Walter “Wally” William Bolkovatz passed away on October 21, 2014, after a yearlong battle with cancer. Wally was born on April 7, 1929, in Anaconda, the ninth child in a family of ten children to Catherine (Zunic) and George Bolkovatz.

He enjoyed a lifetime in the outdoors, whether it was at Red Lion in his early years or later at Georgetown Lake at the cabin owned by he and his brother Joe Bolkovatz. They built the cabin into a family gathering spot for the Bolkovatz family and introduced nieces and nephews to water skiing and enjoyment of the lake.

He enjoyed sports of all types and played football at St. Peter’s Catholic High School. As an adult he participated in a water skiing, boating, fishing, cross country skier, countless hours hiking around the Anaconda and the Pintler Wilderness Area. In his later years getting out to snow mobile and four-wheeling brought him much entertainment especially with his friends.

He attended St. Peter’s elementary school and St. Peter’s Central High School. He then went on to attend Truck Driving School in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Wally started his work life as a paperboy in the East end of Anaconda, and a bellboy at the Marcus Daly Hotel. As most Anaconda young men he went to work for the Anaconda Company at the Smelter, then moved on to work at Warm Springs State Hospital and Galen Hospital as an active member of the Teamsters Union.
He also worked a second job as a bartender at Sladich’s Bar. He retired after 30 years of service, from Galen State Hospital

Everything in life was a chance to find fun for Wally and everyone in the family has a favorite Wally joke (Wallyism). Parades were a time to laugh and enjoy a crowd and he never wanted to miss a trip to the Lilac Parade in Spokane or the Fourth of July Parade at Georgetown Lake. Wally made many trips to watch Notre Dame Football games and a member of Notre Dame Booster Club. It was best not to interrupt him when he was watching college basketball, college football, Nascar, and golf. A trip to Las Vegas to watch a few shows was a regular event.

Growing up during the great depression in a large family made early life a challenge but like all of life he looked for the positive in the world around him with a great faith in life. He was a life-long member of the Anaconda Catholic Community and lived his life trying to practice his faith in his relationships with family and friends.

Wally married Tina Thomas on August 7, 1973. Wally developed a special relationship with her two sons. Steven died from a car accident at age 7, in 1972. Although they later divorced, Wally kept close ties with Tina’s older son Todd and his wife Brenda and their children Stevie, Drew, and Kelby Thomas. They enjoyed snowmobiling, four-wheeling and special family milestones together.

He is preceded in death by his parents, George and Catherine Bolkovatz, his eight sisters, Ann Hogan, Catherine Brady, Mary McCabe, Angela Kieser, Agnes Bailey, Barbara Ashton, Theresa Tocher, and Dorothy Montgomery; sister-in-law Agnes Ridge Bolkovatz; brother-in-laws, John Hogan, Francis Brady, Frank McCabe, Clarence Kieser, Sid Bailey, Fred Ashton, and William Montgomery Sr.; nephew Jack Hogan, nieces Signe Marie Baliey, Carol Kieser Parker, Dorothy Montgomery Fangsrud. Nephews in-law Rex Ivie, Casey Randles and John Capps; and former nephew in-law Charles Parker.

Services are pending.

Longfellow Finnegan Funeral home 10/22/2014