Person Page - 1210

Mid afternoon on October 5, 2022, Stuart Bezanson unexpectantly collapsed while working in his back yard in Boulder MT. He was rushed to St Peters Hospital in Helena, where he passed away in the company of his wife and family members on October 6, 2022. Stuart was 62 years old.

Stuart Bezanson was born in Newark, NY on July 17, 1960. He was the 4th and youngest son of Robert Irving and Priscilla Hutchinson Bezanson. Growing up in upstate New York, Stuart displayed an affinity for fishing and seafood at an early age. He found a keen interest in nature and animals. As a child he had several pets, which included at various times dogs, gerbils, an alligator, iguana, snakes, turtles and fish. He enjoyed hobby crafts, including model rocketry which he still practiced up to the time of his death.

Stuart attended a military high school in Missouri, where he developed a fondness for horses. He became a platoon leader for the school cavalry. His formal education never went beyond high school, as he didn’t have much patience with institutional learning. However he was a quick study, and self taught in several topics related to philosophy, music, nature and religion. Over the course of his adult life Stuart developed several skills such as carpentry, masonry, heavy equipment operation and maintenance. Stuart enjoyed working with his hands and was a consummate ‘do-it-yourselfer’. In addition, Stuart was quick to adopt new technology and computer skills, which he used to manage all aspects of his business operations and accounts.

After high school, Stuart moved to Montana and started his career in construction. He married Dorothy (Cindy) Bogard and together they raised six children and were married for 42 years.
Stuart’s profession involved extensive travel and field work, where he executed several public works projects for the state of Montana. He eventually formed the BEZ T&C (Bezanson Trucking & Construction) business, established a homestead in Boulder Mt, and quickly earned the trust and confidence of his business partners and customers.

Stuart was always most comfortable in the wilderness with not much affinity for the urban lifestyle of conveniences. His dog (Buddy) was a frequent traveling companion and Stuart enjoyed routine trips to the river to play fetch (and often to fish) in the nearby Boulder Creek. He was an accomplished guitar player but rarely played in front of audiences. Intrinsically a shy individual, who somehow was always able to put strangers at ease with some subtle humour and a touch of empathy. He greatly appreciated his friendships, but often didn’t recognize how many he had.

Stuart is preceded in death by both his mother and father, [and one grandson, baby Eli]. Stuart is survived by his three older brothers, Warren Bezanson, David Bezanson and Llewellyn Bezanson. He is also survived by his wife Cindy, six children and 12 grandchildren (and two pets: his dog Buddy, and Quentetta, a Sonoran desert tarantula named after Quentin Tarentino).

Special thanks are extended to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s department in their response and efforts to save Stuart after receiving the 911 call. A special thanks is also extended to the St Peters doctors and nurses in the Emergency room and ICU. They did everything possible and were extremely considerate in their interactions with Stuart’s loved ones during the remaining hours of his life.

A memorial service will take place at the Anderson Stevenson Wilke Funeral Home chapel on October 13, 2022 at 10AM, located on 3750 N. Montana Ave in Helena Montana. A reception will follow the service at the Moose Lodge, 4750 N. Montana Ave.³

PRASSEDE A. DELLA ZANNA BEZANSON, 78, of Bel-ford, MIDDLETOWN, died Tuesday at Riverview Medical Center, Red Bank. She was a homemaker. She was a commu-nicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, New Mon-mouth. Born in Remanzacco, Italy, she came to the United States in 1950 and lived in Bel-ford for 40 years.

She was predeceased by her husband, Richard Bezanson, on Dec. 29; and a sister, Rosina Caderote.

Surviving are a son and daughter-in-law, Robert R. and Patricia Bezanson of Mexico Beach, Fla; two daughters and sons-in-law, Mirella and Bill Rongo, and Sandra and Keith Marchese, all of Belford: two brothers, Frank Della Zanna of Belford, and John Della Zanna of Port Charlotte, Fla; and two sisters, Delsa Merlino of Belgium, and Francesca Carta of Italy.

Visitation will be 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at John F. Pfleger Funeral Home, 115 Tindall Road, Middletown. Funeral services will be 8:30 a.m. Monday at the funeral home and 9:30 a.m. at St. Mary's Church, Middletown. Interment will be in Fair View Cemetery, Middletown.⁶