Jack Kinsey

Funeral Mass for Jack Kinsey, 86, will be 11:00 am Friday, February 7, 2025 at St. John Catholic Church, Baker with Father Baskar Raj celebrating. Burial will follow at St. John Cemetery.

Visitation for Jack will be 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Thursday, February 6, 2025 at Stevenson Funeral Home, Baker with a rosary taking place at 6:00 pm.

Jack passed away Tuesday, January 28, 2025 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Billings. 

Johnathan Doy “Jack” Kinsey** was called by Our Lord Jesus into eternity on January 28, 2025. He was born on July 10, 1938, in Shepherd, Montana, to James Robert "Bob" Kinsey and Dolly Agnes Kinsey Ferrel. He was the grandson of John Jack Kinsey, known as "the Wolfer," of pioneer stock from Ekalaka, Montana. 

Jack grew up on the prairie at Cabin Creek in Fallon County, surrounded by his siblings and cousins, in a place very dear to his heart. He attended Wills Creek School during his time there. His fondest memories were of walking across the prairie as a boy to visit his grandmother Nellie’s house. He often told the story of haying with a team of horses on Cabin Creek during a drought. After gathering what hay they could, a spark set the overshot stacker on fire, which burnt the entire stack and led to a prairie fire. On another occasion, while herding sheep with his eldest brother Brice, they were snowed in their sheep wagon in the badlands. The family eventually escaped the drought and moved in the early 1940s. His father, JR Kinsey, bought a farm on Rock Creek near Joliet, Montana. 

Jack often reflected on his time at Cabin Creek, where he only knew his cousins, wore bib overalls, carried his lunch in a lard pail, and walked to school. In Joliet, they rode the bus to school in town, and he recalled their apple orchard and irrigated farmland. After a few years, they became restless and homesick for family and the prairie, so they moved back to Baker in the 1950s. Jack graduated from Baker High School in 1956. 

He enlisted in the U.S. Army shortly after high school, completing his basic training at Ft. Ord, California, and advanced training at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, as a survey engineer. He was stationed in Munich and Grafenwöhr, Germany, for four years. Jack often spoke fondly of surveying the beautiful Bavarian countryside and meeting the industrious farmers there. 

After returning to Baker, Jack met the love of his life, Sandra Napua Kauahi, whom he often referred to as "a beautiful Hawaiian maiden." Sandra, a nurse working in Baker, and Jack married at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in January 1965. They made their home on a ranch southwest of Plevna, where four children were born to this union: Marshall Kimo (1966), Christobel Kaanohiokalani (1967), Johnathan Keala “JK” (1968), and Kelly Kalani (1973). 

In 1973, Jack purchased the Leischner place in Plevna, where the family made their home. Jack often said that raising his family there were the best years of his life. He worked for Montana Dakota Utilities/WBI Energy for 30 years. After retirement, he and Sandra bought the Cabin Creek farm, where they spent much of their time. Jack was happiest there, surrounded by family, especially during Sunday dinners, or when his uncle and cousins stopped by for coffee in the mornings. 

He enjoyed visits from his grandchildren, whether to saddle up Pumpkin for rides or walk the prairie with them and the dogs. Jack loved to hunt, attend auctions, and was passionate about livestock. He also enjoyed working in his vegetable garden and trying to get fruit trees to produce. An avid reader, Jack enjoyed Westerns, particularly works by Bob Fudge and Louis L’Amour. For many years, he studied Bible prophecy and tried to discern the signs of the times. Jack had a sweet tooth and was particularly fond of his mother’s pies and cakes. He also enjoyed playing the lottery and slots in hopes of winning big. 

Jack was a man of principle who loved spending time with friends, attending brandings, and working with cattle. His vision of heaven was sitting high in the saddle like Gene Autry, riding cattle through the pines. He will always be remembered for his quick wit and his way with words, as well as his frank, straightforward manner—he never minced words. 

Jack was no-nonsense and never suffered fools gladly. He was a true military man, a disciplinarian with high expectations, and could be challenging to work with. However, Jack had a big, soft heart and always tried to make people feel at ease. He was deeply empathetic and, unlike most, never found it difficult to apologize or admit when he was wrong. He had a strong sense of justice and always struggled with what he perceived as injustice. 

He will be deeply missed by his wife Sandra of 60 years, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and many friends. 

He is survived by his wife, Sandra, of Baker; children, Marshall Kimo (of France), Chris "Dede" Steinbeisser (Larry, Will, and Myka) of Sidney, Montana, and Johnathon Keala of Baker; granddaughter, Britney (Ethan); great-grandchildren, Maddie, Ryder, Rex, and Maizy Olson of Killdeer, ND; and Kelly (Stacy), Briggs, and Sloan Kinsey of Billings, Montana. He is also survived by one brother, Matthew Kinsey of Great Falls, Montana and Many nieces and nephews.