In Re the Marriage of Blades

Roger Lowell Blades appeals from the property distribution made by the Eleventh Judicial District Court, Flathead County, in this dissolution of marriage. We reverse and remand.

The dispositive issue is whether the District Court erred in distributing to Roger as part of the marital estate two pension plans in which his interest was not vested.

The parties were married for thirty-five years before they separated in 1992. All three of their children are now adults. At the date of trial, Roger was fifty-eight years old, receiving a pension, and seeking additional employment. Betty was fifty-six…