Bruce Bellin

Bruce Kenneth Bellin, age 64 of St. Paul, Minnesota, died peacefully on May 2, 2019, surrounded for weeks by extended family in Sandy and Duane’s home. Bruce faced metastasizing ocular melanoma. He grew up as an avid 4-H-er in rural Fairmont, Minnesota, winning awards in baking and for his extensive and stunning insect collections. A gifted student, Bruce graduated in the class of 1973 from Fairmont High School. For five years 1973 - 1977 he joyfully played drums in the University of Minnesota Marching Band. Bruce competed with a Drum and Bugle Corps and played in private gigs. His lifelong uninhibited style and sense of rhythm were in evidence on the dance floor, as well.  His studies at the U of M led to his work as an entomologist while in the Peace Corps in Jamaica. Returning to The States, he climbed California trees for pine cones, then settled into two decades of installing commercial office furniture in the Twin Cities. Switching nights and days, for 17 years Bruce loyally worked for his appreciative delivery customers with the St. Paul Pioneer Press. Bruce made lifelong friends through music and work. His home was “The House of many friendships”; and jam sessions; and even as he became more reclusive, he loved his friends & family, sharing a meal or a new perspective; cooking, laughing, drumming, dancing.  Bruce is preceded in death by his father, Floyd H. Bellin, Jr. and nephew, Travis Floyd Bellin. Bruce’s ashes will fittingly be carried in a Jamaican drum that he valued for spiritual significance. He is survived by his mother, Helen A. (Frenning) Bellin; 4 siblings: Gary Bellin (Wendy), Joan Bellin (Rick O’Connor), Sandra Gebers (Duane), Cheryl Bellin (Jim Rauh); adoring nieces and nephews: Amanda Spies, Christina Bellin, Hallie O’Connor (Matt Goedtel), Will O’Connor (Valerie Smeshko), Eric Gebers (Laura), Hannah Gebers Messerly (Eric), Bekkah Gebers, Abby Gebers, Erin Rauh Strutz (Greg).  Our loving and generous son, brother, uncle and friend is free to drum and to dance in spirit.  The family will greet friends from 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 13, 2019 at Mattson Funeral Home, 343 North Shore Drive, Forest Lake.  A Celebration of Life will be held at 12:00 p.m. Interment to follow at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery in North Branch, Minnesota. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be designated to the University of Minnesota Marching Band Fund at 200 Oak Street SE, Suite 500, Minneapolis, MN 55455-2010. Online go to: https://makingagift.umn.edu/give/fund.html?owner=O_MBND&desc_source=UWXX_CLAR_SITE and select University Marching Band Fund.