Ken Dutter, 64

Ken Dutter, 64, of Kalispell, "went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ" on Jan. 29, 2005, at home from cardiac arrest.

Ken was born in Ravenna, Ohio, on Aug. 18, 1940, to Ralph and Marie Dutter. The family later moved to Windham, Ohio, where Ken started working at age 12 at the family-owned Miller & Dutter Sand and Gravel.

During Ken's senior year in high school he was offered a full-ride scholarship to the Julliard School of Music. After graduating in 1958 from Windham High School, Ken attended Tacco Falls College in Georgia for a year and eventually graduated from Bohecker's Business College.

Ken married Mary (Miller) in November of 1959. In 1963, Ken became a financial supervisor for General Motors in Lordstown, Ohio.

It was on a hunting trip to Montana that Ken fell in love with Montana, and in 1972, Ken and his family, "The Five Pioneers," moved to Red Lodge.

In 1973, the family moved to Kalispell and started the Kalispell Cycle Center. They owned the cycle shop from 1973 to 1975. He held various other jobs, including piling brush for the Forest Service, owning and driving a semi-truck, and guiding in the Bob Marshall.

In 1982, Ken and his wife, Mary, bought the Dairy Queen franchise for the Flathead Valley, which they still own today.

In 1988, after his first heart attack, he re-dedicated his life to the Lord and became involved in various ministries - Gideons, AWANA speaker, sat on the board of the Salvation Army, and participated in several local gospel quartets. He formed Montana Gospel Music Association and facilitated in bringing many renowned gospel music groups to the valley. He also blessed the community by organizing local talent in Home Grown Gospel concerts. Ken had such love for southern gospel music and people of this valley that he founded the Glory Road Gospel Hour, which aired each Sunday at 2 p.m. on KALS Radio.

Other interests of Ken's were horses, even taking several wagon train trips, golfing and especially making memories with his six grandchildren.

Ken was preceded in death by his father, Ralph Dutter.

Surviving family includes his wife, Mary; son, Randy and wife, Ramona, and children, Kate and Luke; son, Tim and wife, Shelbey, and children, Nate, Jake and Bayleigh; and daughter, Debbie Morton and husband, Keith, and son, Andy, all of Kalispell.

Also surviving are his mother, Marie Dutter, of Windham, Ohio; and brothers, Don Dutter and family of Chicago, and Larry Dutter and family of Windham, Ohio.

Even though the family loves flowers, Ken would have wanted memorials made to either Gideons International or WINGS.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 5, at the Christian Center in Kalispell with the Rev. Ron Pierce and the Rev. Bob Ross officiating. A luncheon will follow at the Christian Center.

This paid obituary is being run again at the request of the family.