Obituary - Branden Eugene Hunnewell

Branden Eugene Hunnewell of Chester, 41, passed away Monday, June 11, 2018.

Services for Branden will be held Monday, June 18, 2018, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church of Chester, MT. A graveside service and luncheon will follow.

Branden was born May 18, 1977, in Great Falls, MT. He was the middle son of David and Yvonne (Johnson) Hunnewell.

Branden had two brothers, one older, Aaron Hunnewell, 42, born June 29, 1975, of Chester, MT., the younger, Camon Hunnewell, 37, born April 2, 1981, also of Chester, MT., and an older half-sister, Rachel (Rich) Pavlonnis, 48, born Aug. 23, 1969, of Great Falls, MT.

Branden was raised in the small, tight-knit community of Chester, Montana, where he continued to make his home until his death. Branden attended Chester Public Schools, growing up with a love for reading, sports, his siblings and friends.

During his youth, Branden was involved in many different activities. He spent his summers swimming for the Chester Lions Swim Team and playing baseball in intermediates and Little League. If there was an open lot in town, there was a ball field there, and you could almost always find Branden, his friends and brothers playing a game. Branden spent much of his "down time" reading books. He was an avid reader and as a child enjoyed the Hardy Boys series of which he owned the complete hardback set. Branden was involved in Cub and Boy Scouts throughout his youth, always trying to win that elusive Pine Wood Derby trophy.

During his high school years, Branden loved playing football and cheering on his friends in basketball, making every road trip and every tournament game. He enjoyed writing and plays very much and was often the lead part or supporting actor in many of the high school productions. Branden also participated in the community musical "Man of La Mancha." Being raised in a Lutheran household, Branden was always a godly kid and as a teenager he was president of his Lutheran Youth Organization, or LYO. Being very well-read and a gifted writer, Branden was the winner of the American Legion Oratorical essay contest his senior year of high school.

During high school and his early college years Branden worked at the Chester Community pool as a life guard, as well as teaching swimming lessons. He loved jumping into a 50-degree pool at 8 in the morning! In 2001, Branden started working for Timec. For the next 16 plus years he traveled across the country, mostly the western United States, working "shutdowns" in numerous oil refineries and gas plants. Branden used his intelligence and work ethic to move through the ranks and eventually become a superintendent. Along the way, Branden was mentor to many and never hesitated to show someone how to do things the right and safe way. An excellent leader with an eye for detail, Branden excelled at running night shift during shutdowns.

Branden was an avid sports fan. He enjoyed all sports and loved to hit the golf links before a bad back took him out of the game. Most of all, Branden was a "Die-Hard" Cubs fan! He loved to talk baseball and pontificate about the newest Cubs team, how they would clean up the division and go on to break the curse of the goat. In 2016, Branden's dream came true and the Cubs celebrated, ending that ever-so-long World Series drought. He would tell you that it was the highlight of his life!

Branden passed on to be with our Lord and Savior Monday the 11th of June 2018.  He died peacefully in his sleep due to natural causes.

Branden was preceded in death by his parents, David Hunnewell and Yvonne Hunnewell; maternal grandparents, Paul and Jaqueline Johnson; paternal grandparents, Bud and Idella Hunnewell; uncle Richard Hunnewell.

He is survived by his brothers, Aaron Hunnewell and Camon Hunnewell; sister, Rachel (Rich) Pavlonnis; aunt, Paula (Robert) Smith; uncles Craig and Leif Johnson; nieces, McCall Erickson, Zea Erickson and Clarissa Hunnewell; nephew, Conner Hunnewell.

Condolences can be made to Branden's memorial page at http://www.asperfh.com/.