ARVID J. BLESSING obituary

Arvid John Blessing, 85, died Friday, Dec. 3, 2004, at his Great Falls home after a battle with cancer.

A memorial services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Rockman Funeral Chapel in Chester. Military rites with burial

of ashes will follow at 4 p.m. at the Highland Cemetery in Havre. A reception will follow at the Havre senior center. Arvid was born Sept. 10, 1921, at Dawson, N.D., to John and Dora (Joslyn) Blessing. He was one of eight children. When Arvid was a child, the Blessings moved to Montana and eventually settled in Havre, where Arvid received his formal education.

He was inducted into the U.S. Army in 1942. He served in

the Pacific Theater during World War II in the 1304th Army Air Force Battalion. Arvid attained the rank of private 1st class and received numerous service medals, including good conduct, distinguished unit and victory awards. At the time of demobilization in 1946, he was given his honorable discharge.

Arvid returned to Montana and took over the family house-moving business, which operated along the Hi-Line. Because the business was seasonal he also worked for the railroad during the winter. During those 10 years with the railroad, he worked predominantly in maintenance of the railway refridgeration cars.

Arvid married Arlene M. Bright on Nov. 28, 1954, at Rudyard. They lived in Havre for two years, then moved to

Rudyard, where they raised their family of two. Arvid operated his house-moving business for 45 years and moved approximately 700 buildings throughout the Hi-Line. During many of those years he supplemented his income by driving a school bus, working as a church janitor and selling scrap iron. He retired

in 1990.

Arvid and Arlene moved back to Havre in 1982 and lived there during their retirement years. Arvid remained an ardent fisherman and hunter, and he loved the great outdoors. He also enjoyed gardening and woodworking. Together, he and Arlene enjoyed camping and traveling; they made many memorable bus tours in their later years.

The Blessings attended church

at the E.C.N.A. and Arvid served as church treasurer. He was also a past member of the Havre VFW post and was active at the senior center in Havre.

Arvid enjoyed reading westerns and listening to country western music. He liked to watch game shows on television and was an avid fan of the Montana Grizzlies. He also enjoyed playing cards, dominoes and dice.

In August, the Blessings moved to Great Falls to be closer to their daughter and to physicians.

Arvid was preceded in death by

his parents; and his seven siblings, Eva Cooke, Robert Brown, Ervin Blessing, Vera Raisanen, Florence Miminaugh, Lucille Campbell and Loraine Daulton.

Survivors include: his wife of 50 years, Arlene Blessing of Great Falls; a daughter, Carol Benson of Great Falls; a son, Rodney Blessing of Missoula; two grandchildren; two great-grandsons; and several nephews and nieces.

Memorials can be given to the donor's choice.