Gary Lloyd Blewett, 67, of Bozeman, formerly of Helena, passed away Feb. 12, 2006. Gary was a former Administrator of the Liquor Division for the Montana Department of Revenue and is remembered by tavern owners as being a reasonable, helpful and cooperative government partner.
According to Mark Staples, Montana Tavern Association attorney and government affairs advisor, "Gary Blewett was everything you'd want a government administrator to be: intelligent but understandable, firm but fair, respectful of precedent but open to change. I think it must be difficult for government authorities to apply the law as they must, with no favoritism, yet still remain personable," Staples said. "Gary had that balance. He ran the liquor division with an even hand and a human touch. He was responsible for much of the stability that has been the hallmark of the industry in Montana.
"In the years after he retired, whenever I'd run into Gary, we'd just stop what we were doing and go on and on, about politics, family, books, whatever...life. He was just a well-rounded guy and I very much enjoyed his
company. I'm grateful to Gary. I'm glad to have been his friend, and I'll miss him, as will many others, I'm sure."
Gary was born July 6, 1938 in Helena to Henry Lloyd and Jeannette Elizabeth (Stodden) Blewett.
He was raised in Helena and graduated from Helena High School. He attended Rocky Mountain College in Billings and graduated suma cum laude with a Bachelor' of Arts Degree in English, and then received his Masters Degree from the University of Illinois.
In his younger years Gary worked as an English teacher in Mahomet, Ill., and Libby. In 1968 he moved back to Helena with his family.
Gary was a team member of Urban Renewal/Model Cities for downtown Helena, and worked in many state agencies. He was a bureau chief for Social Rehabilitative Services, Administrator of Workers Compensation (State Fund) as well as chief of the Liquor Division. He later worked for TRW and Northrop Grumman.In his retirement years he worked as a technical writer.
Gary had the pleasure of marrying four wonderful ladies. In 1959 Gary married Marjorie (White) Blewett and had three children. They divorced in 1982. In 1983 Gary married Donna Wirth and made a life with Donna and her daughter Amanda in Helena. Gary was widowed in 1988 after Donna' death. In 1992 Gary married Michelle Abley and was widowed in 1995. In 2004 Gary met Bettyann Cote. The couple was married May 4, 2005 and made their home in Bozeman.
He enjoyed reading books and poetry, listening to music, going for drives, astronomy, playing chess, and spending personal time with the people he loved.
Gary made friends easily. He had been very involved in the Democratic Party and the Lewis and Clark County Library Board.
He was raised in the Methodist Church and later joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He was conscientious about his callings of responsibilities in his faith and was admired for that.
Gary was preceded in death by his father H. Lloyd Blewett, his brother Jeffrey Jay Blewett, his wife Donna Wirth, and his wife Michelle Abley.
Survivors include his mother Jeannette Blewett of Park City, Utah; his wife Bettyann Cote of Bozeman; four children, Eric Blewett of Helena, Keith Blewett of Belgrade, Gretchen (Blewett) Ulrickson of Plentywood and Amanda
Slevira of Helena. He was also survived by five grandchildren, two sisters, one brother and two nieces.
A memorial service was conducted at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Stake Center in Bozeman, and there was a memorial service at St. Paul' Methodist Church in Helena. Gary' cremated remains were interred at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Helena.
Source: The Montana Tavern Times, April, 2006, published monthly by Continental Communications, 125 W. Granite St., Suite 102, Butte, MT 59701.