Larry Robert Milligan

Larry Robert Milligan, age 74, passed away peacefully on July 13th, 2026, in Kalispell, Montana, surrounded by his wife and children.

Larry was born on May 13th, 1952, in Malad City, Idaho, to Jerry and Bette Milligan. When he was one year old, the Milligan family moved to Hamilton, Montana, where Larry spent his childhood. He attended Washington Elementary School, Westview Junior High School, and graduated from Hamilton High School in 1970. During high school, Larry participated in track and field, wrestling, and football. It was also there that he met the love of his life, Kristine "Kristie" McKeague. As a young man, Larry worked on his family's ranch as well as for the U.S. Forest Service as a helitack firefighting crew member.

After graduating from high school, Larry received a track scholarship to Western Montana College in Dillon, MT, where he attended for two years before enlisting into the United States Navy. Before leaving for boot camp, he married Kristie on September 23rd, 1972, in Hamilton, Montana. Following their small wedding ceremony, Larry attended boot camp and hospital corps school in San Diego, California. He proudly served as a Corpsman at Camp Pendleton, a United States Marine Corps base in Oceanside, California, for four years. After completing his active-duty military service, Larry and Kristie returned to Hamilton, where he resumed his education while continuing to be a reservist in the Navy for eight years. Larry earned a bachelor's degree in business from the University of Montana in Missoula in 1980. Go Griz!

Larry and Kristie later made their home in Great Falls, Montana, where they raised their three children. Larry was a manager at Falls Chemicals and Falls Tree Service before becoming the owner and operator of Frontier Adjusters where he was an independent insurance adjuster. Larry retired in 2017, at which time he and Kristie made several memorable trips, sharing adventures and experiences they cherished throughout the years. In 2023, Larry and Kristie moved to Kalispell to be closer to their grandchildren, Norah and Ian.

Larry was devoted to his family. He was a loving husband, father, and papa whose greatest joy was spending time with those he loved. Larry was kind, thoughtful, and reserved by nature. While he tended to keep to himself, those who knew him appreciated his sense of humor and well-timed jokes that would make people laugh. His quiet strength, steadfast loyalty, and caring heart left a lasting impression on his family and friends.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Jerry and Bette Milligan.

He is survived by his high school sweetheart, his beloved wife of 53 years, Kristie Milligan of Kalispell, Montana; his children, Wendy (Ole) Fiske of Great Falls, Montana, Kayce (Clint) Houston of Great Falls, Montana, and Jered Milligan (Emily Martin) of Kalispell, Montana; as well as his cherished grandchildren, Soren Fiske, Dane and Kimber Houston, Norah and Ian Milligan, and Owen and Ava Doepke. Larry is also survived by his siblings (all Bobcats): Janet Wagner, Sherry (Ed) Tennant, Clarice (Glen) Anacker, and Lisa (Gerry) Nolan, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service and celebration of Larry's life will be announced at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you honor Larry's memory by spending time with your loved ones. He believed there was no greater gift than family, and he would want nothing more than for those he loved to cherish every moment together.