ROLLY FRANCIS KAUFMAN obituary MALTA

Rolly Francis Kaufman, 89, a retired rancher and Pearl Harbor survivor of WWII, died peacefully at the home of his son, Gary in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Sunday, July 15, 2007, of natural causes.

Funeral services will be 11 a. m., Monday, July 23, at the Adams Memorial Chapel in Malta. Interment will be in the Malta Cemetery with military honors. Rolly was born at Black Coulee on May 5, 1918, to Dean O. and Elsie Kaufman. He attended elementary and high school at Malta, graduating in 1936. While at Malta he was captain of the Malta Mustang Football Team his senior year. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1937 and served until 1946 when he was honorably discharged. Rolly was a Pearl Harbor survivor, having been on the USS Solstice during the Japanese raid. He married Frances M. “Kari” Armington on March 11, 1944, in Seattle while still serving in the U.S. Navy. They lived in Pasco, Wash., until July 1945 when they moved back to Phillips County to the home ranch at Content south of Malta. They moved to Winnett in 1952 where they managed a ranch for Ed Skibby, returning to Malta in 1956. Rolly and his brother Rex started Kaufman Brothers Excavation and they worked together for many years. He was a member of the Malta Masonic Lodge and was active in the Milk River Wagon Train. He loved Phillips County and his many friends. Rolly served with the Phillips County Sheriff's Office for many years as a brand inspector as well as operating his irrigated farm at Wagner. His first love was his horses, especially Secluded Bar, a thoroughbred stallion he and his son Gary bought in Arizona and stood at the farm. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Kari; sisters, Dode Pancake of Redding, Calif., and Nellie, who died as an infant; and brothers, Bill and Rex Kaufman, both of Malta. Survivors include his sons, Kim (Robin) of Missoula, Gary (Julie) of Scottsdale, Ariz. And Douglas of Lancaster, Pa.; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Memorials may be made to the Trafton Park Arena, c/o Grace Nessland, P.O. Box 841, Malta, MT 59538. Adams Funeral Home of Malta is in charge of arrangements.