Herbert H.C. Blunn

Herbert Charles Blunn, 85, of Great Falls, passed away from natural causes on Monday, November 10, 2014, at Benefis Extended Care. He was surrounded by his family. Visitation will be held Wednesday, November 12, from 6 to 8 pm at O’Connor Funeral Home, 2425 8th Avenue North, Great Falls. Funeral liturgy will be held Thursday, November 13, at 10 am at Holy Family Catholic Chapel, 2800 Central Avenue, Great Falls. Interment of ashes will take place Friday, November 14, at 10 am at the Columbarium at Mount Olivet Cemetery. O’Connor Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements. Herb, an only child, was born Aug. 7, 1929, in Great Falls. He attended Great Falls schools and graduated from Great Falls High in 1948. He joined the U.S. Navy in August of that year, stationed at Point Magu, California, and served at sea on the U.S.S. Kearsarge. He was honorably discharged in July 1952. While serving his country, he married his high school sweetheart in August of 1950. The two lived in California until his discharge and then returned to Great Falls, where they raised the majority of their children. Herb’s job with Mountain Bell took him to Helena in 1980, where he resided until June 2010. He returned to Great Falls and lived there until his death. After retiring, Herb volunteered for the Montana Talking Books Library with Lea and was active in St. Mary’s Church. He loved his yard, meticulously spending hours sifting his soil and trimming his trees and lawn. He was so finicky he actually pulled the new seedlings, mistaking them for weeds. He enjoyed watching football and baseball on television, along with solving crossword puzzles. He was an avid reader of nonfiction and a true lover of golden retrievers. Family was important to Herb. He liked nothing better than to have everyone together for a party. Later in life he acquired a taste for wine and looked forward to sharing a glass with his daughters on a Friday afternoon. He will be missed greatly by his family. Survivors include his children: Vicky (David) McCray of Geyser; Cathy (Frank) Heintzelman, Laurie (Rick) Horton, Rosemary (Rod) Hall, Jim (Kim) Blunn, and Pauline Lorang, all of Great Falls; Jean (Carl) Tange of Plentywood; Tom (Sharon) Blunn and Chris (John) Fitzpatrick, both of Helena; and Brad (Janna) Blunn of Spokane; 19 grandchildren: Amber (Jeremy) Milburn, Clint McCray, Stephanie (Casey) Wallin, Stacy (Zac) Griffin, Ryan (Nicole) Heintzelman, Tia (Isaac) Buzzard, Greg (Renzi) Horton, Ariel Tange, Michael (Abby) Hall, Darcy (Ben) Weaver, Shannon (Matt) Hagel, Kyle Blunn, Lauren Blunn, Kristan Amdahl, Cari Amdahl, Connor Fitzpatrick, Erin Fitzpatrick, Cole Blunn and Layla Blunn; and 13 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife Lea and his parents, Theresa and Ernest Blunn. The family wishes to extend their appreciation to Cambridge Place and Benefis Extended Care for their kindness and compassion. Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 3010 11th Avenue North, Billings, MT 59101. We love you, and we miss you, Dad.