Donald M. Blunt, 71, Taylor, formerly of Dickinson, died Wednesday, January 13, 2010 at his home. Don’s funeral service will at 10:30 a.m., Monday, January 18, 2010 at Immanuel Church of Taylor with Reverend Bob Wittstruck officiating. Visitation will be from noon until 4 p.m. Sunday at Ladbury Funeral Service, Dickinson, with a prayer service at 1:30 p.m. Sunday. Visitation will continue one hour prior to service time at the church. Interment will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. MT at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan. Military honors will be presented by the Henry Biffert Post 100, Hebron.
Donald M. Blunt, the youngest of four children, was born April 2, 1938 on the family farm northeast of Ipswich, S.D. to Mark and Aletha (Calkins) Blunt. Don attended rural grade school and high school at Ipswich but at the age of 14 he moved with his family to North Bend, Ore., where he graduated from high school. Don served in the U.S. Air Force as a jet aircraft mechanic from November 1955 until his honorable discharge in October 1959. Following his discharge, Don returned to Aberdeen, S.D. and made his living repairing small engines and working construction projects with heavy earthmoving machinery. In the early 1970’s Don was employed by Yamaha Motor Corp. as a mechanical instructor for motorcycles, snowmobiles, and boats. He was the Midwest Regional Manager at Cudahy, Wis. until 1980 when he moved to North Dakota to work in the oilfield as a geologist mudlogger. Don married Margie (Kroh) Lennick on September 13, 1983 at Dickinson.
Don was a loyal member of several churches of different denominations over the past 50 years. He served as a Sunday school teacher, and as a Boy Scout leader, Don was also a member of Disabled American Veterans. With Don it wasn’t about success or possessions, it was about doing what he loved to do and fellowship with people of all walks of life. Don had a great sense of humor, an easy smile and could make almost everyone laugh.
Don is survived by his wife, Margie, Taylor; one son, Barry (Marina) Auburn, Wash.; two daughters, Judy Mellichamp, Atlanta, Ga. and Suzanne Blunt, Minneapolis, Minn.; three step-sons David Lennick, Dickinson, Wade Lennick, Bullhead City, Ariz., and Chad Lennick, Dickinson; three grandchildren and four step-grandchildren.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Ruth, and two brothers, Roy and Floyd and one nephew, Brian Blunt. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be given to a charity of the donor’s choice.
