Dr. John Bishop McCollum

Dr. John B. McCollum November 13, 1936 - 2026

Dr. John B. McCollum, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, passed away recently at the age of 89. Born on November 13, 1936, in Dillon, Montana - a town he loved with his whole heart - John lived a life full of purpose, laughter, and deep devotion to family and community.

John was a standout young man from the very beginning. At Beaverhead County High School, he served as Student Body President, excelled as the team's quarterback, earned the rank of Eagle Scout, and left a lasting legacy on the track and field program, holding records in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash for years to come.

His athletic talents carried him to Western Montana College, where he continued to compete in track and field. With a clear vision for his future, John transferred to Montana State University to pursue his dream of becoming a dentist, later completing his Dental degree at the University of Washington.

Upon graduating, he proudly served his country in the United States Air Force, stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, where he served as dentist to the elite U-2 pilots - a distinction he carried with quiet pride.

On June 17, 1967, John married the love of his life, Nancy C. Salstrom, beginning a partnership and love story that anchored everything that followed.

John built his life and career back in his beloved Dillon, where he became a trusted and cherished dentist to countless patients over the decades. He was a devoted member of the Presbyterian Church, a loyal supporter of State Bank, and a proud champion of all things Beaverhead County.

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A Montana Man Through and Through

If John McCollum loved anything as deeply as his family, it was Montana -and he made sure everyone knew it. To John, Montana was not simply a place on a map; it was the very fabric of who he was. He was shaped by its wide[1]open skies, its cold clear rivers, its rugged mountains, and the honest, hardworking people who called it home.

He was never more at peace than when he had a fly rod in his hand, drifting the legendary Beaverhead River in a drift boat, taking in every bend and riffle of that beautiful water with the contentment of a man exactly where he belonged. The Beaverhead was his river - he knew its currents, its hatches, and its secrets like an old friend. That love of fly fishing ran so deep that he founded a fly-fishing conference for dentists, a uniquely John way of bringing together two of his greatest passions and sharing Montana's magic with colleagues from across the country. He wanted everyone to experience what he had known since boyhood: that there is simply no place on earth quite like Montana.

He also loved to hunt Montana's hills and valleys, never taking a single season for granted and always respecting the land that gave so much to him.

His pond was a sacred place, where some of his happiest hours were spent teaching his five grandsons to fish - passing on a love of the water and the land that had defined his own life since childhood.

He loved showing Dillon off to anyone who would visit, acting as the town's most enthusiastic ambassador with a pride that never dimmed. To John, Dillon was not just his hometown - it was the finest place in the finest state in the Union, and he would make sure you agreed before the day was done. He cherished BCHS, Western Montana College, and the generations of friends and neighbors who made Dillon the community it is.

Beyond Montana, John also had a deep love for Sun Valley, Idaho. In 1971 he purchased a condo there, beginning a lifelong connection to that special place. Sun Valley brought him great joy - it was where he met wonderful new friends and had the pleasure of reconnecting with cherished companions from his days at the University of Washington. Sun Valley, much like Dillon, had a way of bringing out the very best in John McCollum.

Montana shaped John McCollum, and John McCollum shaped a small but meaningful corner of Montana. The Beaverhead will keep running, the mountains will keep standing, and those who knew him will feel his spirit every time the wind moves through the big sky he loved so well.

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Nothing brought John more joy than his family. He was immensely proud of his two daughters, Missy and Mindy, and equally proud of the men they married - son-in-laws Christopher Grathwohl and Steve Slovick. After a lifetime surrounded by wonderful women, John was utterly blessed with five grandsons: Cutter, Frederick, and Pierce (Missy and Chris's boys), and Stratton and Sterling (Mindy and Steve's boys). Teaching those boys to fish on his pond was among his greatest pleasures in life.

John was a man of warmth, wit, and an endless supply of stories and jokes. He loved shopping with his wife and daughters, and he filled every room he entered with laughter and love. Those who knew him will remember a man who lived fully, loved generously, and never missed a chance to make someone smile.

He is now up in heaven, almost certainly telling jokes to Jesus.

John is survived by his wife Nancy; daughters Missy (Christopher Grathwohl) and Mindy (Steve Slovick); and grandsons Cutter, Frederick, Pierce, Stratton, and Sterling.

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July 11th, 2026 - A Day of Celebrating Dr. John B. McCollum

470 Laknar Lane, Dillon, Montana

10:00 AM - Memorial Service

The service will be held at the McCollum place on Laknar Lane, presided over by the Reverend Bob Henley.

All past patients are warmly invited to join us for a cup of coffee and to reflect on an amazing leader of our community.

Graveside burial is for family only.

5:30 PM - The Lion's Den

Friends and family of John, join us to share your favorite John stories or jokes.

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Dress Attire

In remembrance of John McCollum, please dress in BBQ or smart casual attire.

No black, please - come dressed to celebrate a life well lived!

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"He loved many and loved Montana."