Hugh Gerald Kidder

Hugh Gerald Kidder Jr. was born March 15, 1954 to Mae Owen Kidder and Hugh Kidder in Missoula, MT.

After an early, but impactful, few years in Alaska while his dad earned his union insulator card, the family moved back to Missoula, Montana. Hugh grew up loving German shepherds, Siamese cats, early 70's hang gliding, riding motorcycles and of course hunting, fishing, and horsemanship.

Eternally the adventurer, he took his early life skills and transformed them into a life where spring meant watching fawns dance on the lawn of our cabin at Placid Lake, summer meant fishing for rainbow trout and making friends with the newest batch of 'camp robbers'. Fall brought Steelhead fishing on the Snake and memories of epic hunting camps filled with friends and family up Fish Creek, and the changing of the tamaracks. Always cold here in Montana, winter brought memories of snowmobiling into Yellowstone National Park to work on the Yellowstone Lodge, cross country skiing up the Blackfoot river along the old BNSF line to the bar at Roundup, and good food made by loving family around toasty warm wood stoves.

Hugh married Cynthia Korpi in 1984 and to that union two daughters were born, Aira Kidder (James Cramer), and Kirsten Cormier (Darin Cormier). The two divorced in 1989. Hugh later moved to Billings, MT and together with Delnetta Holland (married 1994), they built a life for themselves and two little girls in Laurel, Montana.

Hugh was a proud member of the Heat and Frost Insulators Union Local 82, where he made his career building and retrofitting industrial properties including refineries and commercial/public properties across the northern states. He was especially proud of his time working on Yellowstone Lodge (ca 1984-1986), the state capitol building in Helena, and his time working for the nuclear plant in the Tri-Cities. Hugh went on to be elected by, and to serve for, his brothers and sisters as Business Manager for Local 82. Hugh was re-elected twice to fill this office and took his responsibilities to his fellow members very seriously. Hugh insulated for over 30 years beginning his career in 1977 and retiring in 2015.

Always curious and determined, Hugh rode his Harley Davidson from Spokane WA to Goodland Kansas in the summer of 2025- meeting wonderful people along the way. While in Goodland Kansas, Hugh discovered multiple graves of our predecessors and had the opportunity to examine artifacts at the local historical society from the 'Kidder Massacre'- a battle wherein our ancestor was sent to pursue a plains Indian band and then to report to General Custer. Lt. Lyman S. Kidder and his entire patrol were ultimately killed by the Indian band and were never able to deliver their report to General Custer. Truly, this was one of Hugh's greatest adventures.

Hugh died suddenly May 29, 2026 doing what he loved- riding his Harley Davidson. He is preceded in death by his mother Mae Rebecca Owen Kidder and his father Hugh Gerald Kidder Sr. Hugh is survived by his loving daughters Aira Kidder and Kirsten Cormier and their families; including his grandchildren Kaiya and Corbin Cormier. He is also survived by his former wife Cynthia Korpi, Delnetta Kidder, and several siblings and their families.

A memorial to celebrate Hugh's life will be held later this summer.