Walter Vance Conn, 88, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Jan. 14, 2025. He was born March 24, 1936, in Whitefish to Walter and Jean Conn. 

Vance loved working for the U.S. Forest Service where he retired from in 1994. He was a Sargent in Montana National Guard, and a fireman for the Great Northern Railway. He was a beloved husband, father, and grandpa. 

He is survived by son-in-law No. 1, Raymond and wife Michelle Pearson, son-in-law No. 2, Paul Bensch and fiancé Tonya Olson and son Kevin Olson; grandson, Walter J. Pearson; cousins, Andrea Conn and children, Shirley and Dave Schock and children; his extended family, Shelly and Wes Williams, Kellie and Brad Beck, Melissa and Brian Kamlitz and all their children. He is also survived by many in-laws, cousins and extended family members from Montana to Florida. 

He was preceded in death by wife, Judy Conn, daughters, Katy Pearson and Janis Bensch, and parents, Walter and Jean Conn. 

Vance was a lifetime member to the Whitefish Moose Lodge No. 642 and the NRA. He was a member of the VFW; Columbia Falls Eagles and North Valley Sportsman Club. He was an avid hunter and outdoors man. He loved to travel his summer safari where he would paddlefish in the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers, black powder shoot at the Matthew Quigley Rifle Match in Forsyth that he attended for over 25 years, taking a month or two to get to North Dakota to spend the month of July with Janis, Paul and his North Dakota Family. 

Vance will be laid to rest at 10:30 a.m. on July 3, at Glacier Memorial Gardens in Kalispell. With a celebration of life to follow from noon-3 p.m. at Whitefish Moose Lodge No. 642. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Whitefish Moose Lodge No. 642. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.