Reinhold J. Kraft, 85

A true hometown American hero has been put to rest. Retired Col. Reinhold “RJ” Kraft passed away on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2020, in Bigfork.

R.J. dedicated 37 years serving in the United States Army, protecting our homeland and our freedom. During his career, R.J. earned the Soldiers Medal of Honor, four Bronze Stars with one for Valor, four Air Medals and three Army Commendation Medals to highlight a few of his awards. His life was to serve our country.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Molly Kraft and oldest son, James Merritt Kraft, his brother Conrad, sisters Carrie, Martha, Helen and Emma.

He is survived by his sister, Arlene Sodestrom, of Kalispell; sons, Robert Kraft of Fresno, California, and Kirk Kraft of Libby; granddaughters, Addison Kraft, Patsy Kraft and Chelsea Kraft, all of Libby; and great-grandson, Hudson Mugford of Libby.

Reinie “RJ” was born on April 8, 1935, to Jacob and Molly Kraft in Yellowstone Township, North Dakota. He was the sixth of seven children. After his birth, the Kraft family traveled across the Northwest and California before finally settling in Kalispell where he finished his schooling and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1953. After his graduation, he married Lois Merritt and joined the Montana National Guard. He worked several jobs including roofing contractor, sheet metal fabricator and Flathead County deputy sheriff.

After a short move to Missoula, he went on active duty with the U.S. Army in 1963 and moved his family to Fort Ord, California. This was the start of a very successful career taking him from coast to coast, Hawaii, Vietnam and South Korea. All the while, serving full time for the Army, he continued his education with night and weekend classes, eventually earning a degree and graduated from Missouri Western College in St. Joseph, Missouri, with a degree in political science in 1973. RJ is one of the very few soldiers that joined the Army as a private and earning every grade, rose to the rank of colonel before retiring from the Army after 37 years on active duty. Before retirement, Reinie “RJ” enjoyed several hobbies. He was a self-taught carpenter and home builder. He once said “I can fix anything if I have the right tools and know how to do it.” And right he was. He put a new roof on his mother’s house, built furniture, repaired cars and taught himself how to refinish and repair antique clocks, eventually turning this into a small business.

He never stopped traveling and loved the RV lifestyle, traveling around the western United States and staying out of the snow. Nobody will know if it was that freezing winter of 1963 in Missoula, or the winter of 1966 on the DMZ in South Korea that was his incentive to move south and eventually buy property in Quartzite, Arizona, where he would spend his winters and then back up north in the spring. Besides staying out of the cold he mentioned all the fantastic down to earth people he would meet and befriend through his travels. He was a people person and loved nothing more than to stay active as a member of the Sheriff’s Posse or being the manager of the Moose Club in Ellensburg, Washington. He also worked with veterans throughout his retirement, ensuring they had access to all the benefits they were due. Reinie “RJ” eventually moved back to the Kalispell area where he spent his last years close to his grandchildren and great-grandkids. Reinie was known for his sense of humor. He made it his job in life to make everyone smile. Reinie “RJ” was indeed, our “Hometown American Hero.” He will be sorely missed.

Due to COVID-19, the memorial service will be delayed until a further date.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Veteran’s Association would be appreciated.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home of Kalispell.