Gene Melvin Halstead

Gene Melvin Halstead, 75, died Friday, October 1, 2021 at Hot Springs Health hospital in Thermopolis after a period of declining health.

Born June 27, 1946 in Dillon, Montana, he was the son of Wayne and Nola (Fournier) Halstead.

Living in Armstead, MT, Gene was active in 4-H Club and active in Little League Baseball. After the Clark’s Canyon Dam was built in 1962, the family moved to Dillon where Gene graduated from Beaverhead County High School in 1965 where he participated in Square Dance Festival.

Enlisting in the U.S. Navy, January 1966, he served aboard the Cruiser CLG3 Galveston in radio communications at San Diego, CA.  Gene’s first deployment was to the Mediterranean, second to WESPAC during the Vietnam War, 1968 and then back to the Mediterranean.

He married Peggy Jankunas, welcoming her son, Shane, into his life.  The couple later divorced.

He graduated from Northern Montana Collage at Havre, MT with a Bachelor of Construction Technology Degree.  For many years he was employed by the Bureau of Reclamation as a Civil Engineering Technician on contract administration on multi-purpose water resource projects.

A member of Risen Son Southern Baptist Church, Gene was dedicated to helping with the Food Pantry and Messiah’s Mall, even if it wasn’t a scheduled time to receive food or clothing.  A caring man, it was important to him to help someone in need.

Survivors include his stepson, Shane Jankunis of Hamilton, MT; aunt, Marlene Halstead of Farmington, MN; cousin, Paul and Ruth Pilgram of Dillon, former wife, Peggy, of Hamilton, MT and friend, Walter Warrick of Arizona and Idaho.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, Oct. 14, 10:30 AM at Risen Son Church.  Inurnment will take place in the Mountain View Cemetery in Dillon, MT.

Mortimore Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.   Messages may be offered at www.mortfh.com.

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