Arthur Blade “Junior”, age 89, passed away Sunday, November 12, 2017, at Rocky Mountain Care Center in Helena, Mont. He was born in Chester, Iowa, the first of five children to Arthur R. Sr. and Iness O. (Simons) Blade. Art graduated from Wykoff High School, Minn.
Art enlisted in the Minnesota National Guard in 1949 and his unit was activated in 1951. While serving in Korea he was severely wounded in combat and was medically retired from the Army in 1953. After the service he attended Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, Minn., to learn metal working.
Art and Patricia Banta were married October 16, 1954, (recently celebrating 63 years of marriage) in Rock Elm, Wis.; they had two children, David and Cynthia.
In his varied working life he was head of the steel pattern department for DeLaval in River Falls, Wis., from 1962-1969 while also running a large poultry/egg business. After reloacting to Montana in 1970 he worked at the Rocky Mountain Lab in Hamilton from 1970-1981, and was co-founder/owner of Chapter One Books in Hamilton from 1981-1984, and The Bookstore in Dillon from 1984-1992. His hobbies included antique car restoration, woodworking, fishing and golf (where he parred Hole 8 on his 80th birthday).
His life as a citizen and community leader included time as member and deacon of the Congregational Church in Zumbrota, Minn., member and Elder of First Presbyterian Church in Dillon, Mont. A 60-year member of the American Legion, he was granted a lifetime membership by Beaverhead Post 20 in Dillon, where he served as Service Officer, Honor Guard Commander and Post Commander. He was also a founder of the Bitterroot Valley Dusters car club in Hamilton, Mont.
Art is survived by his wife Patricia, and their children David Blade (Valerie), and Cynthia Davis (Aubrey) all of Helena. Also surviving are siblings Arvid Blade (Anne Elizabeth) of Spring Valley, Minn., and Karyn Bettin (Samuel) of Racine, Minn.; grandchildren Jacob Blade (Elizabeth) of Helena, Mont., Crystal Amundson (Tyler) of Billings, Mont., Alison Blade of Bozeman, Mont., Kelly Hickman of Helena, Mont., Farrahl Nelson-Johnson of Helena; and great-grandchildren Mac, Maggie, and Saddie Blade; Corinne and Quincy Amundson, Jon, Jesse and Jilliam Johnson; and Winter Fenimore. Art was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters Carol Jean Blade and Helen R. Brock.
An internment service with military honors was held at noon on Friday, November 17, at the Montana State Veteran Cemetary committal shelter, Fort Harrison. A memorial service was also held on Friday at 2:30 p.m. at Hunter’s Pointe Retirement Community, 2801 Colonial Drive, with a reception to follow at Hunter’s Pointe. Memorials in Art’s name are suggested to the American Legion Beaverhead Post #20, Dillon, Mont.