Harold Leon Kent, 95

Harold Leon Kent, 95, passed away July 26 at his home in Charlo.

Born in Rupert, Idaho on February 2, 1922 to Samuel Parley Kent and Annie Leona Talbott Kent. He moved to Montana as a young child on an emigrant train that took them to Ravalli and the family farmed in the Charlo area. Harold was educated at the D’Aste school for the first couple years then he went to Charlo schools where he graduated from high school.

He moved to Bremmerton, Washington during WWII and returned afterwards to help take care of Grandma Kent. He was a Cat operator who built many roads in the Mission Valley and worked with the Pierces and Trahans and worked in Alaska before returning to the Charlo area where he has worked with the Flemmings for the last 51 years haying in the summer and with the potatoes the rest of the time. He just retired a couple of years ago while in his early 90’s. He lived in the valley most of his life was instrumental in creating the racetrack at Pablo and was proud of the fact that for the last 30 plus years he has had the same seat at the Plains Rodeo.

He married Phyllis Stipe, Juanita “Bunnie’ Gardipe, and Lillian “Willie” Finley.

Harold was preceded in death by his parents, two wives, two sisters, four brothers and his daughter Angela Gilman who passed in 2005.

He leaves behind his older sister Verna Krantz (96 ½ ) of St. Ignatius; numerous stepchildren including Bruce, Scotty, Charlene, Marvin, James, Bernie, Linda and Marilyn, grandchildren and great grandchildren as well many nieces and nephews including Kathy Kent who was his caregiver the last of couple years.

A visitation was held at Foster Funeral Chapel in St Ignatius starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday and at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday prior to services at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Funeral services were held on Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in St. Ignatius.