Kenneth Eugene Hardman, 92

Kenneth Eugene Hardman, 92, passed away on Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.

Kenneth was born on Jan. 4, 1927, in Pablo, to Russell and Mildred (Moore) Hardman. Kenneth grew up in the Long Beach, California, area and graduated from Long Beach Poly High.

In December 1945 he married LaDon Linton in Washington, D.C.; they were married 63 years. On Jan. 5, 1945, Kenneth entered the U.S. Navy and was stationed on the USS Langley and was honorably discharged on April 10, 1946. Kenneth worked for Proctor and Gamble as a machinist from 1948 to 1983.

He was a lifetime member of the American Legion Post 716 in Los Alamitos, California He was also commander of Dept. 5 in California, during 1977-78. He was also a lifetime member of the VFW.

He raised and flew homing and show pigeons. He loved living, and fishing and hunting in Montana where he built his dream home on Swan Lake. He also enjoyed rebuilding and riding his antique Allis Chalmers tractor.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents Russell and Mildred Hardman, son Daniel, brother Tom, and granddaughter Rebecca Wallace.

He is survived by his children, Nancy Hardman Wallace of Mesa, Arizona, and Martha Hardman Jones of Pocatello, Idaho; and grandchildren, Jef Wallace, Daniel Wallace, April Smalley and R.J. Watters; great-grandchildren, Emma Wallace, Molly Wallace, Greta Wallace, Kadence Wallace, Brinley Wallace, Sierra Wallace, Jasper Smalley, Kaden Watters, Mara Watters and Roan Watters.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to Nine Pipes Museum in Charlo. A celebration of life will follow later this summer. Friends are encouraged to visit the website www.buffalohillfh.com to leave notes of condolence for the family. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the family.