LeRoy J. Bolin, 79
LeRoy J. Bolin, 79, of Columbia Falls, passed away April 23, 2018, at the Montana Veterans Home.
He was born in Harlowton on May 17, 1938, to Willis and Jane Bolin. LeRoy was joined by a little sister, Twila, two years later, who happens to have the same birthday as LeRoy. After a few short years in that area, the family settled in Missoula in 1946. He attended Franklin elementary school and Missoula County High School where he played football and was a standout basketball player. (Someone once said he never missed a shot he took in his life).
LeRoy enlisted in the Air Force in 1956. He was stationed in Okinawa for two years and spent the next two years at Larson Air Force Base in Moses Lake, Washington. It was during that time he met and married Gail Hobbs. They had three daughters, Suzette, Robin and Kristee. They were later divorced. After being honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1962 he settled in Missoula and was employed at the Van Evan Plywood Plant for several years. He then moved his family to Columbia Falls where he was employed at Plum Creek for eight years as a supervisor. He later went to work for the aluminum plant where he retired.
His second marriage, to Gloria, produced no biological children for LeRoy; Gloria had two daughters, Darleen and Diane, that he considered his daughters. LeRoy enjoyed the outdoors, hunting, even was a hunting guide for a while and he took great pride in his ability to bugle in the big elk. He loved football and was a die-hard Dallas Cowboy and Montana Grizzly fan. Everyone that knew LeRoy would say he was a very social and passionate man.
LeRoy was preceded in death by his parents, ex-wife Gloria and stepson Dwayne Vollin.
He is survived by his daughters, Suzette Bolin, Robin Gravelin and Kristee Winters; stepchildren, Debra Fauerso, Dennis Vollin, Donna Wisher, Daniel Vollin, Diane Vollin and Darleen Shero; his sister, Twila (Jack) Rudio; numerous grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
A celebration of LeRoy’s life will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 1, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls with military honors.
Friends are encouraged to visit the website www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolences for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.