Allan Hamilton Quist passed away at 2 p.m. on November 26, 2022. He was 86 years old.
Al, as most called him, was born in Pomona, California on March 28, 1936, to Grant Lester Quist and Jeanette (Clark) Quist. He was raised in Pomona and Claremont, CA where he attended Norton School for Boys for the Jr. High years. In 1969, he moved to Helena, Montana, where he would raise his family.
Al went to Pomona High School and graduated in 1955. After graduating he attended USC for two years and then graduated from the University of California at Riverside in Geography. He was also in the Marines and the Marine Corp Reserve for close to seven years.
Al met his bride, Kathleen Miriam Fox while attending UCR. They were married on January 31, 1960, in La Jolla, California. Mom was a nursing student and later a nurse for many years. Al spent many of his younger years in California teaching in Valley Center, Cal Poly-SLO and La Jolla Country Day School before making the trek to Montana. While in Montana, he worked in the Helena School District teaching CR Anderson Middle School kids Social Studies and then spent most of his career at Carroll College in Helena. He got his Masters Degree in Geography from the University of Northern Colorado in 1975. He was a professor in Education, director of student teachers and taught Geography from 1977 to 1998, always loyal to the Carroll College family. Also, Kathy was the school nurse at Carroll toward the end of their careers
While he was in the midst of his teaching career, he received a grant to study refugee movement within the country of Pakistan for the State Department. He shared his experience with friends, family and the education community. He enjoyed showing those slides of his time there.
Al had a great love for the outdoors and Montana. It was on Al and Kathy’s honeymoon that a visit turned into his great love of Montana. Al had a passion for skiing in the winter and loved backpacking, camping and of course fishing on Flathead Lake in the boat. Al loved his family and pioneer history, genealogy and Utah Roots.
Al had a great laugh and sense of humor. He valued family and thoughtful conversations on a vast number of subjects. He was loved for his kindheartedness and respected the quiet and solace of Montana. He and Kathy, who were inseparable, spent their later years in Big Fork and Polson Montana and eventually went back to Helena.
Al is survived by his wife, Kathy (Fox); his three children of whom he cared for dearly; Eric in Helena, Brad in Salem, OR, and Connie in Hot Springs; three grandchildren, Nathan Quist, Delaney Quist of Oregon (Caroline, mom), and Trey Quist-Varela (Connie, mom) of Pittsburgh.
Al loved his family, Montana community and will be greatly missed!! We love you!
The Quist family would like to extend great thanks to Hunters Pointe and Renaissance Elder Care for their fine patience, assistance and care of Al.
Please visit www.retzfuneralhome.com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Al.
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Steve Armstrong says
Saddened to learn of Al’s passing. We enjoyed getting to know you both in Helena and at Bigfork Harbor. I appreciated Al inviting me to take over his classes at Carroll for a semester during the period of his heart surgery. It was a delight to collaborate with him in that endeavor. Those who were at Bigfork Harbor back in the day will remember the days of “Moby Al” when he would have great success with his fishing. He had a life well-lived. My sympathies to the entire Quist family.
Pat Feeley says
One of the best friends of my life, and one of the finest people I have known. Our paths diverged later in life…….sadly and regrettably. Best to all the Quist family.
Kay Boorsma says
Al & Kathy Quist were our neighbors in Bigfork Harbor. We enjoyed their friendship very much. Al was full of stories, loved fishing on Flathead Lake or just sitting in his boat enjoying the Bigfork Harbor activities. We missed him (Kathy, too) when they moved to Polson, but we visited them there and always enjoyed those times. Al loved his teaching years at Carroll College and referred to that time period often. I wish love and comfort to the entire Quist family.
Alan Fox says
Kathy and Al were married Jan 31, 1960 a bright sunny day in La Jolla, CA.
Thanks to Al for all the great hikes we had when I was a teenager in the 1960’s, and visiting all those great places in the Sierras (detailed in my other note). I do weather forecasting still now for those areas in NE California and the Sierras where Al and I hiked, caught fish, and enjoyed together. We visited Mt Lassen, the Siskiyou’s, NE California Plateau,and in the Sierras: Dardanelles, South Lake, Mt Lassen. Whenever I work, I remember all those great fish we caught, and the fun times Al and I had during my teen years. Thank you AL!
Alan Fox
Curt Drake says
Al was a wonderful person and teacher. He inspired me as a middleschooler at CRA with his unusual level and range of knowledge, his humor and his creativity. He was part of a team of teachers, I also recall Mr. Feeley and Ms. Swor, that changed a lot of our lives. Al was one of those teachers who did so much for so many of his students that he could never have known how much of an effect he had.
Kathy, hello to you as well! Do you recall the “Suite for Flute and Jazz Piano”?
Laurie Gaffney says
Oh I’m so saddened to hear of Al’s passing. I have known Al and Kathy since moving to Helena in 1994. My late husband, Phil Wittman, was a colleague and good friend of Al’s. I heard some great stories over the years of Phil and Al traveling on Al’s motorcycle and in Phil’s volkswagen bug. Kathy was the Nurse at the Carroll College Wellness Center when I was a counselor there. She made me feel so welcome when first starting at Carroll. I have lost touch with them over the past few years. I loved Al’s sense of humor and his directness. You never had to guess what Al was thinking – tee hee. I have heard from so many students at Carroll what a good teacher he was. Phil sure had respect for him as a professor. I sounds like they might have moved back to Helena. I sure wish I would have known that. I will try to reach Kathy. I don’t know if it is appropriate on this site, but Eric if you would contact me I’d so appreciate it. Sending love and compassion to Al and Kathy and their family. Rest well Al! Sincerely, Laurie Gaffney
Morgan Maynard says
The best part of middle school for me was attending the classes of Mr. Quist and Mr. Feeley. That was 50 years ago and I still look back with great fondness to those Social Studies classes. They were a great team and made school fun for this kid. Thank you Mr. Quist.
Dori Jones Blackmon says
Al was one of my instructor’s at Carroll College and supervised my student teaching. I was also lucky to have his daughter, Connie, in my student teaching classroom. He was a gracious man and encouraged creative ways to engage students. Whenever I visited Carroll, he was always interested in my teaching career. I have fond memories of our conversations. Prayers and hugs to the family.