Kenneth Lloyd Vance, 83

Kenneth Lloyd Vance, 83, passed away Nov. 25, 2014, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell, after a long battle with COPD.

Kenny was born June 22, 1931, in Dagmar, Mont., the youngest of eight children of Julius and Tillie Vance.

Kenny served in the U.S. Army in Korea from 1954 to 1956. He was awarded the Medal of Good Conduct and the National Defense Service Medal for his service.

Kenny's only place of employment lasted 44 years. He started work at the Daily Inter Lake delivering newspapers in 1945. After serving in the Army, he returned to the paper as a pressman where he continued working until his retirement in 1989.

He married May Coverdell on Aug. 1, 1953. They had three children and celebrated 51 years of marriage before his lovely bride passed — exactly 10 years before he did on Nov. 25, 2004.

He is survived by their three children, Richard Vance and his wife Sylvia, Jerry Vance and his wife Mary, and Cindy Otten and her husband Bob. He has six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, with two more “cooking!” He is also survived by his sister, Lois Nyby; his brother-in-law, Don Coverdell; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Kenny enjoyed many things. His favorite TV shows were “The Price is Right” and “Gunsmoke.” He loved watching the Montana Grizzlies and NASCAR racing. Dale Earnhart, Jr. was a favorite, and he enjoyed sparring with his daughter and son-in-law on who would win the race each week. Fishing and camping were activities he loved to share with his children and grandchildren. One of his most prized possessions was his 1949 Harley Davidson motorcycle that he purchased in 1952.

A visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on Dec. 2 at the Buffalo Hill Funeral Chapel, with graveside services to be held at 1 p.m. on Dec. 2 at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell.

Kenny will be greatly missed by his family and friends.

To send a note of condolence to the family please visit www.buffalohillfh.com. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.