Richard Kenneth Travis of Helena, MT died at Saint Peter's Hospital on February 28, 2025. In his last days he was surrounded by family, which included all five of his children. He was 94 years old.

Ken was born on February 15, 1931 to Marjorie (Beard) and Harry Travis of Wasco, Illinois. He and his sister June started school in the area until the family moved and resided for a time in Texas and northwest Arkansas during World War II. During this time Ken played on his school basketball team. After returning to Illinois he continued to excel in athletics and during his high school years was on the football, track and basketball teams. Ken received his high school diploma from Elgin High School the spring of 1950.

After graduation he briefly worked for McGraw Electric in Elgin until he joined the US Marine Corps in January 1951. He served his country for three years which included combat in the Korean War. He returned home to Illinois January 1954 after being honorably discharged with several medals.

Back home and not sure just where his path would lead him next, he and a friend one evening decided to take in a new movie at the local theatre. It was called "Red Skies of Montana", a fictional adventure film about smokejumpers fighting wildfires in Montana. It was loosely based upon the real life 1949 Mann Gulch Fire north of Helena, MT. This was a turning point in Ken's life as the movie inspired him to move to Montana and become a smokejumper.

Within months, Ken was on the road to Montana and he landed a job with the US Forest Service at the base in McCall, Idaho where he was support to the smokejumpers. The following year he was trained and jumped out of the McCall base and later years out of the Missoula base. He jumped out of planes and fought wildfires several summers in Montana and Idaho until the early 1960's. He considered smoke jumping to be one of his favorite jobs. Through the years Ken maintained friendships made during that time and attended many reunions at the smokejumper base in Missoula. In 1999 he was chosen to hike, along with others, the steep terrain to Mann Gulch to place a wreath on the memorial for one of the fallen smokejumpers in that deadly 1949 fire.

Ken never returned to live in Illinois. He loved the outdoor adventure and scenery of Montana's mountains, forests, lakes and streams and chose to make Montana his life long home state.

Having the benefit of the GI Bill, Ken enrolled at Montana State University (now U of M) in Missoula Fall of 1954. It was there he met his wife Echolyn Lee of Fairfield, MT. They were married in August of 1956. Echolyn and Ken had 2 daughters and 3 sons born between 1958 and 1974. Ken loved having a large family and instilled his love of Montana and the outdoors in all five of his children.

Ken graduated from Montana State in Spring of 1958 with a B. S. teaching degree in Health and Physical Education. He taught high school PE and history and coached basketball, track, cross county, gymnastics and golf teams at several schools in western Montana, two in Washington and one in Alaska. In one of his last years of coaching his Helena High golf team won state championship in the early 1970's.

In 1969 the growing family settled down in Clancy, Montana on a rural property with a quaint home where the Travis family was well known and active in the small community for the many years they lived there while their children grew up.

Always working hard for his family during school breaks and vacations, Ken would supplement his income operating a fireworks stand in Helena and selling hand squeezed lemonade at county and state fairs (Ken's secret recipe). However, one of his favorite jobs was heading deep into the Montana woods each fall to cut, load and transport several hundred Christmas trees to sell on his annual Christmas tree lot in Helena. Ken often expressed how he felt closer to God in Montana than elsewhere as he looked out over the grand mountain vistas he thrived upon. He was known for consistently having the best trees every year and had many repeat customers who depended upon him for beautiful holiday trees. In his later years he spoke fondly of how he would see children's excitement over their family's choice of a beautiful tree to decorate. He sold Christmas trees for over 50 years.

Ken loved working for himself and left the teaching profession in the mid 1970's. He owned and operated an employment agency in downtown Helena and was well respected among other downtown business owners and known as an honest, hardworking and humble small business employer whose door was always open for discussion and be a friend to those in need. In the late 1970's Ken was asked to represent Montana small business interests working with the state Legislature. Later on he started a tree pruning business, which became known as "Ken's Tree Service". Many longtime customers respected his expertise, fairness and friendliness. As a certified Arborist Ken worked into his 80's, still strong, climbing and lugging a saw up a big tree.

Ken's Christian faith was primary in his life and he raised his children accordingly. Later in life he served on two mission trips to Belarus in eastern Europe.

Ken will be remembered as a hard working, humble yet strong man wanting to give to others his very best whether professionally or personally. He will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him.

Ken is survived by his five children: Lori Travis Pfankuch (Mark-deceased), Lee Travis, JoDel Travis, Paul Travis (Samantha) and David Travis. His five grandchildren: Travis Pfankuch (Aurora), Mindy Pfankuch-Zaragoza (Brian), Neve Travis, Landon Travis and Astrid Travis. His great grandchildren: Leighton Zaragoza and Nolan Pfankuch.

Ken is preceded in death by his parents, sister June Minter and ex-wife Echolyn Travis. True to his humble nature Ken requested there be no memorial service and only his remains be spread by his family in specific areas in the Montana woods and mountains that he so loved.