ElRoy Kittleson To Be Featured On 2012 Fairview Old Timer's Festival Button

The 66th Annual Old Timer's Reunion and Summer Festival kicks off Friday, July 20th and runs through the weekend. Life time resident, ElRoy Kittleson, was elected by Fairview Festival Committee to be represented on the 2012 Fairview Festival button.

ElRoy was born in Sidney, MT in 1934 and was raised on a farm 15 miles north of Fairview. ElRoy attended a small elementary country school comprised of 4 children. In the 6th grade, ElRoy and his sister transferred to Nohly Country School; they were the only two students left from the original country school. While reminiscing about his childhood, ElRoy shared a story of having to stay for a couple months during a long cold winter at the school. His father hooked up a team with a sled and drove in to get the kids for Christmas, taking them back to school after the first of the year. ElRoy's passion for baseball led him to compete on teams from Elmdale, Charlie Creek and other surrounding area country schools.

ElRoy met his wife Ruth in Fairview, married in 1956 and moved to their current residence in 1966. Together they had four sons and a daughter. The

Kittleson family has been comprised of 5 generations making Fairview their home. Their strong family ties allow them to spend more than an average amount of time together farming, ranching, watching sports at Fairview school, supporting local events and participating in trips to Cane's Grove and driving a team and wagon all the way to Billings in 1989.

As a quiet man, ElRoy humbly expressed, "I was extremely honored when I was asked to be on the Fairview button". His kids and grandkids added they were equally honored to see their father/grandfather be the recipient. Talking about their father/grandfather, his family described him as "hardworking, caring, a leader, loving and affectionate".

The Festival will feature ElRoy as part of the weekend's festivities. Saturday, July 21st, a Western themed singing and dancing program in the park will take place immediately following the parade. ElRoy is planning on being a "flag bearer" in this year's parade, a job he has done with Dennis Dahl for decades. See pages 7-10 for festival details.