Timothy Stephen Sullivan

Timothy Stephen Sullivan, sculptor, father, husband, and fourth-generation Montanan, died on July 2, 2026, in Missoula, Montana. He was 76 years old.

 

Tim was born on October 18, 1949 in Helena, Montana, the oldest of fifteen children. He grew up in Seattle, Washington, before returning to Montana to attend Carroll College in Helena from 1968 to 1972. From 1974 to 1976, he served in the Peace Corps in the Pacific island nation of Tonga. His Peace Corps service was a formative experience in his life, and it was in Tonga that he met the love of his life, Kathy.

 

In March 1977, Tim and Kathy married in Seattle. The following year, they settled in Missoula, Montana, which would remain their home for the rest of Tim’s life. Even as he traveled widely throughout the Rocky Mountain West for work and other pursuits, he was always drawn back to the mountains, rivers, and open sky of his home state.

 

By profession, Tim was a sculptor, celebrated for works in bronze that captured the animals and histories of the American West. His art reflected a deep love for the land and its stories, and a lifetime spent observing the wild places he cherished. As a fourth-generation Montanan, his connection to the state ran deep, and he carried that pride and love of place throughout his life and work.

 

Tim is survived by his wife, Kathleen Ann Sullivan; their four children, Erin (b. 1979), Daniel (b. 1981), James Donald (J.D.) (b. 1984), and Shane (b. 1991); and his many siblings, extended family, and friends.

 

Tim will be remembered for his sense of humor and mischievous spirit, his devotion to his immediate and extended family and friends, and his enduring love for Montana, the place he called home for nearly five decades.

 

A memorial service will be held on October 17, 2026 along the Blackfoot River. The family asks for no flowers, but if you would like to make a donation in Tim’s honor, we ask that you donate to the Montana chapter of Trout Unlimited in his memory.