Thomas Joseph Kelly passed away on November 18, 2022, at St. Vincent's Healthcare, in Billings.  He was born on December 12, 1940, to Walter J. And Goldie Bee Kelly and grew up in Walkerville, attended Sherman grade school and graduated from Butte High School. He joined the US Army in 1959, training at Fort Hamilton, New York. He was honorably discharged in 1962.

On May 10, 1967, Tom married Helen Spritzer, and celebrated fifty-five years of marriage last May. When his children were young, they spent most weekends at Clark Canyon or Georgetown Lake.

Tom worked for the Anaconda Company until its closure in 1984, then worked for a short time for the Highway Department and Homestake Mine in Clear Lake, California before settling in Elko, Nevada, where he was employed at Newmont Mining Company for twenty-five years. While in Elko, Tom enjoyed hiking up Lamoille Canyon and tending plants in the greenhouse he built. He retired in May, 2004, after he fell ill with Wegener's Granulomatosis.

Tom moved back to Butte in October 2010, to be closer to family, seldom missing Wednesday lunch with his brother, Bill and other friends. He spent his retirement building furniture and other wooden treasures, gifting many to his relatives and friends. He also enjoyed traveling, always planning another trip as soon as he returned from one. You could always find Tom hiking Maud S early in the morning no matter what the weather was like, enjoying conversations with other hikers.

When Granulomatosis returned in 2015, he was told he didn't have long to live, for the second time, but thankfully was referred to a new doctor. Due to the excellent care from Dr. Ecklund, he was able to enjoy many more years.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents; his parents in law; his grandson, Reilly Schrapps; and his brother, Bill Kelly. Also, brothers-in-law, Frank Spritzer, John Spritzer, Jim Spritzer and Joe Spritzer.  He is survived by his wife; his daughters, Christine (Bill) Hewitt and Stacie (Tom) Schrapps; his sons, Shane Kelly and Brian (Amber) Kelly and his sister Joyce Ouellette; his grandchildren Justin (Sarah) Hewitt, Joshua Hewitt, Jacob Hewitt, Heather (Carson) Hewitt, Jayce Hewitt, Amber Freebourn, Kyle Freebourn, Kelly Schrapps, Addisyn Gray and Ashlyn Gray. Also, his sisters and brothers-in law, Kathryn and Mick Hogan, Mary and Gary Berryman, Jeannette and Wayne Fournier, Teri and Joel Little, Margie Spritzer, Daureen Spritzer, Hugh Ouellette, and many nieces and nephews.

Friends are asked to join the family on Friday, after 1:00 PM in the Duggan Dolan Mortuary Chapel.  Funeral Services will be celebrated at 2:00 PM. A further celebration of Tom's life will follow at the Ramada by Wyndham banquet room, 2100 Cornell Ave.