Gordon Elmer Blessum

Gordon Elmer Blessum, 89, of Great Falls, passed away Wednesday Dec. 9, in Bozeman MT, where he and his wife Bea had recently moved to be closer to their son, Jeff. Gordon was born on April 26, 1926 in Larimore, ND. He attended high school at the St. James Academy in Grand Forks, ND. He loved playing football – a true “leatherhead”. He would often talk about his teammates and how much fun they had playing together. As a fullback, he would make those key blocks so others could score the TD. He was OK with that. Later, he attended the Wahpeton School of Science at North Dakota State University in Fargo where he earned a degree at the Trade School in Sheet Metal and married his sweetheart, Beatrice in 1949. They eventually moved to Great Falls, MT where he spent the last 60 years.



Gordon was a sergeant in the army and worked as a military police officer in Los Alamos, CA and in Civil Service at Malstrom AFB as a sheet metal mechanic. He was an active member of the Wally Bynum Airstream Club as well as the Good Sams Club and volunteered with the MT Fish and Wildlife as a camp host on the Smith River where they helped floaters take-out at the Eden Bridge.



Gordon is fondly remembered as a loving husband, father, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend. He had the ability to build and fix anything and everything and was devoted to helping anyone who would ask. He was an avid fisherman who loved sharing his skill with friends and family, even when it meant untangling fishing line or getting stuck with the hook! He loved fishing and was quite the creative fly tier.



Gordon was preceded in death by his parents and infant son, John. Survivors include his wife of 66 years - Beatrice Mae, daughters Paulette Blessum of Great Falls, MT, Kate (Doug) Trost of Lakeside, MT, son Jeff (Jennifer) Blessum of Bozeman, MT, daughter Julie (Erika) of Issaquah, WA, brother Ray (Betty) Blessum, and sister Betty Jean (Pat) Hennessey of Burien, WA.

Graveside services will be held at a later date at Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Great Falls, MT.