Lyle David Kohs

Lyle David Kohs was called to his heavenly home on December 20, 2025. He passed peacefully at his home in Corvallis, MT, surrounded by the love of his family, and is now with our Lord and Savior without pain or confusion.

Lyle was born on May 8, 1943, in Duluth, MN to Albin and Edna Kohs and was the youngest of 4 children. He graduated from Proctor High School in Proctor, MN in 1961 and soon after he married his high school sweetheart, Barbara (Barb) Bodie on August 12, 1961. Their son David was born in 1962, and daughter DeeAnne (Dee) was born in 1963.

The family moved to Grand Junction, CO in 1963, where they fell in love with being surrounded by the mountains. Lyle began his first career as a station agent for the original Frontier Airlines, transferring to Kalispell, MT in 1976 as the station manager, until the airline was shut down in 1986. After that, Lyle began a successful 20-year career as a State Farm Insurance agent, with 5 years in Cut Bank, MT and 15 years in Bozeman, MT. Lyle and Barb retired to the Bitterroot Valley of Montana in 2009.

Over the years they enjoyed many great adventures, whether traveling by car, air, cruise ship, or with their camper and usually with family or special friends. Lyle was an avid bowler and traveled around the country for bowling tournaments with friends and his son David. He also enjoyed years of elk hunting in the mountains of Colorado and Montana. Being from Minnesota, he especially enjoyed fishing for walleye on Canyon Ferry Lake and made many fishing trips to Canada with fishing buddies. After retirement, he also enjoyed ice fishing with his Bitterroot friends and whether they caught fish or not, it was always a great time!

Faith, family, and friends were the most important part of Lyle’s life. Lyle and Barb have always been active members of an LCMS Lutheran church and they attribute their 64 years of marriage to their Christian faith and Christian friendships. Lyle had a great sense of humor and wit, sometimes a bit quirky and always with a smile, and we love that it was still a part of who he was in his final days.

Lyle was preceded in death by the heartbreaking loss of their son David in 2014 due to cancer. Also preceding him were his parents; sister Janet and husband Bob Willeck; brother-in-law Chet Hanson; nephew Brian Hanson; brother-in-law Dennis Bodie; sister-in-law Pat Kohs; and niece Kathy Kohs.

Lyle is survived by Barb, the love of his life for 66 years, and their dearly loved daughter and son-in-law, Dee and Vern Sandersfeld of Corvallis, MT. Also surviving are their 5 cherished grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren: Luke (Carrie) Sandersfeld and children Graysen, Emerie, and Baker of Newberg, OR; Brett Sandersfeld of Missoula, MT; Mark (Ali) Sandersfeld of Portland, OR; Alex Sandersfeld of Denver, CO; and Tia Kohs of Arlington, VA.

Also surviving are his sister Gloria Hanson; brother Kenneth Kohs; sister-in-law Sheila Bodie; brother-in-law Chuck Bodie; brother-in-law Steve (Debby) Bodie; and many nieces, nephews, and very many special friends.

A Celebration of Life will take place on January 31, 2026 at 1:00pm at Grace Lutheran Church, Hamilton, MT. A reception and light lunch will follow the service in the church fellowship hall.

Isaiah 43: 1,5

“Fear not for I have redeemed you. I have summoned you by name, you are mine….

Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your children from the east

and gather you from the west.”