Herbert William (Brekken) Belcher

Herbert William (Brekken) Belcher died Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2015, in Hamilton, Mont., at age 83.

No funeral services are planned. His remains will be interred at a later date in the family burial plot in Chinook.

He was born on June 28, 1932, in Zurich, Mont., the oldest son of Fred and Evelyn (Henderson) Belcher.

Orphaned as a young boy, he spent his early years at the Deaconess Home for Children in Helena. He was adopted at the age of 12 by Norwegian immigrants Anders and Marit (Utigard) Brekken. He graduated from Glasgow High School in 1950, and served in the US Air Force. He trained as a radio communications engineer at Coyne University and the DeVry Institute in Chicago. He received further education at Northern Montana College, graduating in 1971. He was a master electrician.

He married Julie Romo on Aug. 31, 1957, in Glasgow, and to this union three sons and two daughters were born. They later divorced.

He was a quiet, soft-spoken man of few words who loved a story or trip down memory lane that ended in a good laugh. He had quite the sweet tooth, and rarely passed by the Dairy Queen without making a stop.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Earl Benedick and Donald Baines.

Survivors include five children: Earl Belcher of Saco, Celeste Pogachar and her husband, Rod, of Hamilton, Kent Belcher and his wife, Paulette, of Stevensville, Blaine Belcher and his wife, Laurie, of Missoula, and Laurel Furniss and her husband, Jeff, of Huson; seven grandchildren: Brian Belcher, Kyle Belcher and his wife, Cassie, Ashley Lange, Candace Goodman and her husband, Chris, Joshua Furniss, Jasmine Furniss and Jacob Furniss; and two great-grandchildren: Connor Goodman and Kallianne Belcher.

Condolences for the family may be left at http://www.dalyleachchapel.com. Daly-Leach Chapel of Hamilton is in charge of arrangements.