Jack Eugene Dotson, 93, passed away at his home in Butte, MT on January 9, 2026, just shy of his 94th birthday.
Jack was born in Richland County, Montana on January 21, 1932, to Raymond Dotson Sr. and Blanche (Quilling) Dotson. The fourth of 13 children, he grew up farming and ranching across eastern Montana between Lambert, Sidney, Fort Peck, and Miles City where he was at home on horseback, moving livestock across the prairie. Too young to enlist during WWII, he sold candy, newspapers, and cigarettes to the troop trains passing through town.
Jack’s opportunity to serve his country came when he enlisted in the United States Navy during the Korean War. After returning home, he met and married Minnie Jean Christensen at Pella Lutheran Church in Sidney on June 4, 1954. In 1955, they moved to Butte, with a return to Sidney later that year. In 1961, they moved back to Butte where they would remain. Over their 61-year marriage, they were blessed with four daughters.
Though Jack did not finish high school before enlisting in the Navy, he took great pride in returning to school later in life to earn his general equivalency diploma. Jack worked many jobs to support his family over the years, including farming and ranching, construction, underground mining, and surface mining, where he would finish his career as a drill foreman in the Berkley Pit for the Anaconda Company, following an injury.
Throughout his life, Jack enjoyed fishing, bird hunting, breaking and riding horses, playing cribbage (or any card game), spending time with family, and working in his garden. He had a green thumb and could grow anything. His door was always open, with a pot of coffee on the stove and Minnie baking something in the oven. Jack was very involved in the Lutheran Church, even teaching Sunday school, as well as with the local Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) post. But his greatest passion was spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He is survived by his daughters Barbara Crnich, Nancy (Tim) Rowe, Cindy (Mark) McNabb, and Jacqueline (Scott) Campbell, his seven grandchildren David (Stefany) Crnich, Melissa (Adam) House, Jeff (Tia) McNabb, Jeremy (Teresa) McNabb, Jordan McNabb, Zachary (Shreane) Campbell, and Krista Campbell, seven great-grandchildren, Cameron, Bayleigh, Kaydance, Keegan, Breonna, Zoey, Ally, and two foster great-grandchildren, as well as his sisters, Delores Levno and Minnie (David) Kruger. Jack was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Minnie, son-in-law John Crnich, brothers Raymond Jr., Dale, Barney, Milton, George, Larry, and Lorry, and his sisters Mary, Mildred, and Doris.
A Memorial Service and Military Honors will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday, January 31, 2026, at Gold Hill Lutheran Church, 934 Placer St., in Butte. Visitation will begin at noon. A reception will follow at the fellowship hall. Jack’s remains will be interred at Mountain View Cemetery in Butte at a later date.
Memorials in honor of Jack are suggested to Camp Mak-A-Dream, PO Box 1450, Missoula, MT 59806, Veterans of Foreign Wars – “VFW Post 1448”, 525 Garden Ave Butte, MT 59701, or Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516.
Rest easy now and enjoy a cup of coffee in Heaven. Minnie’s been waiting.
Please visit below to offer condolences to the family or to share a memory of Jack.
Service Schedule
Visitation
12pm
Saturday January 31, 2026
Gold Hill Lutheran Church
934 Placer St.
Butte, Montana 59701
Memorial Service
1pm
Saturday January 31, 2026
Gold Hill Lutheran Church
934 Placer St.
Butte, Montana 59701
Reception
Following the memorial servcie
Saturday January 31, 2026
Gold Hill Lutheran Church
934 Placer St.
Butte, MT 59701
Service Schedule
Visitation
12pm
Saturday January 31, 2026
Gold Hill Lutheran Church
934 Placer St.
Butte, Montana 59701
Memorial Service
1pm
Saturday January 31, 2026
Gold Hill Lutheran Church
934 Placer St.
Butte, Montana 59701
Reception
Following the memorial servcie
Saturday January 31, 2026
Gold Hill Lutheran Church
934 Placer St.
Butte, MT 59701
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Keith Backes says
Jack and the other members of the Dotson family always held a special place in my memories….both as a child growing up next to their family and especially the way they all respected and treated my mother. Mom always took the time when traveling through the Butte area to try to stop and visit. My deepest condolences .
Denise Horne says
I’m so sad to see this. Loved, loved him. The best. Always filled me in on everyone in the family, proudly! Much love to all of you, his treasured Family ♥️. Denise Horne
Jeff and Michelle Miller says
Nancy, Tim and family, deepest sympathies to you all. A very nice obituary and a great tribute to a live well lived by a good man. Rest in Peace Jack.
PAMELA S DOTSON says
I have so many wonderful memories of your whole family. My favorite times were in the fall (I would count the days) before your dad and family would come to help my dad with harvest. It was always the breath of fresh air I needed. We would go for walks and Jack would listen to me and always reassure me everything would be ok. Dale always told the story about when they all told me they were not my real brothers and believe me I guess I had some choice words for my mom saying she really didn’t know what she was talking about because they both were my brothers. lol
My heart goes out to all of you, and I will always cherish the memories I have of all of you.
Patti Chain says
To the entire Dotson family. I truly loved your dad. If I was in a bad mood he could always make me smile. I did not like seeing where her passed but he will always be in my heart. He is now with Minnie and they can rest together. Wonderful tribute for a great guy.
Janice Muniz says
My thoughts and prayers are with Barb and all the Dotson Family. May his memories hold dear in your hearts. Rest in peace.
Janice Clark Muniz
Leona Knight says
Cindy and Mark McNabb & family
I am so sorry for the loss of your father and I’m sending prayers to your family and a safe journey for your dad to meet up with Minnie again in heaven! Prayers to all of you in losing a loved one it’s always so hard to say goodbye🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 Leona Knight
Kim Stevens says
Nancy, Barb, Cindy, Jackie and families I am so sorry for your loss. Your dad was a great man, it won’t seem right not seeing him walk down grand avenue. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Rest in peace Jack