Herb Blatter of New Castle died Friday, Oct. 11, from natural causes. He was 63.

Mr. Blatter was born in 1939 in Golden to Clarence and Leona Blatter.

He attended Golden High School and graduated in 1957. He attended the University of Colorado School of Medicine until 1959, when he joined the U.S. Army.

He served in the both the Army medical corps and Army air support in Texas, Virginia and Alaska.

Following his service in the military, Mr. Blatter spent three years traveling the country.

In 1966 he married Linda Rozelle of Clifton.

Mr. Blatter began his apprenticeship as a master carpenter in 1964. He worked for the next 25 years as a construction foreman, often on major projects on the Western Slope, including the Western Bell (Qwest) tower in Grand Junction, Fruita Monument High School, Starwood in Aspen, the Moffat County power plant and the Interstate 70 bridges in West Rifle.

Being a native of Colorado, Mr. Blatter enjoyed hunting, fishing and climbing in the wilderness. He also enjoyed time with his family, showing them the beautiful and wild parts of the state he had grown up in. He also enjoyed bowling, pinochle and pool.

He was forced to retire in 1993 with emphysema. He stayed busy renovating his house, gardening and spending time with his sons and daughter-in-law.

He was preceded in death by his parents, by a brother Don Blatter; and by a son, Dominic Blatter.

He is survived by his former wife, Linda Blatter, of Rifle; by sons and daughter-in-law James Blatter of New Castle, and Ken and Christine Blatter of Rifle; by adopted sons Brent Berg of Montana, Heith Felps of Seattle, Wash., and Alan Everett of Rifle; by brother and sister-in-law Ken and Shirley Blatter of Golden; and by nieces, nephews and friends.

A memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, at the First Baptist Church of Garfield County, 632 Grand in Silt.

A reception will follow at the home of Ken Blatter, 1701 Howard Ave., Rifle.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial contributions be made to the Veterans Administration Hospital in Grand Junction and/or LIFT-UP of Rifle.