John Lee Delano, a former legislator, lobbyist and leader of many local and state charitable causes, died November 24, 2010, in Helena of natural causes; he was 89.
With a ready smile and a good sense of humor, Delano was a man who knew many Montanans through his career in business and public service. He touched many lives.
When he retired from the Montana Railroad Association, its newsletter described Delano this way: “If you were to travel the state with John, you’d better allow plenty of time. No matter where you are, someone will know John. Passing motorist will call out to him to greet him. Merchants will hold up business to visit with him, and judges will stop proceedings to say hello. It seems like almost everyone in the state knows and cherishes John Delano.”
He was born in Billings November 10, 1921, the son of Jack Henry and Helen Delano. He graduated from Billings High School in 1939.
Delano enrolled in what is now called the University of Montana and received a degree in business in 1947. He was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
He worked summers as a bellhop at Canyon Hotel in Yellowstone National Park.
At the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army and served five years, primarily in the Pacific Theater, resigning as a captain.
In 1949, he married Katy Lou Shallenberger, daughter of longtime physics Professor G. D. Shallenberger and Grace Shallenberger of Missoula.
After graduation, he moved to Billings where he was in the soft drink business. In 1956, Delano moved to Helena and became state sales manager and Public relations director for Blue Shield and began a long career as a lobbyist and Legislator.
Delano served four years as a state Representative from Helena in the Montana Legislature during the 1960’s.
A college classmate and friend, UM President, Bob Pantzer, tapped Delano in 1968 to work as executive director of the Alumni Association. In this role, he lobbied at the legislature for what was then all six units of the University System for two sessions. In 2004, John and Katy Delano were awarded the Neil Bucklew Service award by the University.
Delano then was hired as director of the Montana Railroad Association, a post he held from 1971 to 1986, handling public relations and lobbying among his other duties.
He then formed his own lobbying and consulting firm and worked from 1987-1997.
As a lobbyist, Delano helped lobby for the passage of Montana’s seat belt law.
Besides his active business career, Delano joined the Jaycees, eventually serving as state president, and the Helena Kiwanis Club, serving as its president of the local club and past lieutenant governor of the state Kiwanis Clubs. He was also a 32nd degree Mason.
He served on the board of St. Peter’s Hospital for 16 years and was president when the new hospital was built on the Helena’s eastside. He also served 12 years on the hospital’s foundation board.
In the mid 1980’s, Delano was approached by some community activist to travel the state and talk up the idea of creating a statewide philanthropic organization. Delano said he was told by many that it wouldn’t work because Montana was too diverse and to isolated, with too little wealth.
Today, the Montana Community Foundation that he helped establish has grown from fewer than a dozen endowments totaling less than $300,000.00 to more than $50 million in assets today.
Delano, a state champion trapshooter in 1959, was a past state president of the Montana Trapshooting Association and was its secretary for 20 years.
An Eagle Scout as a boy, Delano later served as a past president of the Western Montana Boy Scout Council.
Delano was an avid outdoorsman with love of hunting, fishing, snowmobiling, rafting and trapshooting.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Katy, an infant son John Garvin, his parents Jack and Helen Delano, and his brother Jim.
Survivors include his two daughters, Marcia Delano Barfknecht and her husband Jim Barfknecht of Helena, Joni Delano Hantz and her husband Scott Hantz of Colstrip, and four grandsons, Brad and John Barfknecht, and Carlin and Sam Hantz.
Anderson, Stevenson, Wilke Funeral Home will be handling the arrangements. Friends are invited to celebrate John’s life at a memorial service to be announced later this spring.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.aswfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations made to a charity of your choice or to:
U of M Foundation
P. O. Box 7159
Missoula, MT 59807-7159
Montana Community Foundation
1 N Last Chance Gulch
Helena, MT 59601 Chief Dull Knife College
P. O. Box 98
Lame Deer, MT 59043
Service Schedule
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Bill Donaldson says
Dear Family,
I shall sorely miss the good company of John and his affection for our avian friends. Bless you, Bill
Bill Williams says
Dear family and friends of John Delano. I considere John as one of my best
friends. He had been on my mind for several months and I wished I would have gone to see him. I will always remember how kind he was to me as a freshman legislator in 1965, and he has been a good friend ever since. He had a great sense of humor and was a delight to be around.I am looking forward to meeting him when I die and we will have a nice long visit and this time it will be forever. Sincerely, your friend, Bill Williams, Toston, Mt.
