Earl Balyeat

Earl R. Balyeat, 91, of Great Falls, passed away Sunday, July 3, 2016 at the family home.A visitation will be held from noon to 1:00 p.m. followed by a funeral liturgy at 1:00 p.m., Thursday (TODAY), July 7, 2016 at Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 1305 5th Avenue South. A graveside service will follow at Mount Olivet Cemetery. Arrangements made by Schnider Funeral Home.Earl was born in Great Falls, MT September 10, 1924. He spent many years in the Great Falls area before moving to Idaho with his mother and two sisters. A few years after WWI, Earl joined the US Marine Corps at age 17 to learn to pilot airplanes. His mother once said, I would have never let him join, had I known another war would break out; but it ended up saving his life. With more seniority than fresh enlistees, Earl was not sent to the extreme front lines like many other young men. Records show that every family in the United States lost at least one young man to WWII. Granny was right. It probably did save Dads life, son Tom agreed.Earl was also stationed at Guadalcanal. After WWII, he was honorably discharged from the Marines in Kingsville, TX in Sept., 1945. Between those assignments, Earl was stationed at Navy Pier in Chicago, IL, where he met a brown-eyed beauty, Jean Chenicek. Jeannie soon became the love of Earls life and they wed January 14, 1945, in Chicago. Along about that time, the couple completed their initiation into the Christian community via the Catholic Church. The combination of their marriage and their faith became the central influence for all their forthcoming decisions in what developed into 71 years of marriage, producing over 100 descendants.After a few years in Chicago as a pressman, Earl simultaneously worked as a foreman for Kaiser Aluminum and as an instructor for a small flight school in Coeur dAlene. Dad longed to return to Montana, possibly to partner with his father, Harry in a family ranch. Many of Earls happiest childhood memories involved hunting and fishing with his granddad, Carey. Carey also provided much of Earls inspiration to master mechanical engines, woodworking and other handicrafts. Later, he could adeptly build, maintain or repair just about anything he needed. He passed these talents onto his sons and many of his daughters. Although Mr. Balyeat was unable to ranch with his father, when he returned to Montana, he did find other work.After delivering Coca-Cola products for a time, Earl secured a job at the Great Falls Tribune as a pressman, where he remained for 37 years. The Tribune offered him many promotions but he enjoyed remaining a crew member. If he was not at work, he was with his children; teaching them to fish, hunt and tinker just as Grampa Carey had taught him. One daughter recalls, Dads career was being a Dad. Any jobs he had, he took and kept to support his true vocation: Fatherhood! He lived life on his own terms, and he lived a good life. He helped a lot of people, and he had a lot of fun!Dad always wanted a big family, another daughter said recently, He thought big families were cool! The Balyeats first three babies were born in Chicago and Coeur dAlene. After an illness, Jeannies doctors said she would have no more children. The Balyeats had ten more children! Several sons and daughters remember how their parents valued each new life and believed it was a compliment from God that he trusted them to raise so many little ones. The values Earl instilled in his children included discipline, hard work, truthfulness, a love and respect for the outdoors, commitment to spouse and children, as well as faith in a Christian God. He looked to the Lord for guidance and for sustenance, his son John said, There were skinny times, sure, but Dad was often able to turn a little into a lot; especially with Jeannies help and the cooperation of his children. The last nine Balyeat children were born in Great Falls at the original Columbus Hospital on Second Avenue North.Later, Mom spent many years as a switchboard operator at the old Columbus Hospital and the new one, which is now Benefis West. She also worked in Santa Maria Hall. Dad would often take 4-5 children to meet her for dinner in the hospital cafeteria on her break. They were both proud to help with the Catholic hospital in their mission to care for the sick, as Jesus would have done. They would often pray together with their children, requesting comfort and healing, for Columbus Hospital patients, doctors, employees and, of course, the nuns! Mom, Dad and their children volunteered for the hospital and many local churches, in many capacities especially music ministry.Earl loved to tell stories and could easily entertain a group, especially with riveting hunting and fishing tales. Music was his joy. His many children share this love, mastering many instruments and vocal arrangements, often as a vehicle to share their faith. Earl was a big man. He was the strongest man I ever knew, his best friend once said. His big personality filled up the room, and sometimes the yard! He had a big booming voice. You could hear him four blocks away, if you were in trouble! family members joked.He was preceded in death by dearly-loved family members including brother-in-law, Charles Chenicek; father Harry Balyeat; mother Alma (Dunsmore) Balyeat Ashby; sister Alice Phelps; son-in-law Ed Donohue; son Earl C. Balyeat; grandson Jonathon Balyeat; and infant great-granchildren, Isaac, Gracelyn, Ash, Cierra, Asher, Grace and Brayden.He is survived by his beloved wife, Jeannie, of Great Falls; sister Grace (Smith) Young; sons Robert, H. John, Michael, Joseph and Thomas; daughters, Carol Donohue, Christine VandenBos, Kathleen Favero, Francine Town, Patricia Kennedy and Theresa Eliasen.Earl is also survived by grandchildren: (From Carol) Elizabeth, Mary, Molly, Amy, Heather, and Joe: (From Bob) Joel, Johanna, Susanna, James, Rose, Mary Anna, Charis, and Charity; (From John) Jake and Bethany; (From Mike) Angie, Jeremy, Ben;(From Chris) Jessica, Sarah, Uriah, Jhun, Marc ; (From Joe) Dan, Matt, Jamie; (From Kathy) Lauren, Shelby: (From Francy) Lilah, Seth, Judah, Hannah, Manoah, Josiah, Samuel, Destin, Simeon, Lydia, Claira; (From Patty) Bonnie Jean, Mikey, Patrick, Ann; (From Resa) Dillon, Dawson, Carson; and (From Tom) Sebastian Sebby, and Eli!