Msgt Edward Robert Bartelt passed away peacefully on April 11, 2021. Edward was born in San Diego California to Percy and Josephine Bartelt on April 23, 1941. He spent his youth in Missoula Montana, attending Missoula County High School and later, Shattuck Military Academy in Minnesota. At the age of 17 Edward began his career in the military. He attended boot camp at San Diego’s Marine Corps Recruit Depot followed by duty at Camp Pendleton with the First Marine Brigade. After marrying Donna Hewitt in 1962, Ed was stationed in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, followed by a stint in Okinawa. In 1965 Ed was deployed to Vietnam with the 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, he served two combat tours In Vietnam, 1965-66 and 1967-68, during which time he received two Purple Hearts. In between Vietnam tours, Ed was stationed at San Diego’s MCRD, where he qualified to be a drill instructor. He then spent another stint at Japan’s camp Fuji, where he climbed Mount Fuji for the second time. He returned stateside and served 11 more years with the 10th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, as Operations Chief at Camp Lejeune (North Carolina). During his service, Edward was awarded A Purple Heart and Gold Star, in lieu of a second Purple Heart, a Combat Action Ribbon, Presidential Unit Citation with ribbon bar and one bronze star, Good Conduct Medal with four bronze stars, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation Gallantry Cross Color, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, Navy Achievement Medal, and a number of other certificates of achievements, Edward was truly a proud, decorated Marine.
In 1979, After 21 yrs in the military, Edward retired as a master sergeant.
He then went on to graduate from the University of Montana in 1981, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interpersonal Communications. Ed and his wife moved to Denver when he became regional marketing manager for ITT, a post he held for 15 yrs. Next they relocated to Las Vegas, where he worked in the finance business for Green Tree for 10 yrs. In 2015 Ed moved to Helena, Mt. where he spent the next 5 yrs volunteering at Fort Harrison for the DAV Transportation as his way of giving back to the military that he was so proud to be a part of.
Ed and Donna were married on Jan 15, 1962 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The couple first met in Philadelphia, Pa at a YMCA dance and continued their dance for 58 years until Donna’s passing in 2020. They raised 3 children as they traveled the country seeing new places and making new friends. Ed was a loving husband and devoted father. He coached his son’s little league baseball, small fry football and youth basketball teams. His love of sports was apparent in his loyalty to the Washington Redskins and the U of M Grizzlies. When in Vegas, Ed could often be found in a sport’s book or at Torrey Pines Pub watching a game, having a beer, and telling stories, if not there, then he was probably on the golf course with his “golfing buddies”, as he liked to call them. He spent many summer vacations taking his family, including his mother-in-law, on cross country adventures to the beach, amusement parks, state parks, and the mountains. One of Ed’s favorite places, besides California, was a cabin on Rock Creek outside of Missoula, Montana. Many happy memories were made with family and friends on these vacations. Ed touched the lives of many people he met along the way with his quick wit, and infectious personality, always the life of the party and he never forgot a face. Ed had many lifelong friends that he made sure he kept in touch with, as family and friends were what he cherished most.
Edward is survived by his children, Gregory Robert of Big Timber, Mt., Jennifer Lynn of Montana and Scott Allen (Melissa) of Big Timber, Mt., 3 grandchildren, Brady and Brekyn Bartelt of Big Timber and Ethan Peterson of Bozeman. 3 siblings, sister Susan (Bob) Schnitzer of Haymaker, Va., Rick (Natalie) Bartelt of Detroit Lakes, Mn., and sister Chuck (Joseph Forte) of New York, New York, nephews Bob (Kristi) Bartelt of Moorhead, Mn. and Matt (Samantha) Bartelt of Lake Park, Mn., and great nieces and nephews Brady, Sadie, Myles, Oscar, and Alice all from Minnesota, and many more cousins and family from Montana and Minnesota.
Ed will be remembered as a hero and a true patriot who loved his country, his family, and his friends and he will be dearly missed by all.
The family would like to thank the Fort Harrison VA palliative care team who treated Ed with such kindness and respect in his final days. His service will be held at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison in Helena, Mt on June 25, 2021 at 1:00 pm.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Richard Schott says
Thank you for the obituary Butch. I attended the service which was very nice. I saw a lot of his friends and family. It won’t be the same when you walk into the office and he is not there with his dry humor. I miss him quite a bit.
Mike Lawson says
I’ll miss Ed for sure. We were in some of the same Marine Battalions in Vietnam but at different times and had many great conservations about our time there. He became a great Marine friend. He had a great attitude and people were naturally drawn to him. He loved his family and enjoyed talking about them.
Semper Fi, Brother and “Rest In Peace”.