Wesley William Hunt died Wednesday, February 4, 2004, at his home in Richland, Washington.

Wesley was born April 7, 1922, in Bottineau, North Dakota, the son of farmer William Edward and Post Mistress Sophia Elfreda Hunt.

As a young man, Wesley attended schools in Bottineau County and worked as a truck driver and paint contractor. As a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps CCC , Wesley helped to build the Going to the Sun Highway in Glacier National Park before being inducted into the U.S. Army in July 1943.

Wesley William Hunt served his country with valor and distinction as a Rifleman in Company A of the 393rd Infantry Regiment in four major W.W.II campaigns in Europe, including the invasion at Normandy on D-Day and Battle of the Bulge in Ardennes Forest, France during December 1944. Wesley was awarded the Purple Heart Medal twice for wounds he received during those battles.

During those and subsequent campaigns prior to release from the U.S. Army in 1945, Wesley was awarded the Silver Star Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the European – African – Middle Eastern Service Medal with four stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Following World War Two, Wesley lived and worked as a dental assistant and painting contractor in Dillon, Montana. A distinguished private pilot, Wesley received recognition for using his personal plane to locate two downed aircraft, aircrew, and passengers. Wesley loved the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman.

A citizen of Richland, Washington for the past 13 years, Wesley was a member of Temple Baptist Church.

Wesley was preceded in death by his mother Sophia, his father William, his son Wesley Bill Scotty Hunt, stepson Byron Seybold, and stepson Martin Dean.

Wesley William Hunt is survived by his wife Eldrie Dean. He is also survived by his daughters Shelby Sullivan of Billings, Montana, and Michelle Hunt of Dillon, Montana, as well as sons Delbert Hunt of East Helena, Montana, Marvin Hunt of Helena, Montana, and stepson Donald Dean of Santa Rosa, California, as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and grandchildren.

A memorial service will be conducted at the Temple Baptist Church in Richland, Washington at 1 PM on Saturday, February 7. Wesley William Hunt will be interred in the Dillon, Montana cemetery at 2 PM on Monday, February 9, 2004.