Upper right: Dave. Lower right: Mary (left) and Thomasina
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Upper right: Dave. Lower right: Mary (left) and Thomasina |
Thomas Maynard Blake was the son of George Willard and Mary Louisa (Lowry) Blake. George was born in Ontario, Canada. His father was born in Ireland. Mary was born in Missouri.
In 1913, after the death of his father, Tom, with his mother and several of his siblings, moved from Great Falls to Anaconda, Montana, where he finished school. Tom then went to work for the Anaconda Company at the smelter, eventually working as a machinist. During World War I, Tom enlisted in the Merchant Marine, and served on a frigate.
Lediga Florence "Lydia" Leistiko, daughter of Adolph and Tina Leistiko, was born and went to school in Anaconda, Montana.
Tom and Lydia were married in 1927 in Butte Montana, and had three children:
| Mary Lydia Blake | Born in 1927. |
| Thomasina Ann Blake | Born in 1928. |
| David Mitchell Blake | Born in 1944. |
The family lived in Bremerton, Washington, during World War II, where Tom worked as a steel worker in the shipyards. Lydia and their daughter Thomasina also worked at the shipyards, as riviters. Their daughter Mary worked as a clerk, doing billing for airplane parts. After World War II ended, in 1947 the family returned to Anaconda. Tom went back to work at the smelter. However, a year later, they bought the Beaver Hotel in Butte, Montana, on Main Street. They operated it until June 1950, when they sold the hotel, and moved back to Anaconda, where they bought a house on Hickory Street. Tom again went back to work for the smelter, retiring in 1963.
Tom was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Elks, Masonic Lodge, Nile Shrine, United Steelworkers, and International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. Lydia belonged to the Ladies Order of Eagles and the Eastern Star of the Masonic Lodge. She loved to crochet and made many lovely afghans and other items throughout the years.
Tom died in 1982 in Anaconda. Lydia then moved to Seattle where she lived until she died in 1988. Both Tom and Lydia are buried in Anaconda.
Tina Leistiko, her daughter Lydia Blake, with her son Dave, Lydia's daughter Mary Cook, and Mary's daughter Judy. Taken June 1947 at the home of Tom and Lydia in Anaconda. |
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