John Richard Kump, 89

John Richard Kump, 89, passed away July 30, 2025 in Kalispell.

John was born Sept. 11, 1935 to Mathew and Marie (Baltus) Kump in Fort Monroe, Virginia. Mathew served in the U.S. Air Force which resulted in John moving a lot in his early years. When World War II started, the family moved from Langley Air Force Base, Virginia to Baltimore, Maryland and then to Mobile, Alabama. The family moved from Mobile on to Jackson, Mississippi and then to Denver, Colorado. After Denver they moved back to Jackson, then on to Perry, Georgia, on to Hyatt Park and Harriman, New York and then finally to Albuquerque, New Mexico where John graduated from Highland High 1954. While in high school, John joined the New Mexico National Guard where he achieved the rank of Private First Class.

John joined the U.S. Navy in July 1955. While in the Navy he served and lived in many locations including, Oregon, Massachusetts, Japan, Montana and California. He served aboard the Cogswell D651, USS Providence CLG6 and the USS Dixie AD-14. His last duty station was the Surface Warfare School in Coronado, California when he retired from the Navy in 1977. 

After retirement John and his family moved to his wife's hometown, Kalispell.

John was introduced to Rachel Hartsoch by her sister Senia Hickel in 1957. In March 1958, John and Rachel were married. They had 63 wonderful years together before Rachel passed in May 2021. Losing Rachel left a scar from which he never fully recovered. They had two children, Alice Marie and James Alfred.

Proceeded in death by father, Mathew Kump; mother, Marie (Kump) August, and stepfather, Joseph August. 

John is survived by his children, Alice (Zane) Voigt (Halliday, ND) and Jim (Sheri) Kump (Apple Valley, MN); his three grandchildren, Andy (Alaina) Kump (Deerfield Beach, FL), Katie (Bill Skelton) Kump (Apple Valley, MN) and Rachel Voigt (Halliday, ND); his sisters, Helen Alessandrelli (Albuquerque, NM) and Donna (Ron) Puckett (Richmond, VA); his sister in-law, Darlene Donath (Parrish, Florida); and countless other aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.

John spent the last couple of years of his life at Immanuel Living in Kalispell. He made a point the day before he passed that he was so thankful for the love and respect he received from all his caregivers.

Services will be held at Saint John Paull II in Bigfork on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. followed by a Rosary at 10:30 a.m. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. with a luncheon in the church following the mass. Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. at Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell. 

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for the family.