Dolores Munden was taken to her heavenly home on March 16th 2013 at age 84. She was born Helen Dolores Blodgett on February 26th 1929 in Missoula, Montana to Harry and Rose Blodgett. She attended her early school years in Missoula and Corvallis until the family relocated to Deer Lodge. During her high school years Dolores worked at Schaffer’s Jewelry for thirty five cents per hour until she graduated in 1947. On June 10th 1947 she married her high school sweetheart Dale Munden. They were married for 46 yrs. until he passed away in 1993. During her early married years she worked as a bookkeeper at Penny’s Department Store and at the fountain at the Keystone Drug until 1954.
In 1954 Dolores went to work in the State Criminal Identification Bureau as a clerk. This started her very extensive career in law enforcement. After two years she was promoted to supervisor. During the late 50’s and 60’s Dolores was well known throughout the Northwest for her knowledge of career criminals operating in Montana and bordering states. She was the first person that many sheriffs called when they had a burglary or safe cracking job in their county. During her years in corrections she wore many hats. She was Supervisor of the women’s prison and served as Secretary to the Sentence Review Division of the Montana Supreme Court. In 1978 the bureau relocated to Helena and Dolores remained at the prison as the Inmate Records Supervisor until her retirement in 1984 after 30 years of service. Her tenure there was exceeded only by Turkey Pete. After her retirement she then went to work at the Pioneer Federal Savings Bank. Dolores enjoyed the daily interaction with all the different people.
The great loves of her life were her husband Dale and her family. She spent many enjoyable hours in her beautiful garden at the home that her and Dale built and raised their five children. She then took her passion for flowers and turned it into a hobby. She created pressed flower pictures that she sold in a local floral shop and gave to family and friends. Later Dolores became interested in doing ceramics and as with anything that Dolores did she did with a lot of passion. There are not too many friends or family members that do not have a future heirloom lovingly made by Dolores that will be cherished for years to come. There was nothing that Dolores enjoyed more in her later years than playing bridge with all of her many lady friends. She was always up for a card game any day of the week.
Dolores was also very active in the Catholic Church. She served as Treasurer of the Women’s Guild and her homemade vegetable soup that she made for the bazaar was always a favorite.
Dolores had many accomplishments in her life. One of the most important was the raising of her five children. She and Dale instilled in their children a strong work ethic and a love for family. Over the past several years Dolores had to endure a lot but she never lost her biting wit, dry sense of humor, and her great love for life. Dolores will be missed by all the people that loved her so very much.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Dale, her parents, Rose and Harry Blodgett, and her brother Bud Blodgett.
Survivors include her brother Jim (Janie) Blodgett of Polson, sister-in-law Barbara Blodgett, her five children and their spouses, Randy (Meg) Munden of Helena, Valerie (Jack) Hardy of Deer Lodge, Becky (Charlie) Brown of Opportunity, Kevin (Kathy) Munden of Hawaii, and Maureen (Tom) Lantz of California. She was also blessed with thirteen grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, and many loving friends.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at the Immaculate Conception Church on March 22th at 10A.M. A luncheon will follow at St. Mary’s Center. A private burial will take place at the Blodgett Cemetery in Hamilton. Memorials may be made in her name to the Immaculate Conception Guild, to the Immaculate Conception Church or to the Salvation Army.
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