Obituary - Kim Neal Bunton

Kim Neal Bunton, 56, passed away, Wednesday, July 27, surrounded by his friends and family.

Kim was diagnosed with inoperable, terminal lung cancer in March 2013 and had fought valiantly since, never giving up hope, never. We believe this is because of his beautiful granddaughter, Morgan Ann, who is 19 months old. He would not give up, first to see her born, her first smile, her first word, her first steps ... .

Kim was born to Arthur "A.J." and Mildred (Barrett) Bunton in Havre on Feb. 16, 1960. He was their beautiful blue-eyed, blonde-haired surprise. Mildred passed away when Kim was only 5, so he went to live with his older sister, Lana, and her husband, Wes Whitaker. He was raised alongside their two sons, Jay and Jeff, who were like brothers to Kim. Kim went to school briefly in Havre and Libby, but mostly in Gildford, graduating from K-G High School in 1978. He participated in basketball, football and band, playing the drums, which he loved.

After graduation, Kim went to Washington State and worked for the U.S. Forest Service climbing trees to pick pine cones. It is here that he met Sara Huxall and they returned to Kremlin and were married. During this time Kim went to work for the Hill County Water District, ultimately working for them for 26 years.

Kim and Sara divorced, but then Kim was reacquainted with an old friend, Christina Giliberto, and they were married in 1990. To this marriage were born two beautiful girls, Logan Marie in 1992 and Lauren Nicole in 1994. Unfortunately, they would also lose a boy in 1991 to miscarriage. During this time Kim would also run a mail route for the U.S. Postal Service. Kim and Chris also volunteered coaching Little League for a few years, and Kim had some very fond memories and funny stories of the games and kids. During the summers, Kim liked to help farmers in the area harvest their wheat, and he was always in high demand because of his experience. Kim and Chris divorced but remained forever friends.

In about 2006 Kim went to work for Montana State University-Northern at the physical plant and worked there until he physically could no longer do the job in 2015.

Kim was an avid outdoorsman. He loved NASCAR, especially Funny Cars. Demolition Derbies were his favorite. He loved working on the cars and being in the pits getting cut up working on them to get them in the next heat. Kim loved animals and always had at least one cat and one dog.

Kim is survived by his daughters, Logan Marie Bunton and Lauren Nicole Bunton (Cody Meltzian) of Havre; granddaughter, Morgan Ann Meltzian of Havre; nephews, Jay (Tobe) Whitaker of Great Falls and Jeff (Stacey) Whitaker, LaGrande, Oregon; uncle, Wes Whitaker of Great Falls; nieces, Teri (Bob) Bunton-Thompson, Bobbi (Bart) Lieder of Kalama, Washington, and Kandi (Kenny) Archibald of Kelso, Washington; nephew, Kurt (Lori) Bunton, Kelso, Washington; forever friend Christina (Giliberto) Parsons of Havre; numerous cousins; and numerous friends.

Kim is preceded in death by his parents, Mildred and A.J. Bunton; his brother, Ron Bunton; and his sister, Lana Bunton.

A celebration of Kim's life will be held at 3 p.m. at the Montana State University-Northern Ballroom Saturday, Aug. 6, 2016. Please dress casually. A private interment will precede the service.

Memorials are suggested to the daughters to help defray costs associated with medical treatment and final disposition. Thank you.

Holland & Bonine Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements.

Please visit Kim's online memorial page and leave a message of condolence for his family.