Cathy Hanstrom Conaway says
How much fun our families had for many gatherings. John always had a smile on his face. He hired me when I was a student at UofM to work in the Alumni office. He was still shaking his head over that decision decades later. John and Katie were very special people and gave back so much. Marcia and Joni – you had great parents full of love and laughter. The world was a better place because of them.
Christen Loendorf says
I cared for John while working at the Waterford. I should say He cared for me. Each day he greeted me with a smile and a thumbs up. He made each and every day special for me. He will be deeply missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this time.
Dick and Jane Solberg says
Dearest Marcia and Joni,
We were privileged to count both you parents as friends. Memories of our times together will always be with us. What a full life they both led.
They were a special couple and are missed by many. Our prayers and sympathy goes out to you both and to all your families. John and Katy Lou are now embarking on a new adventure with great joy. With love from both of us
Donna and Lawrence McCulloch says
Joni, Scott, Carlin and Sam,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this time. May all your happy memories sustain you through this time of saddness.
Fred and Linda McDermott says
Many good memories we’ve shared over the years about John. John used to trap shoot with my dad, Claude Carlson; when he was lobbying in the 80’s and we’d run into each other, he’d say, “Hey Carlson!” Such good people, both he and Katy.
Gary Temple says
Marcia,
Your dad always greeted me with a smile in my life. Just a great man to have known.
Herb Simula says
I am honored to be a friend of John and treasure the times I spent with him. His energy and zest for life inspires the kid in all of us to wring out all the joy life has to offer. His legacy is the smile on my face and the warmth in my heart.
Jere Kolstad says
Hello Family and Friends of John,
I had the great privelege of getting to know John when I was an intern working for the Montana Railroad Association. He took a young kid from Glasgow under his wing and helped me grow – both professionally and personally. It meant a lot to me. I can’t thank him enough.
He was one of the finest people I have ever met in my life.
My condolences to the family…
Jere
Julie (Pantzer) Rossignol says
I’m sorry to hear about John’s death. Dad (Bob Pantzer) mentioned him frequently, remembering good times & some not so good. You will all be in my thoughts & prayers.
Ken Dunham & Janelle Fallan, Folsom CA says
John was one of those people found only in Montana. He will be missed. His humor in the legislative halls is something we’ll all remember.
Linda Opie says
Jim and Marcia, and family,
So sorry to here about John,what a Dapper gentleman he was. I loved when he would come in and see me, when I worked at the Waterford, for MWB.
Love and Prayers
Linda
Margo Brooke says
What a wonderful man who always lifted up and supported all those he knew. When you know almost everyone in the state that was a BIG job.
Mark Annas says
Joni and Family- My prayers go out to you, your family with the loss of your father. May God’s presence bring you all a sense of comfort and peace in this time.
Ralph Yaeger says
AMy sincere condolences to all of John’s family. What a fine man he was. When John was in the Pacific during WW II, he told me that he loved the Army, but that the war was horrible. He dreamed of returning home and becoming very involved in his community. All Montanans and dozens of good organizations are fortunate that John realized this dream. I asked him once about winning the state trapshooting championship and he told me that the real victory was in beating his good friend, Zip Eaton, after so many years of tough competition. This was 45 years after the fact, but John had a smile on his face and said, “I finally beat Zip!” I will never forget John’s sense of humor. It was an honor to know him. My thoughts and prayers are with his people. Ralph Yaeger.
Roy Brown says
John was one of the best men I have ever met. He was truly a gentleman in every sense of the word. His word was his bond and you could always count on him to give you the truth. Of all the lobbyists I have know(and there are many) he was the one man I most respected. Montana has lost a good man and I offer my deepest sympathy to the family members for their loss.
God bless
Roy Brown
Sherri Staats says
I am so sorry for the loss of your wonderful Father and Grandfather. I remember him as a very gracious man each time he came to my office with the State. He did a lot of good throughout the State and will be missed by many. God Bless You
Steve Browning says
My life is much richer having known John these past forty years. A day rarely goes by when I don’t quote one of his many aphorisms. He was a wise and wonderful friend, and I will always miss him.
Steve Browning