Kevin Reed Small was born on Christmas Day, December 25, 1956 in Poplar, MT to Norma Fourstar Small and Pete Small. To this union his brother Raleigh (Jerry) Small was born less than years later. Pete and Norma divorced when Kevin was 4 years old and he and his brother went to live with their mother when Kevin’s mother married Charles Plante from Arlee, MT.
Kevin grew up in various towns in Montana and Washington State, where his stepfather worked in the apple orchards. He enjoyed living on the Flathead Reservation for many years. Kevin’s brothers and sisters were born to Charles Plante and his mother Norma; Charles Plante, Jr., Juanita Plante, Andrea Plante, Angela Plante, Gayle Plante and Mitchell Plante.
Kevin met Thelma Gray in Billings, MT in 1979 and together they raised Eva, Tricia, Nathan and baby Thelma Gray.
In 1988 Kevin became a welder while living in Helena, MT. He became a member of the Boiler Maker’s Union in 1989. He worked at welding jobs in Colstrip, MT, Califonia, Wyoming, North Dakota and other states.
Kevin had a gentle, kind soul and loved to have his children around. He had a good sense of humor and enjoyed a good joke with his brothers and friends.
He also was an avid hunter and would sometimes hunt from morning until night. He also enjoyed fishing in Arlee and Helena, MT. Kevin was an excellent mechanic and kept his vehicles running as well as his friend’s and family vehicles. He enjoyed carpentry and made furniture for his home.
He was an awesome cook and he enjoyed having barbecues with his family and friends. Some of his specialties were deer steaks, chili and Spanish rice.
Kevin came from a large family and those that preceded him in death were; his parents Pete Small, Norma Plante and Charles Plante, Sr.; grandparents Pete and Gae Matthews; siblings Charles Plante, Jr., Melvin (Moon) Firemoon, Andrea Plante, Angela Plante, Gayle Plante and Mitchell Plante; aunts Ruby Runsthrough, Ernie Jackson, Irene Runsthrough and Darlene Gray; special companion Myrna Schindler.
He is survived by sons Trevor Small and Nathan (Angie); daughters Eva (Troy), Thelma “Jr.” (Phil), Tricia (Adam); brothers Jerry (Arlene) Small; sisters Veronica “Ronnie” (Julian) Shields, Judy (Kenny) Shields and baby sister Juanita Rae and many numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephewswith arrangements.