Floyd LaVern Welty, 88

Floyd LaVern Welty, 88, passed gently into the arms of his loving Lord and Savior at 8:25 a.m. on June 24, 2019, at his Kalispell home, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in 1931, in Fairview, Montana, to Lloyd and Pearl (Lewis) Welty. At the age of 2 the family moved to Kalispell. He was baptized into the Christian faith as a youth. He attended Elrod, Central and Flathead County High schools. After his military duty he attended a trade school.

Floyd met his high school sweetheart, Theresa Franz, while ice skating in Woodland Park. They were married in 1954 and were blessed with four beautiful children, Michael, Christine, Kevin and David.

Following high school Floyd worked as a carpenter and on the Hungry Horse Dam. He served in the Marines Corps in the Korean Theater of operation where he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, The Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal and the National Defense Service Medal.

He worked for the United States Post Office as a window clerk and eventually worked his way up to the supervisor of Mail and Delivery, overseeing the mail carriers. While there he served as examiner-in-charge in Kalispell for the U.S. Civil Service Commission and also as a board member for the Seattle region. Several years after retiring from the post office he worked part-time driving school bus for 20-plus years driving the Foy’s Lake loop. He enjoyed the interaction with the school kids, elementary age through high school. He also served for many years as a board member for the Flathead Credit Union.

In his earlier years Floyd volunteered as a Cub Scouts leader, Webelows leader, and Peewee baseball coach. He was also present at his children’s numerous school events, recitals and sporting events. Over many years he hunted and fished with his sons and skied with his daughter. All of his children inherited the love of the outdoors through ice skating, biking, hiking, camping, berry picking and picnicking with their parents. It was especially Floyd who instigated these events. Floyd loved to spend time with his family at the cabin he built on Echo Lake and tinkering on his endless projects. In recent years he enjoyed going on drives with family members. Floyd attended Trinity Lutheran Church and especially enjoyed the outdoor summer worship services at the camp on Flathead Lake.

Floyd was preceded in death by his parents, wife Theresa, brother Irvin Welty, and sister Irene McAllister.

He is survived by his sisters-in-law June Welty and Dorothy Lea; brother Lyle and wife Cynthia; sons, Michael and wife Mary, Kevin and David Welty; daughter, Christine and husband Walter Kroemer; grandchildren, Jonathan, Brian, Jeremy, Timothy, Magdalena, Mathew, Katrina and husband Paul, Charissa, Marieva, Trevor and wife Deltra; 15 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be at 1 p.m. Monday, July 1, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Kalispell with services to follow at 2 p.m. A dessert reception will follow services. Burial will take place at 4 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Camp in Bigfork in care of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.