Francis Bellanger

Francis Raymond “Butch” Bellanger, age 72, of White Earth, MN, passed away at his home on Thursday, February 22, 2018, after a long battle with cancer.  Services for Butch will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, at St. Columba Episcopal Church in White Earth, with a time of gathering an hour prior.  A visitation will be from 5-7 pm on Monday, February 26, 2018, with a prayer service at 7:00 pm, at David Donehower Funeral Home in Detroit Lakes, MN.   Burial will follow at St. Columba Episcopal Church Cemetery.

Butch was born on July 26, 1945, to William and Delia (Roy-Bonga) Bellanger in White Earth.  He grew up in and spent most of his life in White Earth, where he attended school and later earned his G.E.D.  At the age of 16 he set out from his parents’ home and began working in construction and as a farmhand.  He later inherited his father’s scrap yard business and he ran it for 40 plus years, which earned him the nickname of the “Junkyard Frog”.  Butch married Barbara VanWert and the couple had two children, Roland and Donavon.  He entered into his second marriage with Gloria King and the couple had three children: Francine, Jason, and Jerel.   Butch married again, to Jeanine Bevins, and they had a daughter, Heather.

Butch was a fan of country music.  In his youth he was a Golden Gloves Boxer who won the title of Upper-Midwest Golden Gloves Champion in the 1960’s.  He loved spending time with his grandchildren, playing bingo, doing puzzles, and watching old western shows.  He was also an outdoorsman, who liked to hunt, fish, and watch birds and squirrels.   He enjoyed his days of junking, hauling cars, and tinkering in his shop with his sidekick, Art.  Butch had a heart of gold and was always ready to lend a helping hand, whether it be a tow, a car part, or just to shoot the breeze.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanine; his daughter, Heather (Cory) Berry of Ogema, MN; four sons: Roland (Carol) Bellanger of Waubun, MN; Donavon (Ashley) Bellanger of Faribault, MN; Jason Bellanger of Waubun; and Jerel Bellanger of Waubun; five siblings: Olivia (Jerry) Simmons of Moorhead, MN; Diane (Sam) Madigan of Detroit Lakes;  Gordy (Joyce) Bellanger of White Earth; Darrell (Delia) Bellanger of Waubun; and Betty (Jim) Tow of White Earth; numerous grandchildren, with three special grandchildren: Alyssa, Rylie, and Ryder;  and many great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Delia; four brothers: Wayne, Lawrence, Douglas, and Ronald; a sister, Eleanor Carlson; a daughter, Francine Bellanger; and a grandson, Ethan Berry.

A special thanks to his nurse and his hospice team at the Hospice of the Red River Valley.

He was a champion through and through, his fight with cancer was added proof that he never threw in the towel.