George James Mumm

George James Mumm, proud American and veteran of the Armed Services, passed away February 18, 2022, just as he had lived his life – on his own terms. George was 69 years old. George was the youngest child of Leo and Myrtle (Paulson) Mumm. Born in Conrad, MT on January 6, 1953, he grew up with his 7 siblings on the family farm in Brady, MT and attended Brady public schools. Daily farm chores laid the foundation for his admirable work ethic. Never a fan of a schoolbook, but a believer in his country and a hard day’s work, George joined the Army in 1972 and served for two years. He honed his skills in auto mechanics and body work and opened his own shop. He was later encouraged to join the Montana Air National Guard by his dear friend, Garry Cameron. He served with the 120th Security Forces Squadron from 1980 until his retirement as a Senior Master Sergeant in 2006. He was a great mentor and role model to numerous airmen and was respected for his stern but equitable leadership and commitment to excellence. He made the best friendships of his life and found his second family in his fellow guardsmen. George took great pride in his years of devoted service to his country. A true patriot, he saw the eagle as the true symbol of freedom and had a treasured collection of eagle memorabilia. George married Julie Martin in 1973 and they had three beautiful daughters – LaBerta Marie, Bobbie Jo, and Glenda Lynn. After their divorce he remained a dedicated father. In 1989, he was set-up on a date with the mother of LaBerta’s classmate and two weeks later was engaged. He and Darlene built a beautiful life together, sharing a passion for snowmobiling, 4-wheeling, camping, and fishing. George bravely took on a household of girls, fulfilling the role of stepdad to Melanie and Diedra better than most any man. He and Darlene celebrated 32 years of marriage last September 2, 2021. To put it simply, George was one of the good guys. He gave a firm handshake, said what he meant, and gave his word with complete sincerity. He taught his girls to think for themselves, value a dollar, know personal responsibility, the appreciation of the outdoors and how to change the oil in their cars. His favorite place was beside a campfire with a strong drink in hand. He liked a good joke and was famous for his “Georgeisms” such as “Use your head for something besides a hat rack” – little bits of life advice usually started and stopped with a chuckle. He was a firm believer in doing it right the first time. He had worked hard for the things he had in life and made sure to take exceptional care of his home and belongings. In 1995, he and Darlene moved to Sun Prairie where he could finally build the shop of his dreams. It was his haven, and he carefully organized every item, down to the nuts and bolts. George was preceded in death by his parents; stepfather, Elwin Gossard; sisters, Doris Parsons and Delories Hoffer; and brothers-in-law, Walt VanRyn and Paul Cislo. George is survived by his wife, Darlene (Hunt) Mumm; daughters, LaBerta Simpson (Greg) of Great Falls, MT, Bobbie Mumm of Anchorage, AK, and Glenda Veltkamp of Great Falls, MT; step-daughters, Melanie Jacobs-Golie (Shawn Ryan) of Kalispell, MT and Diedra Case of Portland, OR; honorary sons, John Paul “J.P” Gunter (Martina) and Dale (Jennifer) Gunter both of Great Falls, MT; and siblings, Lenard (Irene) Mumm of Milwaukee, WI, Louise VanRyn of Bend, OR, Laura Poitra (Mel) of Great Falls, MT, Ted Mumm (Shirley) of Great Falls, MT, and Marie Cislo of Belgrade, MT; grandchildren, Nikki Sauer, Angelica Friscia (Sam) of Great Falls, MT, Jesson Preston (Sarah) of Minneapolis, MN, Quincy Preston of Nashville, TN, and Jennie and Christina Veltkamp of Great Falls, MT; and great-grandchildren, Dominic Krank,Andrew Horton, and Loki Friscia. George’s life will be honored and remembered this Saturday, February 26, 4:00 p.m. at the Fraternal Order of Eagles, 1501 9th St. S, Great Falls, MT.