Wayne Ray Hulford

Wayne Ray Hulford passed away Nov. 3, 2012, at the age of 78.

He was born in Broadus to Thelma and Lawrence Hulford. At the age of 15, he went to work on a ranch rounding up cattle. He lived to be on the back of his horse. He always told stories about himself riding bucking horses at the bucking horse sales in Miles City. He made $5 a ride and made more money in one day than he did in a whole month’s wages.

He ran the local bowling alley in Miles City where he also taught people to bowl. He moved to Columbia Falls in the late ‘60s and worked as a millwright for Plum Creek Lumber Co. While working there during the days, he built the LaSalle Campground with a backhoe and his own manpower during the evenings in Columbia Falls. He ran it for about five years after opening it, and then he sold it in 1991, upon his retirement from Plum Creek.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Arlene; four stepsons, Terry Stevens and his wife Jeannie of Columbia Falls, their children, Tracy, Lachrisha, Kilee, Kristen and Kendra; Mort Hill and his wife Billie Jo of Columbia Falls, their children, Natasha, Roddy, Erin and Erika; Randy Hill and his wife Linda of Seattle, their children Jimmy, Tacy and Deanna; Cory Hill and his wife Lisa of Kalispell, their children, Kacie, Brittanie, Zachary, Paige and Payton; 11 great-grandchildren, plus a few on the way; and one great-great-grandbaby on the way. He is also survived by his children, Lenn and Becky of Miles City and David of Kalispell; his brother, Meryl Hulford; and sisters, Loina Reinhardt and Ellen Nishiki.

A memorial service will was held Nov. 10, at the senior center on Main Street in Columbia Falls.