Marvin Allen Balzer

Marvin Allen Balzer passed away peacefully on Oct. 20, 2017, at the age of 86. He was the firstborn to John and Amelia (Reiter) Balzer on Nov. 21, 1930, on Road 12 North, Worden, where he lived and farmed all of his life, until his recent illness.

Marvin attended Huntley Project Schools, excelling in FFA during high school, and served as a State FFA Officer. He was awarded the American Farmer Degree and he was an International Farm Youth Exchange delegate to South America.

On Jan. 6, 1962, Marvin married Patricia Lee Derenburger. To this union brought their children, Vicki, Alan and Jacqueline. Marvin continued farming, raising all types of livestock, including chickens, cattle and pigs.

Marvin was a passionate historian and wrote numerous articles about the different schools in Montana and stories about his folks coming over from Russia. Most of his work and research has been donated to the Huntley Project Museum. He also loved antiques and traveled all over the state to attend auctions to find the perfect piece of antique machinery, strip it down and restore it. He had an excellent reputation judging hogs, traveling to 4-H, FFA and livestock shows.

Marvin was a member of Bethlehem Congregational Church of Worden and served as a deacon for many years. He was also a very active member in the Huntley Project Lions Club.

Marvin was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Barbara Fuller. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, of 55 years; his children, Vicki (Thor) Gunderson, Alan (Leslie) Balzer, all of Gillette, Wyoming, and Jacqueline (Roger) Boender of Worden. He is also survived by six grandsons, Brandon (Kandi), David, Ryan (Okyu), Brock, Grant and Kalub; one granddaughter, Lea; and two great-granddaughters, Alice and Anna. Also surviving him are his two brothers, Ronald (Violet) and Clifford (LaRae), and many nephews and nieces.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, at Bethlehem Congregational Church, Worden, with burial at Pleasantview Cemetery, Ballantine. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice RiverStone Health Foundation, P.O. Box 1562, Billings, MT 59103; or Bethlehem Congregational Church, P.O. Box 96, Worden, MT 59088.