Community lays trooper, father and friend to rest

By Berl Tiskus
Valley Journal
POLSON — On the day of a well-loved community member’s funeral it always seems that the weather should be dark and gloomy, the birds should not sing and traffic should cease.
But Montana Highway Patrol Trooper Chris Hoyt’s funeral was held on Aug. 27, a mostly sunny day with temperatures in the 70s. The birds chirped merrily as streams of cars, many law enforcement vehicles, filled the streets around Linderman Gym and later crept slowly up Hillcrest Drive to Lakeview Cemetery where Hoyt was laid to rest.
The celebration of Hoyt’s life began at 11 a.m. with the Great Scots bagpipers leading in at least 200 uniformed representatives from Tribal Law Enforcement, Lake County Sheriff’s Department, the U.S. Border Patrol, firefighters, Tribal Fish and Game, ambulance crews and EMT’s, Glacier National Park Law Enforcement and the Polson, Ronan and St. Ignatius police. Following were about 50 uniformed Montana Highway Patrol (MHP) officers.
Also packing Linderman Gym were Hoyt’s family, friends and community members, who came to honor Hoyt, 41. Hoyt died on Aug. 23. when he drowned after jumping into an irrigation canal south of Polson to save his dog.
Reverend John Payne conducted the celebration of Hoyt’s life, which painted a picture of Hoyt as a family man, a trooper and a friend.
Payne said, “There are three things that impact our lives — faith, books and people. Chris was one of those people.”

Payne also described Hoyt as a "WYSIWYG" person, with the letters standing for "what you see is what you get." Payne added that Hoyt was a wonderful dad and life partner. To fellow law enforcement officers Hoyt was “competent, courageous, tenacious, tough, brave, dedicated … and obsessed with clean windshields.”
Adding to the event, Mike McElderry played his flute and read scriptures.
Colonel Mike Tooley, Chief Administrator for the MHP, also spoke about Hoyt, whose death made it four MHP troopers who were lost over the last 22 months. Trooper David Graham was killed on Oct. 9, 2007, Trooper Evan Schneider on Aug. 26, 2008 and Trooper Mike Haynes on March 27, 2009.
After Trooper Haynes was killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver, Tooley said, “Trooper Hoyt made it a personal goal to arrest one DUI driver each shift.”
“He (Hoyt) was out there trying to prevent the next serious wreck,” Tooley added.
Hoyt came to the MHP later in life than many troopers, according to his friend and partner Trooper Jim Sanderson. While Hoyt was in high school he went to career day where the MHP had a table and he was immediately interested in serving in the MHP.
But a trooper had to be 21 at that time, Sanderson said, so Hoyt went to technical school and worked for five years in Casper, Wyo. as a welder. Then Hoyt worked in the construction business with his dad for the next 10 years.
But Hoyt never let go of his dream, Sanderson explained. He was still interested in the MHP and that interest only grew when he discovered an entry test coming up. Hoyt kept bringing up the test until his wife at the time, Eileen (the couple later divorced), urged him “to just shut up and do it.”
And so he did, and Hoyt was sworn in as an MHP Trooper on Jan. 2, 2003.
Sanderson also read letters from Hoyt’s three sons, Traven, Kellen and Morgen.
Traven’s letter said the boys were proud of their dad for pursuing his goal of being a MHP Trooper. Another part of Traven’s letter said, “Our dad was the most caring man I have ever known.”
The letter continued by noting their father’s selfless act of giving his life to save that of his dog.
“He wasn't the perfect dad ... but he was still the greatest dad,” Traven’s letter said.
Middle son Kellen’s letter dealt with a conversation he and his dad had had regarding what song Kellen would like played at his funeral.
The letter ended with Kellen’s heartfelt “Dad, I never got the chance to tell you how much I love you.”
Morgen’s letter said pointedly and simply, “My dad was cool.”
The youngest Hoyt remembered playing catch with his dad and walking with one of the dogs.
Trooper Terry Rosenbaum, a friend and co-worker of Hoyt’s, said, “Chris could see humor in anything,” Rosenbaum said Hoyt learned his job from MHP Sergeant Michael Kent, MHP Sergeant Randy Owens and MHP Trooper Jim Sanderson.
Following Rosenbaum’s remarks, Will Thrasher talked about the mischievous side of Hoyt.
Thrasher said he and his construction crew were working in a 200-foot steel culvert and Thrasher had not fastened the security gate. Hoyt found the unlocked gate, drove his car into the culvert and turned all the lights and sirens on, which made quite a racket in the culvert.
Thrasher said Hoyt just grinned and said, "I just wanted to show you my new patrol car."
Tribal Patrolman Don Bell knew Hoyt on both a personal and professional level.
Bell said, “When Chris was working, he was pretty serious; he was on the job.”
Bell said the last time he saw Hoyt was when Hoyt had pulled over a vehicle and was just finishing up writing out an “educational coupon.” As he looked up to see Bell Hoyt gave him “that little smile” and a thumbs up.
After the celebration of life, Hoyt’s cremains were buried at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson.
Hoyt’s life partner, Tammy McGill, was presented with the flag that draped Hoyt’s urn.
Even after the funeral, the community continued to remember Hoyt and support his family.
“The community outpouring was just fantastic,” MHP Sergeant Randy Owens said. Owens heads up the Polson MHP office
“He (Hoyt) was an excellent worker; … he was all business, very professional,” Owens said.
The other side of Hoyt was that he was "the father of three, a fun-loving guy, just a nice, all-around guy,” Owens added.
Polson Fire Chief John Fairchild characterized Hoyt as “a guy who wanted to help anybody and everybody, who conducted himself in a professional manner at all times.”
Tribal Chief of Police Craige Couture said “Hoyt was very professional and to the point. Hoyt was … very, very good at what he did. … He (Hoyt) was top notch.”
Hoyt made a point of stopping at Tribal Law Enforcement when he was in the area, just to keep in touch, Couture said.
Also just to keep in touch, Hoyt’s family asked memorial attendees to jot down a story, a memory or a thought of Hoyt in several books located in Linderman cafeteria. Hopefully those writings will help the Hoyt family heal from a tragic loss that has rocked the valley.
Terry Rosenbaum expressed the hope that everyone can heal from the loss of Hoyt, especially his sons.
"Your dad loved you more than you will ever know. You could see in his eyes how proud he was of you," Rosenbaum said. "Even though he was not done (teaching you), he has pointed you in the right way. Strive to be like him and continue to make him proud."
Don Bell offered his own advice to everyone at the memorial service. He told them that "Chris hasn't gone. Chris has gone ahead. And he is happy with his new duty station."