Roland Letendre

Roland Romuald Letendre passed away on July 20, 2013. He was born in Nashua, New Hampshire on June 11, 1930 to Romuald and Marie Anne (St. Laurent) Letendre. He had a wonderful, adventurous childhood exploring Nashua, enjoying many swimming holes, hanging out at the railroad transfer station where his father worked and growing up with a French speaking mother. Roland left New Hampshire at the age of 21 to be a machinist in the Air Force stationed in Great Falls Montana during peacetime. He received a Good Conduct and National Defense medal. Roland met his beautiful wife Patricia (Kimmitt) at the United Services Organizations (USO) and they married on April 16, 1955. They moved to California where Roland attended Cal Poly for four years. After several years of living in California they returned to Montana and lived in Livingston for a few years then moved to Bozeman where they lived in the same house for the past 50 years. Roland enjoyed a long career as a talented Printer working for ArtCraft Printers and Color World Printers. After both he and Patricia retired in 1991, he spent his retirement years enthusiastically pursuing his love of wood working. He was an amazing craftsman, creating incredible and unique pieces of artistry that many family and friends were blessed in receiving. These pieces will be forever treasured and will be beautiful reminders of a loving father, relative and friend. Roland is survived by his sons Bill (Kathy) of Bozeman and Bob of Yuma, AZ and his beloved daughter, Diane of Belgrade; two grandchildren Stephanie Letendre Gerges and Joshua Letendre of Bozeman, his sister Germaine Roy of Nashua New Hampshire and former daughter in law Michele Letendre of Bozeman in addition to countless other relatives that have blessed his life over the years. Preceding Roland in death, and greeting him with open arms, are his mother and father, his wife Patricia who passed away in 2010, son James who passed away in 1985, and his two brothers Paul and Joe. The lives of those that he has left behind will be forever blessed with memories of a tremendous man that embraced learning, appreciated wood and art, was an incredibly talented dancer and shared a quiet demeanor that will be sorely missed. Although the sadness will prevail on those of us left behind, we are certain that the heavens are rejoicing with their new wood shop foreman! The family of Roland would like to give special thanks to Dr. Vlases, Dr. Hensold, Dr. Winton, Dr. Robbins and the nurses who provided him with kindness and care these past several weeks. A rosary service will be held at 5:30pm followed by a vigil service at 6:00pm on Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at Dahl Funeral Chapel. Funeral mass will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church followed by interment at Sunset Hills Cemetery. Memorials in Roland’s name can be made to the Disabled American Veterans at www.dav.org or the Gallatin Valley Food Bank, 602 Bond Street, Bozeman, MT 59715.