Harley B. Blankenship, 74

Harley B. Blankenship, 74, a 10-year resident of Bigfork, passed away after a courageous battle with complications due to leukemia on Dec. 13, 2011.

Harley was born in Yakima, Wash., on Dec. 8, 1937, to Harold and Catherine Blankenship. He graduated from Tulelake High School in 1955 and proceeded to Oregon State University, where he not only earned a bachelor’s degree in science, but met his wife of 49 years, Diana.

Shortly after college, Harley earned the rank of captain in the United States Army. He subsequently went on to serve as a highway patrolman for the state of Oregon.

He started his career in 1965 at the Segal Company in Los Angeles as an actuarial consultant. He moved on to the Screen Actors Guild in 1983, serving as their pension and health plan administrator. In 1989, Harley took his expertise to the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans where he served as executive administrative director. He ultimately retired in 2009, serving as special administrative consultant to the Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plans.

To that end, Harley was involved for many years with the Motion Picture and Television Fund as director of their annual Heartbeat of Hollywood Golf Tournament, which helps provide health care for those associated with the entertainment industry.

Harley, however, was happiest riding his Harley Davidson about Montana with his wife, Diana, and playing with his grandchildren.

Harley was not only often described as a gentleman, but the gentlest of men.

Harley is survived by his wife, Diana, daughters, Cynthia Lightfoot and Christine Bajari, sons-in-law, Steve Lightfoot and Mark Bajari, and grandchildren, Stephen, Owen, Audrey, Emma and Forrest.

Services are pending and will be held early summer 2012.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to ALERT Air Ambulance Program/NWHC Foundation, 310 Sunnyview Lane, Kalispell, Montana 59901, or to www.nwhc.org/foundation.