Lawrence Wayne Birky, 76

Lawrence Wayne Birky, 76, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016, surrounded by his loving family at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.

He was born in Kalispell on Oct. 4, 1939, to Elmer Lee and Anna Mae Birky. He attended Cayuse Prairie School from first to eighth grade, Flathead High School for his freshman and sophomore years, Columbia Falls High School for his junior year, and Hesston College in Kansas for his senior year. He moved back to the Flathead Valley, where he made a living as a logger from 1958 until his retirement in 2007.

He enjoyed retirement, travelling in his motor home between Montana, Arizona and California. His hobbies and interests included hunting, fishing, cutting firewood, trapshooting and enjoying conversation over a meal with his family and friends.

He is preceded in death by his father, Elmer; mother, Anna; older brother, Lyle; and wife of thirty-one years Kristina Sands.

He is survived by his wife of twenty-one years, Carol, son, Randy and wife Gaylene, grandson, Levi, and granddaughter, Paige, all of Kalispell; his stepson Greg Ahart and wife Mary of Sacramento, California; younger brothers, Dale and wife Betty, and Allen and wife Phyllis, of Prescott, Arizona; and many very special nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 9, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home in Kalispell, followed by graveside service at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell. A reception will be held immediately following at the Kalispell Elks Lodge at 1820 Highway 93 S.

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.