John R. Bolles Sr., 65

John R. Bolles Sr., 65, “left his home in West Glacier for his home in heaven” on Nov. 29, 2015.

 Born on Sept. 26, 1950, at the Queen of Angels Hospital in Los Angeles, he was the second child, and only son, of Clifford and Jane Bolles.

John grew up in Southern California spending his childhood enjoying time with his dad and Uncle John, delivering the paper and making memories with friends. His teen years were spent working alongside his dad in the family business, Azuza Towel Supply, fixing and racing cars and motorcycles, playing music (drums and guitar) as well as playing sports — again making many memories he cherished and proudly shared throughout his adult life.

John was the grandson of West Glacier homesteaders, John and Mary Sloan. He grew up with stories of the homestead, visits from Montana relatives, and traveling to West Glacier as a kid. From the time he could remember, the homestead was where he wanted to be. In 1968 his family sold the laundry business and moved to the mountains, following John who chose to the leave the city behind and made the trek from Los Angeles to West Glacier alone. As a young man, John learned to hunt on the family homestead with Uncle Tom, enjoyed getting to know his cousins, honed his mechanic skills and met the girl next door, Elizabeth Wolfe, whom he would love and cherish until parted by death.

 John and Elizabeth married Aug. 1, 1972. From this union came five children. He provided for his family by owning and operating a towing business as well John’s Auto Service in Coram. He didn’t have much time for hobbies until he retired and sold his business in 2000, but he always took time to hunt and work on projects with his family.

 Upon retirement, he fished, continued to hunt, worked on his ’56 Chevy, dabbled in oil painting and experienced great joy working alongside many of his children harvesting hay on the homestead.

 John accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1975. He faithfully studied his Bible and sought a relationship with the Lord. Over the years, he taught Bible studies and lead worship, and shared the Gospel at every opportunity.

 John was preceded in death by his dad Clifford Bolles, and in-laws James and Mildred Wolfe.

 He is survived by his wife and best friend of 43 years, Elizabeth; five children and their spouses, Carla and Clark Martin of West Glacier, John Bolles Jr. of West Glacier, Emily and Paul Olsen of Augusta, Myra and Ben McCrorie of West Glacier, and Michael and Jessie Bolles of Fairfield. John Sr. is also survived by grandchildren, Jack, Charlie and Madeline Martin, Ezra, Ruth and Silas Olsen, Dominic Bolles, and Iven McCrorie; as well as his mother, Jane Bolles, of West Glacier, and sister, Dian Haines, of Kalispell.

A celebration of life will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, at the Hungry Horse Chapel. There will be a visitation for John from 5 to 8 p.m. today, Dec. 3, at Columbia Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Lion Hill Baptist Church’s AWANA youth program.