Ken Platt, age 75, of Helena

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, February 19^th, 2020, Kenneth “Ken” Arvin Platt, a loving husband, father, family man and friend, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 75.

Ken was born on January 2, 1945, to Bernice Platt in Chicago, Illinois. As an infant, Ken was accompanied by a nurse and traveled by train to Butte, Mt. where he would live and be raised by his Uncle Woodrow and Aunt Velma. They had four girls of their own, Wilma, Diane, Janis, and Wanda. They all accepted him as a brother and remained close to him throughout his entire life. For that, Ken was eternally thankful and loved being able to get together to talk about the old days and share stories of Butte and memories of the ranch outside of Dillon. He thoroughly enjoyed the family reunion held there a couple of years ago, and was thankful they were able to attend.

He attended McKinley Elementary School where his 3^rd grade teacher, Miss McMullin, had him sing his first song, “Lullaby”, in front of his classmates. He was quite proud and said he enjoyed the praises of his peers, which we believe is what sparked his lifelong passion for singing and music. Ken was very active in sports throughout grade school and continued to pursue these activities as he entered 7^th and 8^th grade at East Junior High. From there, he went on to high school at Butte High, participating in intramural basketball all four years, before graduating in 1963.

During his freshman year, Ken was hired by the Montana Standard to sell extras about the 1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake that claimed 29 lives and created Quake Lake. He soon had a paper route of his own and continued to work for them throughout high school until after graduation. Ken then took a job as a busboy at the historic Hotel Finlen in uptown Butte. Still unsure what he wanted to do for a living, toying with ideas of becoming a home builder, and not happy with his $1.25/hr wage, later in 1963 he was hired on a survey crew in the Butte District of the Montana Highway Department. Little did he know, he would remain employed by them for the next 42 years. He loved his job and would receive quite an education on surveying and engineering. He always enjoyed speaking of the times he spent working on York Bridge at Hauser Lake, as well as many other projects he had a hand in. He held many titles over the years, retiring as an Engineer Contract Specialist in October of 2005. Ken met many people during this time and made many good friends. He cherished those years and was thankful to have been so lucky to find a career that he felt was very challenging, yet equally rewarding.

Ken was also a volunteer fireman. Living in Montana City for a majority of the 1980’s, Ken joined the crew at the Montana City Volunteer Fire Department. He carried a pager for many years and was ready to drop everything to help out at any time. He made many good friends and he and his wife Joanie enjoyed catching up with several of them at a recent department reunion.

Ken had a lot of hobbies. He loved to hunt and proudly displayed his prized 7 by 7 bull elk, shot near Boulder in 1979, in his home where it is still hung today. He also enjoyed fishing, boating, photography, and camping with his beloved wife Joanie and their two dogs, Joey and Kaitlyn. They spent countless days at lakes around Helena and enjoyed traveling to Yellowstone Park each fall. They liked taking pictures of the scenery together, watching the animals, and listening to the elk bugle. Ken loved to play golf and passed this love on to both of his sons. Some of his best days were spent on the course with his son Mike.   He loved to tell the story how they wrestled on the tee box while waiting for the group in front of them. It was a great memory that made him laugh until he cried. Mike once asked him what he thinks about during his swing. Ken said, “well, I hit the ball, then I think…left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot…then I hit it again.” Still the best advice and a testament to his witty sense of humor.

As mentioned earlier, Ken had a passion for music. He sang with the Barbershop Quartet and taught himself to play the guitar. His kids and grand kids all loved to hear him play and sing and he loved to sing and record his favorite country songs. “Okie From Muskogee”, “Me and Bobby McGee”,   “He Stopped Loving Her Today”, and “Take Me Home Country Roads” are a few that come to mind. He was so happy and proud to be asked to sing for Mike and Aimee at their wedding in 2001. In what was his first time singing solo with a guitar in front of a crowded church, HE ROCKED IT!

Ken’s first marriage took place shortly after high school. He and his first wife Karen had two children together, Rhonda and Kenneth, while living in Helena and Butte. They divorced in 1969. Of the divorce, the Independent Record wrote the following. “Kenneth Platt won a default decree of divorce from Karen Platt. Ken was awarded blankets, dishes for one, and the dog Freckles”.

Ken would have two more children, Tana and Michael, with his second wife and childhood friend Darlene (McHugh). They married in Butte in 1970 and moved their family to Montana City in 1981. This is where Ken and his daughter Tana both developed a lifelong love of horses. He loved to ride with her in their younger days and helped her raise her horse Scout. A hugging incident with his horse Paco late one evening resulted in several broken ribs and is commemorated on his wall by a sign given to him that reads, “Ken, have you hugged your horse today”. Ken and Darlene were later divorced in 1989.

Ken met his soul mate and forever companion, Joanie Wilcken Platt, while living in East Helena in 1995. She first noticed him at a baseball game and was introduced to him at a later date. He eventually asked her out and they had so much fun dancing and being together that they decided to stay together. Joan had two kids of her own, Jennifer (Shane Hildenstab) and Bryan Beckler. Jennifer, Shane and Bryan welcomed Ken into their lives and he was so thankful to be a part of theirs. Ken and Joan were married in a Las Vegas Chapel on May 6, 1996. They relocated to the Helena Valley where they began their new life together, and remained happily married until the end of his.

Ken’s untimely passing has left a hole in our hearts that will never be filled. He was loved dearly by so many. His wife Joan was his constant companion and he truly loved her. He was thankful for the friendship he developed with her first husband, Ken Beckler, and enjoyed the times they spent fishing together. He was also very proud of every one of his kids. He had so many special memories with each one of them, too many to list here. Even in times of absence, they were all always on his mind and in his heart. He was equally proud to be a Father-In-Law. He had a great relationship with Jennifer’s husband and reminded Mike frequently how lucky he was to have found Aimee. He loved spending time at their homes and camping and boating with their families. He had many grand children that are mourning the passing of their Papa Ken as well. He was so proud of all of them and loved traveling to watch them play sports and do other activities. Things will not be the same without him. There will always be an empty seat in the stands as we have all lost our biggest fan. Ken always wore his heart on his sleeve and had an unforgettable laugh, a welcoming, warm smile, and an unbeatable disposition. He was a gentle soul that will never be forgotten. His voice is now silent, but it will stay with us forever. We love you Big Ken! Rest Easy.

Ken is survived by his wife Joanie; his “sisters” Wilma Laity, Diane Chaddock, Janis Mateel, and Wanda Andre (Patrick); children Rhonda Johnson, Kenneth Platt, Tana Adams (Tom), Michael Platt (Aimee Ameline), Jennifer Hildenstab (Shane), and Bryan Beckler. He had many grandchildren, Kendra, Jedidiah, Delilah, Heidi Johnson, Kai Adams, Ashton, Isabel, Ayden Platt, Dalton and Dawson Hildenstab, as well as seven great grandchildren. He leaves behind many close friends, including Leonard and Wendy Olson, as well as his dogs, Kaitlyn and Joey.

He was preceded in death by his mother Bernice and his aunt and uncle, Velma and Woodrow Platt.

Ken has always loved dogs. His family requests that memorials in his name be sent to The Lewis and Clark Humane Society, P.O. Box 4455, Helena, MT 59604.

A service celebrating Ken’s life will be held at 11am on Saturday, March 7^th at Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home, 3750 N. Montana Ave., in Helena. A reception will immediately follow the service in the social hall of the funeral home.

Service Schedule

Celebration of His Life

11:00 a.m.

Saturday March 7, 2020

Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home

3750 N. Montana Ave

Helena, Montana 59602

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