Obituary for Mont Blackburn
Mont Blackburn, 93, of Canyon, passed away on Friday, July 23, 2021. He was born on July 7, 1928 in Wellington, Utah to Sherd and Eudora Blackburn, the oldest of three boys. He was told his name was legally Verdis Lamont, and it wasn’t until 2011 when he applied for his first passport that he found out his birth certificate said he was simply Lamont. He was called Mont (no e---that’s a girl’s name) all his life. Mont quit school when he was 14...couldn’t stand being locked up. Fortunately, an understanding teacher arranged for him to take welding classes at the local college until he was 16. His daughter, Helen, has his first project – a small metal chair.
He lived the true cowboy life in Utah for the next 13 years, punching the family cowherd in the Book Cliffs in summer and along the Price River in the winter. He roped around the state at amateur rodeos, often dragging his little brother, Les, with him. He probably would still be there, broke and lonesome, but a gypsy veterinarian from Wisconsin came to Utah in 1958 and cast a spell over him. He always said that was the best thing that ever happened to him.
For ten years, Mont helped in his wife’s veterinary practice, babysat kids, punched his own cow herd, owned and ran a rodeo string, and competed in rodeos.
In 1969, he and his wife, Dr Ruth, took their three children, three horses, and two dogs to Dalhart, Texas, when she took a position there with the USDA. Mont spent the next 25 years as a Texan, running cows on his section of grass and hauling cattle all over the Panhandle in his own truck and 54 foot straight trailer. He took 3 years off to lease and run his truck to Alaska hauling stuff for the Alaskan pipeline.
In 1994, Mont and Ruth moved to Thermopolis, Wyoming to get away from all the chemicals. They then spent the next 20 years traveling in their pop-up camper all over Canada and the Rockies. They built their own home and heated it with the geothermal hot water. Mont’s welding skills came in handy.
In 2014, they moved to Canyon, Texas to be closer to their daughters, Helen and Kate. Mont sat patiently through hours of classical music as he listened to Helen’s West Texas State University flute students perform. He especially loved the receptions (and food) that followed. He also enjoyed arguing with Kate, no matter how old he got.
Mont was a faithful member of the Abundant Life Sunday School class, where he hated to miss the “bulls*** sessions” as he called them.
He was preceded in death by his son, Lloyd. Survived by his wife, Ruth; daughters, Helen (Drew) of Dallas and Canyon, Tx, and Kate (Chris) of Willis, TX; grandchildren, Dr. Caitlin (Brian) of Lander, Wyoming and Jake (Lexi) of Grand Island, Nebraska; great grandsons, Jax and Rafe of Grand Island, Nebraska; two brothers, Valgene (Charlene) of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Les of Spanish Fork, Utah.
No services are planned. A celebration brunch will be held at Helen’s home in Canyon at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, July 31, 2021. All are welcome. Text or message her (214/458-9269) for the address. In lieu of flowers, sit down and talk with some lonesome old guy. Mont just wanted to be remembered as an honest guy.
He lived the true cowboy life in Utah for the next 13 years, punching the family cowherd in the Book Cliffs in summer and along the Price River in the winter. He roped around the state at amateur rodeos, often dragging his little brother, Les, with him. He probably would still be there, broke and lonesome, but a gypsy veterinarian from Wisconsin came to Utah in 1958 and cast a spell over him. He always said that was the best thing that ever happened to him.
For ten years, Mont helped in his wife’s veterinary practice, babysat kids, punched his own cow herd, owned and ran a rodeo string, and competed in rodeos.
In 1969, he and his wife, Dr Ruth, took their three children, three horses, and two dogs to Dalhart, Texas, when she took a position there with the USDA. Mont spent the next 25 years as a Texan, running cows on his section of grass and hauling cattle all over the Panhandle in his own truck and 54 foot straight trailer. He took 3 years off to lease and run his truck to Alaska hauling stuff for the Alaskan pipeline.
In 1994, Mont and Ruth moved to Thermopolis, Wyoming to get away from all the chemicals. They then spent the next 20 years traveling in their pop-up camper all over Canada and the Rockies. They built their own home and heated it with the geothermal hot water. Mont’s welding skills came in handy.
In 2014, they moved to Canyon, Texas to be closer to their daughters, Helen and Kate. Mont sat patiently through hours of classical music as he listened to Helen’s West Texas State University flute students perform. He especially loved the receptions (and food) that followed. He also enjoyed arguing with Kate, no matter how old he got.
Mont was a faithful member of the Abundant Life Sunday School class, where he hated to miss the “bulls*** sessions” as he called them.
He was preceded in death by his son, Lloyd. Survived by his wife, Ruth; daughters, Helen (Drew) of Dallas and Canyon, Tx, and Kate (Chris) of Willis, TX; grandchildren, Dr. Caitlin (Brian) of Lander, Wyoming and Jake (Lexi) of Grand Island, Nebraska; great grandsons, Jax and Rafe of Grand Island, Nebraska; two brothers, Valgene (Charlene) of Grand Junction, Colorado, and Les of Spanish Fork, Utah.
No services are planned. A celebration brunch will be held at Helen’s home in Canyon at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, July 31, 2021. All are welcome. Text or message her (214/458-9269) for the address. In lieu of flowers, sit down and talk with some lonesome old guy. Mont just wanted to be remembered as an honest guy.