Arthur Robert Hunthausen died peacefully Oct. 23, 2010, at his Helena home surrounded by his family.
Art was born the sixth of seven children on Feb. 12, 1931, in Anaconda to Anthony and Edna Hunthausen. On Sept. 19, 1953, he married Donna Marie Kane. They celebrated their 40-year wedding anniversary before her untimely death in 1994. Art and Donna devoted their lives to raising their eight children.
During his four years in the Air Force, Art saw 11 months of service in Korea during the Korean War. After returning from the war, and before moving to Helena, he took great pride in running Hunthausen Grocery in Anaconda. Art’s career, however, was his 28 years of dedicated service as the financial aid director at Carroll College, where he made the difference in the lives of many young students. He retired from Carroll College in 1993.
Art was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Donna; infant son, Joseph Hunthausen; and son, Ray Hunthausen.
Art is survived by his children: Mark Hunthausen (Pam) of Helena; Kim Hunthausen Hart (Mik) of Olympia, Wash.; Paul Hunthausen (Patti) of Helena; Lynn Hunthausen Smigaj (Dave) of Helena; daughter-in-law, Tori Hunthausen of Helena; Mary Hunthausen Ternes (Dave) of Helena; Lisa Hunthausen Kalbfleisch (John) of Whitefish; and Amy Hunthausen Lavin (Steve) of Kalispell; his grandchildren: Haley Hunthausen, Robert Fischer, Paul Hart (Tami), Nicole Hart Waldo (Danny), Greg Hart, Stephen Hart (Adrienne), Lisa Hart Pollman (Jay), Sam and Abby Hunthausen, Amy Smigaj Reithmeier (Lance), Meaghan and Michelle Smigaj, Jacque and Alli Hunthausen, Anna, Ben, and Mary Donna (Dino) Ternes, Kellie, Shannon, Kristin, Jace, and Maura Kalbfleisch, Michael and Cassidy Lavin. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Austin Martell, Kaleb, Alyvia and Levi Hart, Matthew, Ethan, and baby Waldo, Cooper Reithmeier and baby Pollman.
Also surviving Art are his loving brothers and sisters: Archbishop Raymond Hunthausen of East Helena; Marie Hunthausen Walsh of East Helena; Tony and Harriet Hunthausen of East Helena; Father Jack Hunthausen of East Helena; Sister Edna Hunthausen of Helena; Jean (Hunthausen) and John Stergar of Anaconda; brother- and sister-in-law Bill and Mary Kane of West Palm Beach, Fla.; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and his special friend, Sandy McCormick, along with his wonderful Sunhaven neighbors.
Art’s mission in his later years of silent courage, in a betrayed body, was to promote his belief that a priest should be able to be man or woman, married or single.
The Hunthausen family would like to thank the Helena rehabilitative care community, occupational therapists and caregivers, especially those who were involved early on with his care and rehabilitation and who were instrumental in providing Art the opportunity to live the last 17 years of his life independently in his home.
In lieu of flowers, Art would have preferred donations be made to God’s Love, 533 N. Main, Helena, MT 59601; or Hospice of St. Peter’s, 2475 Broadway, Helena, MT 59601. Art requested cremation, which has taken place, and his family will gather Saturday, Oct. 30, 2010, to celebrate the man and his memory at a small service.
“Lordy, Lordy, Lordy, I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know. Bye-bye, bye-bye. … !”
Service Schedule
Service Schedule
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Kathleen Hunthausen says
Godspeed, Uncle Art. What a wonderful man of love and courage you have been to all of us. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Love,
Tads