years was a deepening desire to know his sovereign and merciful Lord more intimately. He was known for his articulate and knowledgeable grasp of God's Word.
Harold served on the Board of Stillwater Christian School, the Lighthouse Christian Home and was an active member of the International Peacemakers (Ken Sende) organization. He also served as facilitator for Parents Anonymous Support Group and as a Board member of Hospice. His early years of pastoral ministry necessitated "tent making" to support his family — part time instructor at FVCC, full-time on the freight dock, and building hay barns with his dad. Since his retirement in 2000, he was self-employed as a builder of homes, working with his son, Bryan and delighting in the substitute teaching of Kalispell youth in School District 5.
In the providence of God, the accident occurred as he was in the final stages of moving to a recently purchased ranch in Chinook to raise Black Angus cows with his son, Bryan, realizing a life long dream. His heart was in Montana with its amazing hunting, fishing, gardening and ranching opportunities. His Kalispell herd of cows often became the topic of unsolicited information but disseminated with great enthusiasm!
His family relationships were a precious, joyous blessing to him. A call from grandsons, Justin and Riley "can we go fishin' today PopPop?" took precedence over all other plans. Our loving husband, father, uncle and "PopPop" is deeply missed while we await our reunion in Heaven. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints". Psalm 115:15.
He was preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Naomi Kellam of Kalispell; son Dr. Mark Kellam and wife Ruth of Bethel, Ohio, son Bryan Kellam and wife Anita and their children; Justin, Riley and Delaney of Chinook, daughter Laura Kellam of Kalispell; his mother, Laura Kellam Scarnato and husband Leonard of New Jersey; brother Ronald Kellam and wife Marlene of Spokane; three nephews and numerous cousins and dear friends.
Memorial services for Harold Kellam were held Sept. 16 at the Christian Center, Kalispell, with the Rev. Lloyd Pierson, pastor of Faith Covenant Presbyterian Church, officiating. The family suggests memorials be given to Faith Covenant Church Mission Fund, 611 3rd Ave E., Kalispell, MT 59901.
Johnson Mortuary is caring for Harold's family.