Services for Blaine Kenneth Grone
Tue, 02/11/2025 - 2:27pm
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Blaine Kenneth Grone, age 84, of Green Valley, AZ, passed away on December 23rd, 2024 at NorthWest Medical Center in Sahuarita, AZ. He was surrounded by family.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date in 2025.
Blaine was born on May 23, 1940 to Leola and Jack Grone in Bagley, MN. Blaine attended grade school in Fosston, MN for grades 1 and 2. His family moved to Gonvick, MN where he attended school from grade 3 onward and graduated from Gonvick High School in 1958. He attended the University of North Dakota.
On February 14th, 1959 Blaine married the love of his life Helene Gustafson in Gonvick, MN. At his death they had been wed for 65 years. To this union, three children were born, Lori, Kristen, and Jack. Blaine and Helene moved from small town to big city (Minneapolis, MN area) immediately after marrying. He started his career as a door to door salesman with Colliers selling encyclopedias. In 1965 he went to work for Hunt Wesson Foods, becoming district manager and then regional manager. In 1985 Blaine's career took them to Laguna Niguel, CA, where he was national accounts manager for Hunt Wesson/Conagra Foods corporate in Fullerton, CA. He retired from Hunt Wesson in 1988, at the age of 48. He and Helene moved back to their peaceful 80-acre hobby farm in rural Clearbrook, MN. There the two of them enjoyed the next 35 years, retired in God's country. In 1996 they bought a winter home in Green Valley, AZ. They split time between MN and AZ before moving full time to Green Valley in 2022.
Blaine was a golf nut, as a result Helene was a golf widow of sorts. Blaine had a sign in his home office that read "I golf - therefore I am not here". In Minnesota, he was a daily presence at the Bemidji CC. He was also a member of Desert Hills Golf Club in Green Valley, AZ. Besides Golf, he loved to hunt rough grouse, pheasant, and bow hunt deer. He also was passionate about walleye fishing, later in life mostly on Red Lake in MN. Blaine was a devoted supporter of Minnesota sports teams and followed the Vikings, Wild, Twins, and Golden Gophers with enthusiasm. He loved their cat Lucky and missed all of his late dogs. They were his constant companions. No doubt he has been reunited with them all in his next life. Blaine was a wonderful, self taught, piano player. He entertained many at parties, senior centers, nursing homes and the like. Later in life he learned how to play bridge and made new friends playing in bridge groups. At the core of Blaine's life was his deep faith in Christ. He was a long time member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Clearbrook, MN. He was also a member of Desert Hills Lutheran Church in Green Valley, AZ. He was also a Gideon. He leaves behind so many good friends. Blaine had a deep love for his family. Blaine genially cared for people and would strike up conversations with everyone he met in his daily travels. All who knew and loved him will miss him dearly.
Blaine is survived by his wife Helene; daughters Lori Grone of San Diego, CA; Kristen (Rick) Swanson, of Edina, MN; son Jack Grone of Green Valley, AZ; grand daughter Madelyn Swanson; sisters Carolyn Snobeck; Pamela Berg; Linda Rousseau; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents Leola and Jack; sisters Arlene Vadnais and Pat Graftaas; and two brothers-in-law.
In Lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to your favorite charity in Blaine's memory.