Daniel “Dan” Joseph Kolar, 36, gained his angel wings on March 14, 2024 in Billings, Montana after a short illness. Dan was born to Joe and Joyce Kolar on June 8, 1987 in Lewistown, Montana. He was raised on the Kolar Farm east of Moore, Montana where he attended and graduated from Moore High School in 2005. During his high school years, Dan was involved in basketball and football. He was fearless and lived life to the fullest. Dan and his friends were always up for an adventure, usually doing something they shouldn’t be, such as climbing the Moore water tower. Dan loved hunting with his best friend, Tobin. Dan was known to hike and drag Tobin to no man’s land to get that one “monster elk”…“just one more ridge”, as he would say.
In 2011, Dan began working at Montana Seed and Grain and flourished as an employee. He eventually worked his way up to his current position as seed manager for Nutrien Ag Solutions. Dan loved gabbing with local farmers while selling seed and visiting their farms. In 2023, he earned Top Seed Salesman for the Snake River Division and became part of the Platinum Club for his sales. As a member of the Grain Growers Association, he enjoyed attending meetings and doing his favorite activity socializing.
In October 2015, Dan met the love of his life, Kacie Sanderson. They were later engaged in one of his favorite places, the mountains. Dan, his daughter Lilly, and Kacie became a family of three in front of family and friends on June 10, 2017. Then two years later Mesa Rae was born and completed their family. Dan loved helping his dad on the family farm whenever he could. He was always calling his dad trying to convince him of how they could “update” the old farm equipment. Dan also loved taking the camper to Fort Peck to go fishing with his wife, daughters, and in-laws. He and his family loved taking tropical vacations in December in order to escape the cold Montana winters. This past December they escaped to Cancun, Mexico to spend a week in the sun, along with his mom and dad.
Dan is preceded in death by his grandparents; Adolf and Irene Kolar, and David and Gladys Sather; aunts Barb Sather, Ruth Ann Sather, Lois Sather and Godmother Barb Janicek.
He is survived by his wife Kacie, children Lilly and Mesa, parents Joe and Joyce, sister Alesia (Bobby) Styren, nephew Brody Styren, Uncle David Sather, Aunt Barb Kolar, cousins Matt and Kelly Sather and Rani (Kolar) Baker, mother in-law and father in-law Ray and Cathy Sanderson, brother in-law and sister in-law Aaron and Carrie Graham, nieces Abby, and Lizzy and best friend of 21 years, Tobin Finucane.
Dan left a lasting impact with anyone he met along the way. His smile and can-do attitude will be remembered forever.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be gifted to his daughters Lilly and Mesa in Dan’s memory so his wife Kacie can set up a scholarship fund. Checks can be made to Kacie Kolar.
A celebration of life will be held at Smith Funeral Chapel 925 S 27th St, Billings, MT on Friday, March 22, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.
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Smith Funeral Chapels – 2024
