Obituary - John Phillips Varnum

POLSON - John Phillips Varnum, 86, passed away Monday, July 1st, 2019 in his home, surrounded by his loving family, after a long-fought battle with cancer.

John was born June 23rd, 1933, to Frederick and Genevieve Varnum in Fort Belknap. He was the sixth of seven children. At the age of 6, his father was transferred by the BIA to Ronan, where John attended school through his sophomore year. The family was then transferred back to Fort Belknap, where he graduated from Harlem High School in 1951. It was here that he met his wife, Alice Nelson.

After graduation, John joined the U.S. Air Force and was stationed in Louisiana and Goose Bay, Labrador. During this period, John and Alice Nelson were married on August 9th, 1953, in Harlem, and Alice accompanied him to Louisiana before he was transferred to Goose Bay. His first daughter, Vicki, was born while he was stationed at Goose Bay, and this now-larger family moved with him when he was transferred to Tacoma, WA, where he was honorably discharged in 1956.

John attended the University of Montana and graduated with his master's degree in music performance in 1959. John was principally a clarinetist, but also played flute, saxophone and piano. His second daughter, Barbara was born during this time.

The growing family then moved to Helena, where he was the music teacher for Helena Public Schools and directed the Helena Symphony Orchestra. He also drove the tour train in Helena during the summer, and his children have fond memories of riding with him (FOR FREE!) Here, Elizabeth was born, and their family was complete.

In 1963 the family moved to Havre, where John was an associate professor of music, and later (1970) became chairman of the music department at Northern Montana College.

In 1965, on a lark, John applied for Teacher's Education in East Africa - TEEA - sponsored by Aid For International Development. To his surprise he was hired and the family moved to Kisii, Kenya, in 1967. Alice was hired by the Kenyan government to teach in the same college, and together they visited small mudhut schools to observe and assist student teachers in training.

When not teaching, they toured Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in a small VW bug. John had outfitted the VW with a homemade supply box which perched on top of the VW, and which held all camping gear, food and everything one needs for a family of five, while tooling around the outback of Africa. The family has memories of lions roaring and hyenas laughing while snuggled in their tent. He was fearless! These were very happy and memorable years for the entire family, and sparked the love of travel in his three daughters.

Before returning to Montana, they purchased a larger tent, a bigger VW and camped throughout Europe for two months, and then sailed to New York City aboard the SS United States.

John recorded Kuria and Gusii traditional music, as well as collected traditional African musical instruments. The music he recorded was eventually made into an album for the Library of Congress/Smithsonian, Folkway collection, so that these musical traditions would not be lost. John donated several African instruments to the Chicago Museum of Natural History.

The family returned to Havre in 1969, where John resumed his work at NMC. He retired in 1986. John and Alice moved to Polson, and built their dream home overlooking Flathead Lake. John worked for five years at Salish Kootenai College as a grant writer.

After retirement, John and Alice spent the next 30 years as traveling "snow birds" as well as traveling throughout the country and the world. The entire family traveled to Thailand to celebrate John and Alice's 50th anniversary, and Portugal for their 60th. Traveling was John's passion.

John was a gentle soul with a wicked sense of humor. He was an avid reader, an incredibly talented musician, an intellectual, and a Mr. Fix It. His hobby after retirement was woodworking, and he became a self-taught accomplished woodworker, making many beautiful wood products for his family, including for all of his grandchildren, which are cherished by them to this day. His family meant everything to him, and he was everything to his family.

John is survived by his wife, Alice; daughters, Vicki (Carl Godtland) of Darby and Victor, Idaho, and Barbara Varnum of Polson; grandchildren, Nathan Johnson, Katie (Ryan) Leahy, Yarrow (Mike) Schmidt, Michelle Lloyd;

great-grandchildren, Tristan, Arabelle, Brayden, Katia, Keely, and Chance; brothers Cyrus (Jean), Charles (Shirley), Walter, and baby sister, Genevieve (Frank) Clement.

He was preceded in death by his older brothers Richard and Howard.

The family suffered the loss of beloved daughter Elizabeth in 2015.

A celebration of life will be held on July 13th at 1 p.m. at the Journey Be Church in Polson, MT, 101 7th Ave W. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Hospice Program, Partners In Home Care, 1-14th Ave W, Polson, MT 59860.

Condolences and memories maybe shared with the family online at http://www.thelakefuneralhomeandcremation.com.

Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.