Rex M. Welton

[gn_spacer size=”20″] [gn_heading style=”1″]Rex M. Welton[/gn_heading] [frame src=”https://michelottisawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/welton.jpg” width=”200″ height=”” lightbox=”on” title=”Rex M. Welton” align=”left” ]

Rex M. Welton died peacefully at home on October 6, 2011. He had been under Riverstone Health hospice care for about 3 weeks and in the loving care of his son Rick and granddaughter Heather Faudel with tremendous help from other friends and family.

Rex was born in Billings, MT on December 26, 1917 to Myrtle E and Glenn Mac Welton. His father died when he was only seven. Rex was active in YMCA activities as a youth and the nurturing from men outside of his family in his formative years greatly influenced Rex's choice of teaching and coaching as his life and career. He attended Billings's schools, graduating from Billings Senior High and Eastern Montana College.

In 1943 Rex married Patricia A Coulston. They met in Terry, MT where Rex had his first teaching and coaching jobs. Soon after, they moved to Glendive, MT where Rex taught and coached until the fall of 1957. While in Glendive, their first three children were born. Rex was active in starting Little League Baseball in Glendive and in coaching American Legion Baseball.

In 1957 the family moved to Billings where their fourth child was born. Rex taught at Lewis & Clark Jr. High until his retirement in 1983. Even after retirement he continued to coach football and basketball at Lewis and Clark until the early 90‘s, touching the lives of hundreds of boys. One of the considerations' to retire from coaching at the Junior High was the fact that he would have to cut to 20 players. He spent all his years at the Junior High level and made a place for everyone that wanted to play.

Rex coached American Legion Baseball in Billings from 1959-1974. In 1964 it was his idea to start the Scarlets to allow more young men to be involved. He came back to coaching the Royals from 1989- 1993. Rex would spend as much time with players as the players wanted to spend. He was a believer that if someone wanted to get better, it could be done with hard work. He would spend extra time with any player that wanted to put in the work to improve. This made meal times at home come at various times. Rex was an American Legion Baseball Ed Bayne Hall of Fame inductee in 2004.

Rex was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2001. Two years later his wife, Patricia died. Son Rick and grandson Duffy returned to Billings at that time so that Rex could continue to live at home, which he was adamant about doing.

Rex will be remembered for his love of children, both his own and all the others he came in contact with. He had a tremendous positive influence on many lives through his parenting, teaching and coaching.

He is survived by daughter Penny Slingerland (Jack) of Vancouver WA; sons Mike (Mickey) of Bozeman MT, Tom (Martha) of Milwaukee WI and Rick of Billings MT; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and Duffy's mother Lydia Crawford of Conner MT. His sister Margaret preceded him in death in 1968.

Rex has been cremated, very fittingly, in his "away" Legion Baseball uniform. A celebration of Rex's life will take place Saturday, October 15 at 1:27 P.M. at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Avenue, Billings.

Memorial donations can be made to the Rex Welton Activity Fee Fund at Lewis and Clark Middle School, 1315 Lewis Avenue, Billings, MT 59102.