In memoriam: Kyle Welty was geologist

FFRF Member Kyle Welty died at age 50.

He was the youngest child born to Dr. Alan and Joy Welty. Kyle grew up in Corunna, Mich., on the Welty farm. He showed his first chicken in the Shiawassee County Fair at age 10 when he plucked the resident rooster from the hen house, entered him and won Grand Champion Cock. Kyle went on to show sheep, chicken and baked goods at the fair as both a member of 4-H and FFA. He also followed his siblings into the water, competing in swimming and holding records at Corunna High School.

Kyle graduated from the University of Montana with a B.S. in education and minor in geology. There he followed another family tradition of playing rugby with both the University of Montana Jester and the Missoula Maggots. He earned a master’s degree in geology from the Montana State University. Kyle taught high school science in Wolf Point, Mont., Harrison, Mont., and Rifle, Colo., before pivoting to geologist, working as a mud logger for natural gas exploration. He created his own consulting company, Hollowtop Geological Services, with the motto of “If it can’t be grown, it must be mined.”

Kyle’s loves were his dogs and his ’59 Edsel. He hunted, skied (until his knees gave out) and bicycled. He was an avid card player of cribbage and euchre. He enjoyed craft beers and had a standing Wednesday night euchre game at his favorite brewhouse, Grimm Brothers, in Loveland. He is survived by his mother Joy, brothers Kurt and Kris and sister, Beth Dreyfuss.