Harvey John Kenitzer

Harvey John Kenitzer, a longtime resident of Polson, Montana, passed away peacefully at home on May 21, 2025, at the age of 80.

Harvey was born on December 16, 1944, in Hettinger, North Dakota, to Ervin and Lois Kenitzer. He was raised on the family farm in Bucyrus, North Dakota, with his parents and younger sister, Kathy. He enjoyed his childhood on the farm and developed a deep interest in mechanics while working at a local garage in Hettinger. This passion for cars remained with him throughout his life.

In April 1964, Harvey married Sharon Green, and in October 1966, they welcomed their daughter, Shelley. In 1967, the family left North Dakota and moved to Missoula, Montana, where Harvey began working for Coca-Cola Distributing.

Seven years later, they relocated to Polson, where Harvey was offered the opportunity to open and manage Polson Distributing, a local branch of a Missoula-based beverage distributor. There, he quickly became a well-known and well-liked member of the community, actively involved in local service groups such as the Jaycees and the Elks Club.

In 1977, Harvey pursued a new venture—long-haul trucking. He bought his first of many semi-trucks and began a career that spanned nearly four decades. He proudly estimated that he logged more than three million miles traveling across the United States before retiring.

After retirement, Harvey and Sharon enjoyed scenic drives around Flathead Lake in his 1989 Corvette or their 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible, which they had purchased new. One of his favorite daily routines was meeting his “coffee crew” each morning to catch up on local news and stories. Harvey volunteered for many years at the Polson Senior Center delivering meals to those who couldn't get out of their homes. He also helped transport seniors who needed to get to appointments and run other errands. 

Following a series of strokes in 2021, Harvey’s health gradually declined. He passed away at home with Sharon by his side.

Harvey is preceded in death by his parents, Ervin and Lois Kenitzer and brother-in-law, Cletus Wandler. Harvey is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sharon; their daughter Shelley Quinn and her husband Joe; granddaughters Jordan Quinn (fiancé Riley) and Dylan Congdon (husband Hayden) and great-grandson, Kaysen Congdon. He is also survived by his sister Kathy Boschee and her husband Jerome; their daughter Kayla Schlosser (husband Justin, children Raina and Brody); sisters-in-law Diane (Duane) Carroll and Georgette Wandler (Jim Clark); brother-in-law Doug (Kathy) Green; and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 11:00 a.m.