Harold Hugh Blum, 83, peacefully passed away at home surrounded by family on May 26, 2023, in Pleasant Grove, Utah. A beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Harold was born July 17, 1939, in McCook, Nebraska to Hugh and Grace Blum. Harold grew up in an idyllic 1950’s small town – McCook, Nebraska. As a child, Harold cherished his frequent visits to his grandparents’ farm in Palisade, Nebraska where he often went pheasant hunting with his father and grandfather. His first jobs included delivering newspapers and being a gas station attendant. Harold shared many fond memories of growing up in McCook where he met his lifelong sweetheart, Renon his junior year at McCook HS. In the summertime, he enjoyed going out of state to the Colorado YMCA camp Chief Ouray where he developed a love for swimming and water skiing. In high school, Harold played on the varsity basketball team and excelled on the coronet in the McCook High School band. He graduated in 1957. Harold and Renon’s high-school courtship began when he asked her to go to the annual Bison Corral dance and by-and-by blossomed into an unstoppable romance. They were married on August 23, 1960, ultimately celebrating 60 wonderful years of marriage. Harold attended The University of Denver (DU) with a scholarship in Band for his Freshman year. Harold became an avid hockey fan as he watched DU win multiple National Championships. His studies focused on business finance and he graduated in four years (1961) with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. At college, Harold met many lifelong friends from his association with the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon. While attending DU, Harold explored Renon’s faith and was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on February 4, 1961. He frequently remarked that the most important event in his life was May 27, 1970 when his family was sealed forever in the Salt Lake Temple. Harold began his career in Denver as a bank examiner for the Comptroller of the Currency. His career later took him to Salt Lake City, Portland Oregon, and then to San Francisco, where he worked as the Director of Bank Examinations for the Federal Reserve Bank. Though an accomplished and highly credentialed businessman and banker, Harold’s highest priorities in life were his family and his faith. The family often enjoyed vacations to the Oregon and California coasts. Harold was known to be a very positive and friendly person. He had a special ability to make others see the good in life. He had a great love for our country and was very patriotic – always displaying multiple flags in his yard. He loved to attend parades and Fourth of July festivities. Harold is the loving husband to Renon Blum (preceded in death), and father of four - Tamara Jones (Clark), Jeff Blum (deceased), Nicole Sallenback (Lance), and Brian Blum (Laura). He is survived by his younger sister - Marilyn Wurst along with 17 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren. Harold’s life is characterized by…putting his family first. He was fiercely loyal to his family and determined to do all he could to make his family happy and strong in their faith - frequently admonishing his children to “choose the right” in all things. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 3, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. in the Olpin Family Mortuary Chapel, 494 South 300 East, Pleasant Grove. Family and friends may attend a viewing from noon - 12:45 p.m. prior to the services. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com. For those who would like to watch the services from home, please click on the link provided below. A special thanks to friends and family who enriched Harold’s life so greatly.
https://www.olpinmortuary.com/obituaries/harold-blum-2023
