Derry Lee Bellinger, 69

It is with great sorrow that we report that our beloved husband, father and friend Derry Lee Bellinger, age 69, passed away in his sleep on February 9th, 2018, in Plains, Montana.

He is survived by his wife, Victoria, of Plains; his son, Matthew, of Rineyville, Kentucky; his son, Andrew, of Plains; his brothers Kenneth and Rodney of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan; his sister Brenda Hood of Mt. Pleasant; his brother Rick of Ballantine, Montana; his beautiful granddaughters as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Fern Bellinger, of Mt. Pleasant.

Derry was born on Feb. 8, 1949 in Henderson, Kentucky, to parents Kenneth W. Bellinger and Fern Louise Brown Bellinger. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1967. In 1969 he was drafted into the Army where he served two years in Germany as an Army engineer. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1971. From that time until he moved to Montana Derry worked in Flint and Lansing Michigan and also owned a business in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan. In 1981 Derry married Victoria Kane of Mt. Pleasant then relocated to Billings where their oldest son, Matthew, was born. In 1984, the small family moved to Plains, Montana where their youngest son, Andrew, was born. Shortly after Derry opened the business of his dreams, American Machine and Welding where he worked for more than 30 years.

Derry was a wonderful family man and a loving father. He was also a social, active man who was involved in the Plains Trap Club, the Paradise American Legion and supporting in his community for many years. He enjoyed a variety of activities including, snowmobiling, trap shooting, golfing, bowling, skiing, boating, water skiing, carpentry, tinkering and most of all engineering and building machines and equipment. His family and friends will always remember him as a dynamic, fun loving, conservative and kind person.

A celebration of Derry’s life is planned for the future but no date is set as yet. Flowers or other gifts may be sent to Victoria at their home in Plains.