Francis Frank Harold Belmont

When a cowboy’s too old to set a bad example, he hands out good advice. Frank Belmont (not Francis, but sometimes Lew or Lou) was full of great advice. On the evening of Jan. 24th, 2016, Frank left us at 92 years young, surrounded by his loving family. He was preceded in death by his wife Nellie Woods Belmont in 1980 and his second wife Judy Waldenburg Belmont in 2008.

He is survived by his four sons, Owen (Karleen), Wayne (Sal), Lee (Jennifer) and Clay (Sonya), his four step-children, Rick (Joanne), Lavonne, Lewis and Connie, his 10 grandchildren, Tonya (Grant), Freeman (Connie), Forrest (Brittany), Rayce, Lizzi, Taylor, Jamie, Kendall, Rallie and Tommie, and three great-grandchildren, Jackson, Colton and Blaire, as well as numerous step grand and great-grandchildren. His family offers their love and thanks to the countless friends, family, and community members who added to the joy that was Frank’s life. Our special thanks goes to Jan Innocenti, for her love and care in Frank’s passing.

Born in Stockton California on December 22, 1923, Frank was a cowboy at heart and in deed. He was raised on various ranches in the Sierra Valley, where he lived with his schoolteacher mother, Helen, and sister Martha. He loved to sit astride his horse, a mustang he captured from a wild herd in southeastern Oregon, and dream of cowboying forever. But life interceded, and two weeks shy of his 18th birthday, almost immediately after the events of Pearl Harbor, Frank enlisted. He wanted to be a combat pilot, but his skills as a teacher were needed, so he became a flight instructor in the Army Air Corps. Many pilots were first trained under his tutelage. By the end of the war, he was a navigator on a B-29 headed for Saipan and the Pacific Theater.

After the war, like many air corps veterans, he aspired to be an airline pilot. Instead he embarked on a short lived business venture in El Paso Texas involving a surplus cargo plane, but with all his eggs in one basket, the arrangement promptly scrambled (literally and figuratively), so he went to work for the airlines in operations management. There he met his bride-to-be, Nellie Mae Woods, who also worked at the airlines. Soon after they were married, the newlyweds moved to Davis, California so Frank could attend the University of California where he earned his degree in Agricultural Economics and Animal Husbandry. Frank and Nellie formed many lifelong friendships with other couples in the Veterinary School at Davis. After college, a short stint as an agricultural extension agent in Nevada, the birth of one son and the expectation of another, Frank and Nellie took up farming in central California. An unfortunate tussle with a piece of recalcitrant farm equipment led to a broken back and the end of farming as a career choice. So using Frank’s college degree, the young family moved to Sacramento, California, welcomed a third son and he embarked on a different pathway into agriculture. First with the California Department of Agriculture, then the United States Department of Agriculture. In 1957, the family transferred to Portland, Oregon where a fourth son was born. Frank retired from his agricultural career after 28 years of service.

Nellie passed in August 11, 1980 after nearly 32 years of marriage. Frank then courted and married Judy Waldenburg. Frank became an important part of a second family with Judy’s adult children and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Judy and Frank were married until Judy’s death on September 22, 2008. Between these two incredible partnerships, Frank was happily married for 58 years.

Frank had many passions and interests in life. He was an avid outdoorsman (hunting, fishing, hiking and camping), a long- time bicyclist (he began riding an English Raleigh 10 speed to work from his home in the SE suburbs to downtown Portland in the 1960’s and completed a metric century bike ride on the Oregon Coast when he was 84), a motorcyclist (both off-road and touring) and a skiing fanatic into his late 80’s. He started the Sundowners nighttime skiing bus from downtown Portland to Mt. Hood Meadows.

He enjoyed too many special trips and events to count them all, but a short list of favorites with all of his family and friends:

• Skiing with son Lee and other family members and friends at Big White in Canada (Murdoch Ski Club), Mt. Bachelor, Mt. Hood Meadows, Utah, Colorado, and Tahoe;

• Fishing at Echo Bay with son Owen in British Columbia, and the Lostine River, 15 mile creek in Dufer, and on the Donner and Blitzen with his sons;

• Off-road motocross and dirt bike (watching or riding) at Washougal, McMinnville, Fox-Hollow, PIR, the Tillamook Burn (Lee’s Camp), Izee with son-in-law Jerry, Sand Lake, and the High Desert 100; on road motorcycle touring all around Oregon, and several extended trips to Nevada, California and elsewhere in the West;

• Elk Hunting at Mt. Vernon, Ukiah and Heppner with Wayne and with Owen in Washington state; Deer Hunting with the Schlingmans in Baker; Chukar Hunting on the breaks of the Snake, Columbia and Deschutes Rivers;

• Dog walks with son Clay and family along the Willamette River;

• Bicycle riding everywhere, but especially all over Portland with family and friends, Seattle to Portland on several occasions, and the annual Yaquina Lighthouse Century with Wayne on the coast;

• Road trips with Judy to Montana and Canada to visit relatives;

• Daily work outs at “the club” including that long jacuzzi soak;

• Annual beach vacations with Nellie and the boys to Honeyman State Park near Florence and to the Wallowas and Hells Canyon to camp and fish;

• Oktoberfest every year with Judy and family.

• Michael Allen Harrison concerts were a favorite as well as the Singing Christmas Tree with Jennifer and grandkids every Christmas. He loved to eat — Heidi’s, Elmer’s, Denny’s and Starbucks have lost a huge appetite.

But Frank’s first love was family. He was the number one fan and supporter at all his four sons’ sporting and academic endeavors. He attended countless basketball, baseball, softball and soccer games, motorcycle races, music and theater performances and recitals for his grandchildren. He loved festivals, events, music and dancing. If there was a Belmont or Belmont/Waldenburg gathering, he was the center of attention.

In his later years, Frank began attending the Mt. View Community Church with son Clay and family. His commitment to church and God renewed and flourished. He made many new friends and was the affable “greeter” at the early services. Our thanks to Pastor John Strutz and the church community for embracing him so fully.

Frank’s last few years living with son Lee and family were a blessing. He was surrounded by love. Frank died in the home he and Nellie purchased in 1957, in the bedroom that they shared for all those years.

His wisdom and faith will continue to resonate throughout his family and community

Frank will be laid to rest at 10:30am on Friday, February 5, 2016 at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scott Blvd., Portland, OR 97086.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Oregon City Evangelical Church on Saturday March 5th at 1pm.

Directions and the link to their website: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Oregon+City+Evangelical+Church/@45.3404728,-122.6050067,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x8d5f5faa2a23e3b9

In lieu of flowers, you are welcome to make donations to Frank's favorite charity: Loaves and Fishes (Meals on Wheels) and here is the link to their main website: http://www.loavesandfishesonline.org/ He delivered meals on wheels for over 30 years out of the Lents office at 10325 SE Holgate Portland. OR: to his favorite church: Mountain View Community Church : http://www.mvcommunity.net/.

Lastly, we want nobody to wear a suit. We would like you to wear your favorite hat: cowboy, ski, bike, motorcycle, stocking etc. Next, wear your favorite shirt: motorcyle, ski, hiking, biking, hunting, fishing, eating etc. Then wear your favorite jeans or pants. Finish off with your favorite shoes: cowboy boots, hiking boots, biking shoes, work out shoes etc. Dad wore a "suit" two times that we can remember: his wedding to Nellie, and the suit from son Wayne that he wore for his own creamation!