07/25/2026
Christopher Jon Molen
"Salt of the Earth"
"Salt of the earth" is a common English idiom that refers to a person (or group of people) who is exceptionally good, honest, decent, reliable, and unpretentious-essentially, the best kind of ordinary human being.
*It praises someone for their strong moral character, humility, and positive contribution to society.
*These people are seen as the "backbone" of the community: hardworking, trustworthy, and genuine, without being flashy or arrogant.
Christopher was born into this world on February 10", 1989, to Shelly & Don Molen, their first child. He was a beautiful and healthy boy and his parents looked forward to the future with Chris. He would later be joined by his sister Andrea and brother Samuel.
Growing up he was a typical boy, riding his bike, skateboarding, and playing with neighborhood friends. He was baptized at St. Thomas and attended the St. Bernard's church regularly as a youth. Chris attended Camp Sunshine Daycare in his early years and enjoyed friendship with several of his campmates throughout his life.
He played Little League baseball into high school, Little Guy Football, basketball, track, and he decided to start wrestling in middle school. Football & wrestling turned out to be high school sports. He played as a linebacker, a fullback, and on special teams. One of his dad’s friends coined the term U-Man (Universal Man) after watching a game against Missoula. He played almost every play of the game! He developed that huge smile at a young age, and it would be his trademark through life. One of his football teammates at Rocky described him as "the guy with the 1000 Watt smile."
Chis attended Sandstone, Castle Rock and Skyview schools. A memorable teacher of his at Castle Rock was English teacher Kim Harrington. Kim and her husband Shaun developed into good friends of the Molen family. She also taught Chris' sister Andrea and brother Sam. Kim mentioned she hit the Molen Trifecta having all three in class! He graduated from Skyview High School in 2007 receiving numerous letters in football and wrestling. He was elected as the class president. Chris also received the Principal's Award, voted on by the faculty, issued to the outstanding student that year!
He attended Rocky Mountain College planning on studying a pre-physical therapy curriculum and playing in a linebacker position for the Battlin' Bears graduating in 2012.
Chris loved the Rocky community and the friends he made there.
There are some love stories that seem to arrive exactly when two hearts need them most. In late 2017, Christopher and Jessica's paths first crossed, and from that moment on, they wholeheartedly chose each other. They were married in 2020, but everyone who knew them understood that their marriage was built long before the vows. It was in the way they looked at each other, as if the rest of the room simply disappeared. It was in the quiet certainty that she was his person, and he was hers.
Together, they created a life rich with laughter, friendship, and adventure. They celebrated love at weddings in Hawaii, explored the freedom of Montana mountain trails, wandered through Alabama singing "Roll Tide" on a pontoon boat with Chris proudly at the helm, enjoyed several concerts and sports events together, and filled countless weekends with the kind of spontaneous adventures that become favorite memories. Their closest friends were family, and wherever they went, they brought warmth, laughter, and a sense of belonging.
When life led them on their IVF journey, they faced it together - with hope, courage, and unwavering love. Though the path wasn’t the one they had imagined, their hearts found another way to grow, and becoming puppy parents to Oliver, Lennie and Charlie, who brought them immeasurable joy. They were also blessed with the honor of being Godparents to Griffin, Stonie, and Peyton - a role they embraced with open hearts and so much love.
He was an awesome big brother to Andrea and Sam and was the one that gave Sam his name in the hospital. Chris was their biggest cheerleader no matter what activity they were involved in and he loved them dearly.
Chris was an amazing man! Anyone speaking to him would know he was listening as he would look you in the eye. From his 5-year-old nephew to his 92-year-old "Papa" he was always engaged. He did not judge anyone, he loved everyone, and everyone loved him.
His oilfield career started after graduating from Skyview High School in 2007. He began as a roughneck for Nabors Drilling in the Elm Coulee Field in Eastern Montana, one of the first of the horizontal Bakken development fields. This summer job was facilitated by Corey Welter of Welter Consulting and Scott Reid of Nabors Drilling. Both of these men were mentors of his and respected by Chris throughout his career. 2008 was a slow year in the oil industry and he secured a job at a hotel in Billings as a bellman/shuttle driver. In summer of 2009, he went back to work for Nabors in North Dakota and developed new friendships with his coworkers. Several of his crew members showed up to watch him play with Rocky against Dickinson in Dickinson, ND. that fall; some of them admitted they had never been to a live football game before. In the summer of 2010, he went to work for Ensign U.S. Drilling in the Haynesville horizontal gas play in Louisiana, south of Shreveport. He was on Ensign #150, a new rig brought into that area the previous fall. He developed lasting friendships that would last though his lifetime.
When Chris graduated from Rocky Mountain College in 2012, he continued working for Ensign in different resource plays of the U.S. The Marcellus in Pennsylvania, the Bakken in North Dakota, Jonah Field in Western Wyoming, Powder River, and DJ Basin area of Colorado. He had been appointed to Ensign's Engineer Intern Team and was moving up the ladder of responsibility.
After working through various positions on the rig he became a Rig Manager (Toolpusher) overseeing the operations and personnel. Moving up to Drilling Superintendent, his responsibilities included numerous rigs and operations in multiple areas. At the time of his death, he was working as a Marketing Director with a variety of responsibilities dealing with contracts, customers, and the drilling rigs. As in every other endeavor of his, he garnered a great reputation among his peers and clients.
He was a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC), and the American Association of Drilling Engineers (AADE) and served on committee and board positions within these organizations.
Chris would try any sport from sporting clays to pickleball, but his main game was enjoying playing golf with family, friends, and customers.
Chris is survived by his wife of six years, Jessica; their pups, Charlie & Lennie; his parents, Don and Shelly Molen; his sister, Andrea Hosking (Seth); his brother, Sam (Sydney); his grandfather, Jon Severson; his nephews, Miles and Griffin Hosking; and numerous uncles, aunts, and cousins.
Chris will be missed terribly by all but remember him by the hugs he gave you and the beaming smile he always wore!
Chris was the "Salt of the Earth".
We love you, Christopher!
There are so many memories, and we invite you to share them at the Vigil (6:00pm Thursday, August 6th at Michelotti-Sawyers Funeral Home) or at the Celebration of Life, Friday afternoon at the Northern Hotel Grand Ballroom. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00am Friday, August 7th at St. Pius X Catholic Church.
Memorials can be sent to "Pack the Place in Pink" or a charity of your choice.
View Christopher Molen's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.
