David P. Blumfield

BILLINGS - David P. Blumfield, 94, a longtime Havre resident and Army veteran, died of natural causes Friday, Nov. 11, in Billings.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary of Billings. A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Dave was born May 5, 1917, in Great Falls, to Edward and May (Patience) Blumfield. He grew up in Great Falls in a traditional Scottish home, and obtained his education through high school there. In 1941, Dave enlisted in the U.S. Army, and was assigned to the Army Air Corps. He spent his military career as a parachute specialist in New Guinea and Australia.

He came home in 1944, and married Henrietta "Reca" Albertini. They had two children.

Dave worked in and managed grocery stores. In 1954, the family moved to Havre, where he managed Price Right Market. In 1960, he opened his own store, Dave's Foods, which he ran until his retirement in 1974. After retirement, he worked for Sandvigs and operated two laundromats. One of the highlights of his retirement was being a grade school crossing guard. He also enjoyed time spent with his grandchildren, taking them to summer activities and keeping bicycles on hand - in tip-top shape - for all of them. In 2009, Dave and Reca moved to Billings to be closer to family.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents and siblings Louis, Bob, George, Ed and Emily.

He is survived by the love of his life, Reca Blumfield; son David E. (Haidee) Blumfield of Los Angeles; daughter Linda Freitag of Billings; grandchildren Chad Freitag, Amy (Jeff) Berve and Ryan (Roni) Freitag, all of Billings, and Todd Blumfield and Shaun (Erica) Blumfield of Los Angeles; stepgrandson Kris (Meghan) Kuhn of Charlotte, N.C.; great-grandchildren, Tasia and Kyler Berve, Phillip, Dyllan and Nathan Freitag, and Zoe and baby-girl-on-the-way Blumfield; stepgreat-grandchildren Khloe and baby-girl-on-the-way Kuhn; niece Janet Blumfield-Wetherly and numerous other nieces and nephews. He also is survived by his adopted family, MaryLou and Steve Klobofski, Chris (LoriAnn), Josh, David and Ryan Klobofski of Havre.

Donations in his memory are suggested to a local Boys and Girls Club.

Condolences may be posted online at www.michelottisawyers.com and/or www.gftribune.com/obituaries.