Arthur Andrew Kalarchik

Arthur Andrew Kalarchik peacefully passed away on July 29th, 2015, surrounded by his family. He was 87. Arthur Andrew Kalarchik was born March 20, 1928 to Andrew and Mabel Kalarchik. Originally from Ironwood, Michigan, the family moved to Butte when Art was six years old so that his father could work for the Anaconda Company as a hard rock miner at the Original Mine. The family settled on Virginia Street where fond memories were made. Art often spoke of stories of his childhood with “The Terrific Three”. Art left high school and joined the Army during World War II, as a truck and wheel vehicle electrician in Aberedon, Maryland. He also learned how to repair watches while he was in the service. He was honorably discharged at the end of the war and returned to Butte to continue his high school education. That is where he met and married the love of his life, Isabelle Boerner. They were married December 29, 1949. He and Isabelle built their log home in Timber Butte where they were blessed with seven children, five girls and two boys, or as he would say, “five fighters and two referees”. They are Kathy Twomey (John)-Butte, Michael Kalarchik (Debbie King)- Philipsburg, Sue Morgan (Denny)- Butte, Margie Hoffman (Gene)- Kalispell, Christine Nel (Phillip)- Butte, Rose O’Neil (Ross)- Rudyard, and Joe Kalarchik (Susan Ike)- Butte. Art brought his watch repair skills to Butte where he provided services to folks. Then he started, owned and successfully operated The Butte Bus Lines for many years. At the top of his business career he owned and operated 15 school busses, two charter busses and 15 city busses. He employed over 50 people. Art was proud of the fact the he drove the last bus out of the Columbia Gardens before it closed. After he sold the business to Butte-Silver Bow, he retained the contract with the state to drive foster grandparents to Boulder so they could work with the disabled children in the Boulder Hospital. On his down time waiting for the foster grandparents he would go gold panning on his claim in Basin. In later years, he was employed with the Montana Standard making deliveries around the Butte area. Art was an avid fisherman and gold miner. He enjoyed taking his children on many adventures to the Flathead Lake, Georgetown Lake, Branham Lakes or anywhere there was a body of water to go fishing, waterskiing and ice fishing. Also, he took several vacation trips to Minnesota to visit relatives with all seven children. His favorite hobby was gold panning and looking for lost treasure. One of his special adventures was with Isabelle and her brothers and sisters to Italy. Art always had many stories to tell and he would tell them to anyone who would listen. At the dinner table, or sitting on the porch swing, he would tell stories of his Alaska adventures, finding buried and hidden treasure or driving bus. His stories were told with wonderful enthusiasm and great detail. Art is survived by his wife of sixty six years, his sisters Marion LeVeaux (Bill) who resides in Port Angeles, Washington and his seven children. He leaves a great legacy of twenty grandchildren; Angela Twomey, Brad Twomey, Matthew Twomey, Chance Twomey, Kaylee Twomey, Melissa VanTine (Mike), Jason Kalarchik (Renee), Amy Babb (Paul), Leah Corcoran (Keith), John Morgan, Carl Hoffman, Mark Hoffman, Alanna Ballensky (Tony), Andrea Noack (Pat), Anthony Jones, Jeromy O’Neil (Rodrigo), Katie O’Neil, Desirae O’Neil, Morgan Kalarchik, Michael Kalarchik and 15 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parent and two brothers, Jerry Kalarchik and George Kalarchik. Visitation will begin Monday morning at 9 o’clock in Wayrynen-Richards Funeral Home. Prayers will be recited at 10:30 proceeding to St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church where Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 o’clock and a reception will follow immediately after mass at Wayrynen-Richards Community Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Butte Food Bank or the Chelsey Bailey Animal Shelter.

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Arthur Andrew Kalarchik

March 20, 1928 - July 29, 2015