Wayne's Obituary
Wayne L. Ballantyne passed away on February 25th, 2023, after a progressive battle with Alzheimer’s. Wayne was born on July 26, 1932, as the second of three children born to Gilbert and Millie Ballantyne at Tooele, Utah. Tooele, Utah was known to the Ballantyne’s as “The Ranch” that sustained the family in the Depression years. The family later moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon which became their long-term home.
Wayne’s fascination with flight became his ticket out of the draft as he joined the Air Force ROTC at the University of Oregon. While finishing up his flight training, he met Dolores Pugh in Gulfport, Mississippi and they later married and had four children. They later divorced. Wayne is survived by his immediate family; son David and his wife Susan Ballantyne (née Taylor) of Kastelir, Croatia; daughter Julie and husband Brent Stenzel of Great Falls; daughter Lori and husband Bill Solomon of Great Falls; and son Keith and wife Christina Ballantyne (née Hankins) of Fort Benton; as well as 9 grandchildren, and 6 great-grandchildren. Preceding him in death were two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Wayne’s career with the USAF started in California, then taking the family to Washington, Germany, Texas, Oregon, Great Falls and Havre MT, North Bay, Ontario, Canada, Honolulu, HI, and Hampton, VA. Wayne’s career was as a pilot and radar specialist. He flew a variety of larger aircraft, including the EC-121D ‘Connie’, and C-47 ‘Gooneybird’ before being stationed in Germany where his work in radar reconnaissance was firmly established. Upon returning to the US and being stationed at Lubbock, TX, he became an instructor pilot in the T-37 ‘Tweet’ - he loved this assignment. His tour in Vietnam saw him commanding a squadron of C-123 ‘Thunderpigs’, ferrying supplies throughout the combat theatre. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bronze Star for his service while there. After a short term at Malmstrom AFB, he was given command of the radar base north of Havre, MT, before moving to North Bay, Ontario where he was the American command leader for the North Bay SAGE Direction Center. He was then stationed to Hawaii, where he was assigned as the Commander of Western Pacific Operations for the National Emergency Airborne Command Post at Hickam AFB, another favorite deployment position. He finished his career at Langley AFB, VA in 1983, retiring as a full Colonel.
Wayne’s love for hunting and fishing followed him his entire life eventually guiding him back to the Great Falls, Montana area, and Belt Creek at Armington specifically. His later years involved fishing Belt Creek, hosting parties at the “222 Lodge” and various interests and projects. He was known to jump a fence to chase down a pheasant, would never shy away from a trip that sounded fun, all of which simply led him back to his place on Belt Creek.
Though gone, he lives on in all the stories of and with him, his work in the USAF, and the family he leaves behind.
“Cheers to the Colonel”!
