Funeral services for Francis “Pete” Blundell, age 92, of Chadron, Nebraska will be held on Saturday, December 28, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron with Pastor Steve Ratzlaff officiating. Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery. A visitation will be held on Friday, December 27, 2013 at 7:00 PM at Chamberlain Chapel.
Pete Blundell, a long time farmer and rancher, passed away on December 21, 2013 in Chadron, Nebraska. Pete was born in Chadron, Nebraska on December 30, 1920 to Joseph Robert and Margaret (Wright) Blundell. He was the fourth of six children growing up on the farm south of Chadron. Born on the land homesteaded by his grandparents (William and Ayles Blundell) in 1888, Pete was born in the same house where his father was born. After attending country school at the Prairie Home School. He worked on farms south of Chadron. During World War II, he enlisted in the Army in 1942 and was assigned to the 363rd Engineer Division, a construction battalion, and served 30 months in Iran. He served in the Persian Gulf Command where he operated large cranes (drag lines) for the US Army to build roads, boat docks, airport runways, barracks, and hospitals. Upon his discharge in December 1945, he continued farming and ranching with his father, Joe Blundell.
In June 1966, he married Ruth Tupa. Ruth, together with her three daughters; Roxanne, RaeJean, and JeriJo, joined Pete in operating the farm that has been in the Blundell family for over 100 years. In 2003, Pete was acknowledged for his many years farming and ranching when he received the “Most Persistent Farmer” award by the Dawes County Farm Bureau. In August 2013, Pete was inducted into the Dawes County Agriculture Hall of Fame.
Throughout his long life, Pete enjoyed farming, ranching, his family, friend’s music, playing cards, tinkering in his shop and the many animals that populated his farm – deer, antelope, pheasant, grouse and his farm cats. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion, and B.P.O. Elks.
Pete was preceded in death by his wife (Ruth), his parents (Joe and Margaret), his brothers Robert (Bob), Harold (Bud), Merle and his sister (Ruth Blundell Burrows), as well as his niece Sheri Burrows Anthony. He is survived by his sister,Mary Lou (Blundell) Thornton; Daughters Roxanne Publow (Terry) of Joplin, Missouri, RaeJean (Don) Phipps of Scottsbluff, Nebraska and JeriJo Graesser of Edgar, Nebraska; 11 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren as well as many cousins, nieces, and nephews.A memorial has been established for the Open Door Church and the Chadron Volunteer Fire Department. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.
Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.