Dolores Anne (Moore) Kolar, 91

Dolores Anne (Moore) Kolar passed peacefully on April 19, 2021.

A resilient and sensitive woman, she was born May 15, 1929, in Bozeman to Claude and Grace Moore, one of 10 children. She grew up in Bozeman, graduating from Gallatin County High School. She then moved to Great Falls where she met her husband, John Joseph Kolar. The two married there on July 23, 1949.

Soon after, they and daughter Sandi moved to the Kolar family ranch east of Stanford. Daughters Karen and Merri, also born in a Great Falls hospital, joined the family who remained at the ranch until about 1967 when they moved in to town. John sold crop hail insurance. In 1972, Dolores, an accomplished seamstress, opened a women’s clothing store, Kolar’s of Stanford, which she sold five years later.

For many decades, the family vacationed and recreated at Echo Lake. In about 1976, the couple learned of a home for sale there, which they bought and enjoyed many retirement years together. John died on July 1, 1996, and Dolores continued to enjoy her Echo Lake home until moving to Buffalo Hill Terrace several years ago. A very creative and artistic woman, she loved Christmas, and never tired of visits from family and friends.

She was preceded in death by all her siblings, Vivian (Moore) Dent, Glen Moore, Alice (Moore) VanTeylingen, John (Jack) Moore, Claude Moore, Benjamin Moore, Bonnie (Moore) Ehl, Patricia Lou (Moore) Stole and Jerry Moore.

She is survived by daughter Sandi and her husband Steve Smith of Columbia Falls, and granddaughters Leah Breidinger of Kalispell, and Jenna Smith of Great Falls; daughter Karen Kolar and husband Jerry Brobst of Bigfork; and daughter Merri and husband Paul Oakley of Los Angeles.

The family suggests memorials be made to an animal shelter of the donor’s choosing.

A memorial service for the family will be planned for this summer.