Daniel Patrick Cinnamon

Daniel Patrick Cinnamon, 58, of Billings, a gentle giant, passed away at St. Vincent Healthcare on Sunday Aug. 7, 2011, with his loved ones at his side.

He was born to Toney Kenneth Cinnamon and Irene "Tess" Cupitt Cinnamon on Jan. 21, 1953, in McMinnville, Ore. He was the seventh of nine children.

Dan graduated from Senior High School in 1971. He moved to Colstrip in 1974 and started working as a labor foreman for Combustion Engineering on units one and two. He was a member of Local 98 until he was injured in 1988.

Dan had a big heart and was a friend to many. He sat by his mother's side nearly every day for three years until her death in 2003. He loved his nieces and nephews as if they were his own.

He had a great love for cats, aquariums, motorcycles and his truck. He loved going to movies, watching Monday night football, and enjoyed talking football with his nephews Shane and Lance Cole, and his late brother "Berkey." Dan had a special bond with great-nieces and -nephews Andrew, Jaycee, Taryn and McKenna Liming and enjoyed his lengthy conversations with them.

Dan was kindhearted and a steadfast advocate for his friends at Billings Health and Rehab Center, where he resided for the past two years. He never gave up on his beliefs, even if they got him in trouble!

He was blessed to finally find his true love, soul mate and best friend, Janeen Russell. She tried to keep him grounded and focused on the positive things in life. Theirs was a love cut far too short.

Dan was preceded in death by his grandparents, father, mother, brothers Kerry Cinnamon and Taryn Berkey, and an infant sister.

He is survived by the love of his life, Janeen Russell, siblings Toni (Jerry) Swanson of Eagle River, Alaska, Duane (Sharron) Cinnamon of Walla Walla, Wash., Kelly (Duane) Cole of Colstrip, Danielle (Paul) Liming of Billings, and Bo (Gary) Lyon of Colstrip. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Dan will be greatly missed by his family and friends, especially his sisters Danielle and Bo, who took care of him for the past eight years and went to many movies with him. Dan, we will always love you and never forget you. Give Moma, Daddy, Berkey and Kerry a big hug!

Funeral services will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 12, 2011, at Cremation & Funeral Gallery. Cremation will follow the funeral. Private family inurnment will be held at Pleasantview Cemetery in Ballantine on Saturday, Aug. 13, 2011.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, File 30947, P.O. Box 60000 San Francisco, CA 94160, or www.heart.org.

Arrangements are by Cremation & Funeral Gallery. Condolence may be sent to the family through "Our Families" at www.cfgbillings.com.

Dan Cinnamon