Loretta Evelyn Kolpin

Loretta Evelyn Kolpin passed away Saturday evening at the Butte Copper Ridge Health and Rehab Center. She was born February 9, 1917 in Black Coulee, Montana to Emil and Mary Wilda. She married Kenneth Karl Kolpin Sr. and later divorced. They had two children, Kenneth Karl Kolpin Jr. and Beverly Brookins. Being raised on a farm, Loretta learned at a very young age what hard work was. She milked cows, fed pigs and chickens and had other chores as well. She trapped badgers and weasels with her father and told stories of killing rattlesnakes. With no electricity the family entertained themselves at night playing music by the light of a kerosene lamp. Her father played fiddle, her brother Ben the harmonica, brother Louis the banjo and she played the guitar. She could sing and yodel up a storm. Loretta had an 8th grade education but dreamed of going to high school to become a nurse. However, her parents could not afford any further education and at the age of 15 she was cleaning housed in Great Falls. She saw an ad for a Vaudeville Show, tried out and was given a job singing and playing the guitar. She traveled with the show in the Dakotas, Idaho and Montana. The show broke up when there was a car accident and all the costumes and instruments caught fire and burned. She then moved to Seattle with a sister and found work there. She also had a job playing a 30 minutes music spot on the MidTown radio station. Later in Oregon, she played another show and that is where she met her husband Ken who played the accordion. After the divorce she moved with her children to Wisdom where she worked at her nephews bar. From there she moved to Butte and had numerous jobs: Rushes' Pies, The Moxom Cafe, American News, St. James Hospital, Silver Bow General Hospital and finally retired as a janitress at Butte High School at the age of 75. She was truly a very hard worker and a proud woman. She was preceded in death by her parent, both children and her brothers and sisters. Survivors include her grandchildren: Kenneth Kolpin III, Lorri (Jerry) Deplazes, Joe (Lisa) Kolpin, Jason (Cynthia) Kolpin, Laura Paul, Mandy (Todd) Overly as well as her great-grandchildren: Nova, Aurora, Craig and Jessica Kolpin, Mitch and Gabe Deplazes, Clayton Paul, Reese and Paige Overly.

Tributes

Loretta Evelyn Kolpin

February 9, 1917 - July 16, 2016