Kenneth David Stotts

He was born in Spokane, Washington on October 16, 1959 to Evelyn Featherston and Donald Stotts. The family soon moved to Great Falls, MT, where he grew up with his four brothers. Ken graduated from Montana State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Performance. He then went on to receive his Masters in Music from Wichita State University.

Ken had a career in teaching orchestra for Sunset Middle School for the St. Vrain School District as well as for the Poudre School District and McPherson Unified School District. He also led church choirs and taught private lessons over the years. He was a member of many music organizations such as NAfME and ASTA to name a couple. He had a passion for sports, especially baseball and basketball, playing his instruments, especially classical guitar, and for spending time with his friends and family, which he was never short for having a story to tell. He enjoyed sharing his passions by taking his family and friends to baseball and basketball games, symphony concerts, the ballet and the opera. He was a beloved father, son, grandpa and friend that will be greatly missed by many.

He was survived by his children Crystal Doerksen and Todd Stotts, son-in-law Tory Doerksen, his daughter-in-law April Stotts, his grandchildren Rian Doerksen, Quinn Doerksen and Alexandra Yukina Stotts, his brothers Alan Stotts, Bob Stotts, Keith Stotts, and Wayne Stotts, his step-siblings Bill Featherston, Terry Jo Lyman, Becky Lynch, and by his mother Evelyn Featherston.

Funeral arrangements will be held through Zoom at 9 am, June 29. For the Zoom link and code please contact a member of the family or his principal, Anthony Barela. A recording of the funeral will be shared on Facebook and YouTube on Tuesday, June 30. Messages and video tributes can be posted to his Facebook page, which will also be kept as an ongoing memorial. A “Celebration of Life” will be held in Colorado and in Great Falls, MT when it is safe to hold large gatherings, hopefully a year from now in the summer of 2021.

Kenneth David Stotts passed away suddenly at his home in Longmont, CO on June 11, 2020, at the age of 60. Ken's cause of death was a severe stroke. Ken was born to Evelyn Charters Stotts (Featherston) and Donald Leroy Stotts in Spokane, WA on October 16, 1959. Ken and his family moved from Spokane, WA to Great Falls, MT in 1965, and Ken grew up in Great Falls. Ken attended Riverview Elementary, North Junior High and CM Russell High School in Great Falls. Ken attended Montana State University in Bozeman, MT and received a bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in musical education. Ken also attended Wichita State University and received a master’s degree in vocal performance.

From an early age, Ken showed a strong love of and aptitude for music. Ken was in various choirs and orchestras, as well as attending numerous music competitions and events throughout his high school years. Ken practiced both violin and voice. He acted, played, sang and directed in the Summer Showcase in Great Falls for several summers while a college student. His Mother Evelyn proudly remembers Ken's role in Showboat and singing Old Man River. Ken also notably performed the role of Count Olaf in the Opera Madame Butterfly with the Intermountain Opera Company in Bozeman, MT, sharing performances of the role in the opera company with his best friend, Tom Erickson. Among other musical accomplishments, one Ken was very proud of was attendance in a Masters Class for classical guitar at Montana State University with Christopher Parkening. A picture of this event was included in Ken's funeral in Longmont as a reminder of this proud accomplishment. Ken also had two mentors of his MSU days, Mr. Creech Reynolds, his music department head, and Lowell Hickman, his voice teacher and choir director, who both were the co-founders of the Bozeman Symphony and Symphonic Choir.

As Ken began a career in education which spanned over 30 years, he taught strings in the secondary school system (5th-12th grade) in McPherson, KS. Ken taught in McPherson for 18 years. He also directed musical productions in McPherson and is fondly remembered by many of his students from that time. Ken then went to Colorado, and taught strings in Fort Collins, Co then in Longmont, CO. At the time of Ken's death, he was still teaching, and left behind many practicing students, both in school, and those that he taught privately.

Ken was a man who embraced life, enjoying all aspects of sports, but most especially basketball, baseball and football, taking his grandkids to games when given the opportunity, although Quinn was taken to the ballet. Ken would visit Montana every summer for family trips to Sealy Lake with his late stepfather, Walter Featherston, mother Evelyn and all who could take the time to attend these summer outings, as well as spending time with family every summer in Great Falls.

Ken is survived by his mother, Evelyn Charters Featherston, daughter Crystal (Tory) Doerksen, son Todd (April) Stotts, grandchildren Rian and Quinn Doerksen and Alexandra Yukina Stotts, brothers Alan Stotts, Robert (Joyce) Stotts, Keith Stotts and Wayne (Evelina) Stotts, and stepbrother William (Phyllis) Featherston, stepsister Teri Jo (Richard) Lyman and stepsister Becky (Kevin) Lynch, as well as aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews, nieces and extended family.

Ken will be missed sorely by all his family, friends and students. His funeral was held in Longmont, CO on June 29. A recording of the funeral will be shared on Facebook and YouTube on Tuesday, June 30. Messages and video tributes can be posted to his Facebook page, which will also be kept as an ongoing memorial. A “Celebration of Life” will be held in Colorado and in Great Falls, MT when it is safe to hold large gatherings, hopefully a year from now in the summer of 2021.