Glen R. Hay, 94

Glen R. Hay, 94, passed away at St. Luke’s Care Center in Crosby, North Dakota, on May 15, 2021.

Glen was born Nov. 26, 1926, in Frazier Township, Divide County, North Dakota, as the third son of Sophia (Drygas) and Duncan Hay. He attended the Frazier Township School through eighth grade, then farmed with his father after his brothers joined the service during World War II. Glen learned to fly airplanes as a teenager and started an aerial crop spraying business in the 1960s that was later taken over by both his son and grandson.

Glen married Helen Thiel in 1951, and they made their home on his family farm where they raised their four children, Pat, Donna, Bob and Ardis. He passed the fiery temper of his youth to Bob and Donna, and his love for horses on to Ardis. Glen was also known to fly Pat to school, or neighboring women to town during winter months if they were in labor or needed groceries when roads were impassable.

Glen was so proud for his only son Bob, to become a third generation farmer on the homestead, and was able to begin a new chapter of his life as “Gramps” when his oldest grandchild was born. In his semi-retirement, he continued to give Grammy a hard time, and regularly flew back and forth from Kalispell to help on the farm. Gramps and Grammy also often traveled to Phoenix during the winter to see Pat’s family and spend more time doing the things they loved.

While he was never one for long-winded or emotional sentiments, Gramps showed his family that he loved them with his time. His kids, grandkids, and even his older great-grandchildren will forever hold special memories of fishing with Gramps … particularly memories of refusing to give up on cold days even when the fish would not bite, or when the boat’s battery died on Flathead Lake and Gramps had to provide reassurance that they would not have to turn to cannibalism for survival.

Gramps also loved horses from the time he was young and had a way of gentling horses with his quiet demeanor and steady presence. His family believes that Gramps could smell donuts from a mile away, and somehow always managed to find himself in Grammy or Carol’s kitchens should donuts be in the works. Gramps was a stoic and private man who his family knew they could count on, which is just a small part of his legacy that will live on through his children and their families who greatly miss his sly smirk and the twinkle in his eye.

Glen is survived by his children, Pat (Jim) Walcker, Bob (Carol) Hay, Donna (Chuck) Pummill, and Ardis (Mike) Stewart; grandchildren, Gena (Lonnie) Stevens, John (Kimberly) Walcker, Allison Walcker, Adam (Janna) Pummill, Jamie (Brent) Overland, and Whitney (Mike) Montonye; bonus grandsons, Cliff Lynn and Lonnie Stevens; and great-grandchildren, Parker and Peyton Stevens, Jordan Kostek, Megan and Emma Hay, Reagan Walcker, Jaron Pummill, Sandee Sepulveda, Layken Lunde, Sophie, Addie and Clay Overland, Spencer Lynn, and Nash and Evan Montonye.

Glen was preceded in death by his parents, siblings (Markham Hay, Duncan Hay, and Gail Molsberry), wife (Helen), grandchildren Nikki (Pummill) Lynn, Clinton Hay, and AdriAnn Walcker, and great-granddaughter (Bella Lynn).

Funerals services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 2, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home with burial to follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens.

Friends are encouraged to visit the website at www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.