A 41-year-old Hennepin County sheriff's deputy lost his battle with pancreatic cancer days after last weekend's fundraiser to help cover his medical expenses.
Deputy Jeff Bunton died Wednesday. In July, he went to the emergency room in Ely while on vacation with his family. The visit led to his diagnosis of cancer.
Bunton, a Cottage Grove native, had been with the Sheriff's Office since 1999. He also served six years in the Navy aboard aircraft carriers. He is survived by his wife, Kris, and their two teenage children.
At the fundraiser, Kris Bunton said Jeff's kind heart made him well-suited for his job in the mental health transport unit. She said he had patience with everyone he had contact with.
Services for Bunton will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Zion Lutheran Church in Cottage Grove. Donations can still made to the Jeff Bunton fund at the City & County Credit Union, 144 11th St. E., in St. Paul.
ROCHELLE OLSON
@rochelleolson
