Harold Kellam, 65
Harold Kellam, 65, 'was safe in the arms of Jesus' following an accident at his home in Kalispell, on Saturday, 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 August 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 this 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. He was able to teach 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 pastored 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 lifelong 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 fishing 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.'
He was preceded in death by his father.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Naomi Kellam of Kalispell; his four children, 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, Matthew Kellam, of N.J., Michael Kellam of Kalispell, and Paul Kellam of Md.; and numerous cousins and dear friends.
Memorial services for Harold Kellam will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 16, at the Christian Center with Rev. Lloyd Pierson, pastor of Faith Covenant Presbyterian Church officiating. A reception will follow the service at Faith Covenant Church.
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.