James Francis Blondeau

James Blondeau, 78 of Ashby died Friday, May 10, 2024, at Essentia Health in Fargo.

James Francis Blondeau was born on March 3, 1946, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota the son of Charles (Buster) and Opal (Hamann) Blondeau.  He was baptized and confirmed in St. Elizabeth Catholic Church.  Jim attended the Elizabeth Public School through the eighth grade and graduated from Fergus Falls High School in 1964.  He proudly enlisted in the US Navy, serving on aircraft carriers, and was Honorably Discharged from the service.  He then continued his education at the Fergus Falls Junior College.

James and Bonnie Kay Anderson were married on February 2, 1973, in Battle Lake, Minnesota.  They lived thirteen years by Weetown, seven years in Fergus Falls and in 1992, Jim and Bonnie moved to Ashby.  He was employed with Mark Sand and Gravel Company, before starting with the US Postal Service, as a rural mail carrier, working thirty plus years until his retirement.  Jim loved hunting with his family and friends, and he enjoyed raising hunting dogs.  He also enjoyed slow drives down gravel roads and reading with his grandchildren.  He was a member of the Fergus Falls VFW and the Ashby American Legion.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; three children, Sara (Derek) Getz of Norcross, Samuel (Heather) Blondeau of Rothsay and Emily Hohman of Ashby;  Cooper, Natalie, Kaleb, Braedon, Ian, Allyson, Jesse, Brooke, Abbi, Olivia & Charles;  five siblings, Colleen Waller of Alexandria, Charles (Deb) Blondeau of Fergus Falls, Debra Blondeau of Minneapolis, Rebecca (Lucien Mesilas) Blondeau of Edgewater, NJ and Steven Blondeau Fergus Falls; sister-in-law, Jean Blondeau of Fergus Falls; sister-in-law Gwyn (James) Risbrudt, sister-in-law Beatrice (Oscar) Mattson, sister-in-law Mona Slack and by numerous relatives and friends.  Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Opal Blondeau; granddaughter, Brooke Blondeau; brother, Tom Blondeau; and brother-in-law, Steven Waller, In-law's Robert and Elaine Anderson, brother-in-law, Dennis Anderson, brother-in-law Tom Slack, and nephew Darin Slack.

Funeral Mass: 1:00 PM, Friday, May 17, 2024, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Fergus Falls.

Visitation: Thursday from 5 to 7 PM, with a 6:30 PM Prayer Service, at Glende-Nilson Funeral Home in Fergus Falls, and will resume one hour prior to the service at the church.

Military Honors: Harold T. Swenson VFW Post 612 and American Legion Post 30 of Fergus Falls.

Inurnment: Pelican Lake Cemetery in Ashby, Minnesota

Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson of Fergus Falls.