Elton Hoyt, 84

Elton Ross Hoyt, 84, passed away on Jan. 23, 2023, at St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan. He was born June 21, 1938, in Polson to Edward E. Hoyt and A. Blanche (Howell) Hoyt.

Ross graduated from Polson High School in 1957. He was in the Montana National Guard for seven and a half years. He married Darline Joyce in 1966 and they raised two sons, Chris and Tom. Chris was born in October 1967 and Tom was adopted in 1974. In 2013, they adopted their daughter, Tammy.

Ross was a rancher, self-employed building contractor and backhoe operator. After retiring, he spent time woodworking and tending his yard.

Ross had two passions: one was making sure the Big Arm community had a fire hall. In 1980, he and many volunteers built the Big Arm Fire Hall. He was a volunteer fireman for 20 years. The other passion was the renovation of the Big Arm School to use as a community center. He, along with many volunteers dedicated to meeting historical requirements, also completed that task.

He was preceded in death by his father (1996), his son Chris (2009), his mother (2014), and a special aunt, Bonnie Kirsch (2019). He is survived by his wife, Darline, and miniature Schnauzer guard dog Susie; son Tom (Angel); daughter Tammy (fiance Rudy); one granddaughter, two step-granddaughters; three grandsons; twin great-granddaughters; his sister, Barbara Hoyt of Kalispell; his aunt, Jessie Wunderlich of Valier, Mont.; two sisters-in-law, Pat (Paul) Ditton of Utah and Debbie Joyce of Minnesota, and one brother-in-law, David (Valerie) Joyce of Missouri. He is also survived by numerous cousins locally and throughout Montana and the U.S.

A celebration of life will be held in the spring or early summer of 2023. In lieu of flowers donations in his memory can be made to any of the following:

• The Montana Hope Project, P.0. Box 5927, Helena, MT 59604 (a program through the Montana Highway Patrol where wishes are granted to sick children);

• Polson Rural Fire Department, 25B Regatta Road, Polson, MT 59860;

• The Big Arm Association, Box 13, Big Arm, MT 59910 (funds are used for maintenance of the Big Arm School);

• Or to a charity of your choice.