Lena Ward

Lena M. Ward, 86 passed away Friday, July 25, 2008. Her life began on June 17th, 1922 on the family ranch at Gravley Range, MT. She was the youngest child of twelve born to Frank P. Herrin and Theresa (Jacka)Herrin.

She married Charles Ward in 1968 and they spent their first years of marriage in Seal Beach, CA before coming to Polson to enjoy their retirement. Lena loved her collection of old time music and singing along with it. She also loved to do crafts, play cards and spend time with her husband drinking a toddy and watching trivia game shows. We enjoyed her fine sense of humor and the many family stories she shared with us.

She is survived by one daughter, one son, 2 grandchildren, six great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

Lena's last four years of life were spent at St Luke Extended Care Facility.The love and care she received there was a great comfort to her and her family. Blessings go out to each and every one of you. In lieu of sending flowers please make donations to St Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan, MT.

Services will be held on Friday, August 22, 2008 at 1 pm at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton with a reception following in the funeral home's community room. Interment will follow the reception at Lone Pine Cemetery in Darby.

Neil McAlpin

Neil Robert McAlpin died on the family farm in Polson August 14 of natural causes. Neil was born February 14, 1934 near Villisca, Iowa on the family farm to Lottie (Thompson) and Robert McAlpin. After college, Lottie taught school in Sunny Slope and Bigfork while Robert worked for the USDA in Dubois. They married and settled in Iowa, but a love of the West led them to sell that farm and bring their children to Polson in 1940, purchasing the former Gov. Joseph Dixon Ranch on the South Shore.

Neil graduated from Polson High in 1952. He attended Carleton College and finished his formal education at Montana State College in Bozeman, majoring in Zoology. After teaching for a short time at Polson High, he married Randa Colvill and they purchased the family farm. Together, Neil and Randa have spent the last 48 years raising children, grandchildren and crops on the shore of Flathead Lake. They are also known for 38 years of innovative dairying on their farm. Later in life Neil developed a passion for building and flying radio control airplanes, which he was doing when he passed away.

Neil would want to be remembered for his service to community, on boards including the Lake County Junior Fair, Mission Valley Dairy Cooperative, and Polson Rural Fire District. He led 4-H clubs and Cub Scout troops locally and served on the Producers Committee for Milk Quota, and board of the Montana State University Agriculture Research Stations for Montana. He was equally proud of the accomplishments of his own children as of the accomplishments of the numerous young people to whom he taught the values of hard work on the farm. His greatest joy was teaching his grandchildren a love for nature, being outdoors and working with their hands. God has a farmer now.

Neil is survived by his wife of 48 years Randa, sons Ken (Gina) of Ronan, Dave (Beth O'Halloran) of Missoula, and daughter Barbara Margaris (Mel) of Great Falls; as well as siblings Ross McAlpin (Marylou) of Bigfork, Alice Forbes (Dale) of Great Falls, four grandchildren, and other extended family.

A memorial service will was at 11:00am on Monday August 18 in Polson at the Grogan Funeral Home. Memorials can be made to the Lake County 4-H Foundation, 300 - 3rd Avenue, Ronan, MT 59864. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com.

Patricio Padilla Jr.

Patricio (Pat) Padilla Jr. 86, passed away August 4, 2008 of natural causes. Pat was bon July 24, 1922 in Julesburg, CO to Patricio Padilla Sr. and wife Lorenza. Pat served during WWII in the Coast Guard. He was employed by Montana Electronics in Billings and Missoula until his retirement.

He is survived by his wife, Florence and son Scott of Missoula; his brothers Henry Padilla and wife Lenore of Ronan; Tony Padilla and wife Kay of Polson; his sisters, Anita and husband John Stevens of Great Falls; Betty and husband Carrol Hopkins of Ronan.

He was preceded in death by his parents Patricio and Lerenza Padilla; sisters Aurora Eisman, Elbira Sloan and brother Sham Padilla.

Per his request, there will be no funeral services.

Doris Elfers Mayer

Doris Mayer passed away due to natural causes on August 2. She was born on December 20, 1918 to Herbert and Mary Elfers who came to the Flathead Valley to homestead in 1912. She was the third of six children: Paul, Natalie, Doris, Evelyn, Laverne and Alice. The family eventually settled on the a rach about two miles southwest of Pablo.

Doris attended a country school, Glacier View, located near her home. Later she graduated from Ronan High School in 1935. In 1938, she married her school friend Wallace Mayer. They lived in Ronan where Wallace worked for the Associated Seed Company and Doris cared for their two children and took in boarders. The family moved to Kennewick, WA in 1951. While Wallace pursued a career in the production of nulcear reactors at Hanford, Doris was an exemplary homemaker and mother. In 1965, Wallace and Doris joined others n building the Highland Christian Church. There, Wallace was an elder and Doris active in teaching. In 1967, Wallace was sent to Sweden by his company for special training. Doris accompanied him and they were able to travel in Sweden and Europe. After retiring in 1981, they traveled by RV to many locations in the United States. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1997. In 2006, Doris moved from Kennewick to Wenatchee, WA to be near her daughter.

Doris is survived by her daughter Jeannette and son-in-law Hap Richmond; son David and daughter-in-law Kathleen Meyer; sister and brother-in-law, Alice and Calvin Lindburg of Ronan, MT; six grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service was held at Desert Lawn Memorial Park on August 7. Memorial donations may be made in Doris' name to your local Hospice Chapter.