Valentine William Kuntz

Valentine Kuntz, after 90 years, joined his savior and wife on February 21, 2017. Val’s large family and community say goodbye to this honorable, loving, generous man.



Valentine was born on July 19, 1926 in Regent, ND, to Rosa and Jacob Kuntz. He worked on the family farm and attended country school.



At the age of 19, having never left the farm in ND, he was drafted to serve in WWII. He was assigned to the Philippines, and later arrived in Tokyo Bay as they signed the treaty to end the war.



After his military duty he returned to farming and met his wife, Betsy May Padden, a nurse. They were married in 1951, a union that lasted 56 years. Together they raised a family of nine children.



To support his ever growing family, he was willing to learn new trades. He cut meat, delivered honey, and operated Kuntz Sawmill for ten years in Eastern MT. He learned the craft of carpentry and established Kuntz Construction in 1963 building and remodeling many homes in the area, while, operating the Geyser Cabins in West Yellowstone, MT during the summer months.



His boundless energy and his sense of humor are most memorable, as well as his talent of painting and refurbishing antique Dodge cars. In his final years he began writing his memoirs. The love of his faith and his determination to build a Catholic Church in Belgrade was completed in 1983, his proudest accomplishment.



He was preceded in death by his wife, Betsy May, his parents, three of his sisters, his two brothers and a granddaughter.



He is survived by his nine children, Cheryl (Doyne)Perry; Valory (Orman) Lende, Monica (Dean) Peterson; Theresa (Dan) Brooke; Ronald (Kathleen) Kuntz; Donald (Robin) Kuntz; Thomas (Susanne) Kuntz; Douglas (Diana) Kuntz; Rebecca Kuntz, 23 Grandchildren and 15 Great Grandchildren. Surviving sisters include; Frieda Wilson, Agnes Regnaud, Rose Dukart, Thelma Klein, Teddie Herner.



A Rosary and Vigil Service for Val will be held 4:00 p.m. Sunday, February 26th at Dahl Funeral Chapel. A Funeral Mass will follow 12:00 p.m. Monday, February 27th at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Belgrade, MT.