Obituaries

Archie C. Silverthorne

DIXON — Archie C. Silverthorne, 87, died Thursday, Dec. 16, 2004, at Evergreen Health Care Center in Polson.

Archie was born in Florence to Jeff and Anna (Jones) Silverthorne on June 9, 1917. When Archie was a young child his father died in a logging accident and the family moved to their allotment near St. Mary's Lake near St. Ignatius and ranched.

He attended the Ursulines School in St. Ignatius and later attended Flandreau Indian School for a brief time before joining the Army Air Corps.

Archie made his military life his career and retired from the U.S. Air Force after serving in Puerto Rico as a radar technician for many years.

Upon his return to Montana, he led the life of a solitary man. Occasionally he would stay the winter with family but he mostly worked on ranches until a ranching accident caused him to be nearer to medical facilities.

So he lived in the Dixon Agency area until 10 years ago when he moved into the Evergreen Nursing Home in Polson.

The last of his generation, he was preceded in death by his father Jeff Silverthorne; mother Anna Theriault; and stepfather Joe Theriault; brothers James, Don, Woody "Sunny," Henry "Hank," Lester and Lester's twin who died in infancy; a sister, Norma, and two step- brothers, the Dishmans.

He is survived by a large family of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews as well as a former wife, Claire Silverthorne of Colorado Springs whom he was still close to.

Memorial services were held Tuesday, Dec. 21 at 3 p.m. in the Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius, where military honors were presented.

George Vernon Nelson

ABERDEEN, S.D. — The funeral service for former Polson resident George Vernon Nelson, 79, of Aberdeen was held Dec. 21, 2004, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Hills, Minn. Pastor Lowell Berg officiated. Burial followed at Flower Field Cemetery with military rites by the Hills American Legion Post #399.

George died Saturday, Dec. 18, 2004, at the Bethesda Nursing Home, Aberdeen.

He was born Oct. 3, 1925, to John and Christine (Moe) Nelson at Hills, where he was raised, attended Hills Public Schools and graduated from Hills High School. George entered the U.S. Army Dec. 13, 1946, and received his honorable discharge May 8, 1947.

George married Jean Jordahl Nov. 6, 1949, in Luverne, Minn. George had his own cream delivery service and worked for the John Morrell Company for a short time.

In 1960, they moved to Brandon, S.D.

George purchased the Jack and Jill Grocery Store, which he operated for several years.

In 1969, they returned to Hills, where he owned and operated George's Clover Farm Grocery Store for many years.

In 1984, they moved to Polson and George was employed with a livestock feed and grain company as a livestock feed salesman until he retired in 1987.

In 1995, they moved to Ortonville, Minn., and moved to Aberdeen in 2001.

George enjoyed golfing — he scored a hole in one in 1973. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and working with wood. George was known for his great sense of humor with family, friends and the staff at Bethesda.

Surviving are his wife Jean of Aberdeen; three daughters, Mary (Edward) Bultema of Grandville, Mich., Janie (Jeffrey) Helgeson of St. Paul, Minn. and Dawn (Mark) Vaux of Aberdeen; two sons, David (Margaret) Nelson of Ipswich, S.D., and Bradley (Cheryl) Nelson of Granite Bay, Calif.; 14 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five sisters, five brothers and one daughter. Kristie Olson.

Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, Aberdeen, was in charge of local arrangements and Roste Funeral Home of Hills.

Marilyn Wanda Ramsay (Simmons)

POLSON — Marilyn Wanda Ramsay (Simmons) died Dec. 17, 2004, after losing her battle with cancer.

Marilyn was born in Polson on July 24, 1948. She spent the first 18 years of her life in Polson before graduating from PHS in 1966. Marilyn then attended college in Colorado at Denver Women's College, completing her studies in 1967.

Upon finishing school, Marilyn worked at the Public Library in Denver from 1967 to 1970 before moving to Bellingham, Wash. During her time in Bellingham, she was employed at Western Washington University.

Marilyn moved to Bozeman in 1972 where she worked for Montana State University from 1972 to 1975.

From 1976 to 1979 Marilyn worked for the Montana Department of Social and Health Services.

Marilyn returned to Polson in 1984 to help her parents on the local farm and ranch. Marilyn took an active role in the local church, attending services regularly. Marilyn also dedicated herself to providing a warm and loving environment for her children.

Marilyn is survived by her three sons, Rick, Graham, and Geoff. She is also survived by her aunt, Alice Kirk, and cousins Lonnie, Doug, and Randy.

Marilyn will be remembered for her sweet heart, caring way, and cute laugh, may she rest in peace.

Services were held at the Grogan Funeral Home in Polson on Wednesday, Dec. 22.

Interment was in Lakeview Cemetery, Polson.

Wayne A.

Van Voast

HELENA Wayne Van Voast of Helena and Butte died Tuesday, Dec. 14. Wayne was the son of Milo and Dollie Van Voast of Helena and was a graduate of Helena Senior High School in 1956.

A memorial service honoring Wayne was held at St. Paul's United Methodist Church Helena on Dec. 20.

Wayne earned a B.S. in Earth Sciences in 1961 and an M.S. in Geomorphology in 1964 from Montana State University. Wayne's passion, intuition, and talent for geology earned him respect and international recognition during a rich, rewarding career, which included work for the United States Geological Survey in St. Paul, Minn., and most recently as the Chief of Research Division for the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology in Butte.

Wayne's recent accomplishments and recognitions include the 2004 Water Legend Award where he was cited as the "Father of Montana Coal Hydrogeology" from the American Water Resources Association, the Distinguished Researcher Award for lifetime excellence in research from Montana Tech, and was published by the American Association of Petroleum Geologists in 2003 for his research on "Geochemical signature of formation waters associated with coalbed methane."

Throughout his career, he wrote 40 publications on hydrology, co-wrote college textbooks and was referenced as an expert in many other writings.

As a scientist, adventurer, poet, and fisherman he found pride and joy in all aspects of his life. Wayne was a big man in all the best ways, in intelligence, in dedication, in humor, in integrity, and in warmth. During his life he traveled to many countries including Poland and Russia during the height of the cold war as a member of an international delegation of scientists. Wayne's favorite destinations included Campbell River on Vancouver Island for salmon fishing and Puerto Penasco, Mexico, for solace, relaxation, and fresh shrimp.

Wayne loved, married and was subsequently divorced from JoAnn Hanson (mother of his sons) and Judy McKenna. During the later years of his life he found Carol Cooper Ferguson, who became his beloved and trusted partner in life.

He is survived by his two sons, Brett Van Voast of Bakersfield, Calif., and Todd Van Voast of San Francisco; and by his brother's family Greg and Doris Van Voast of Helena and their sons Sheldon, Jeff, and Kenneth.

Wayne is also survived by relatives in Lake County, numerous cousins, and by an extended family of long-time, much valued friends and colleagues. He was loved and will be dearly missed by all.

The family requested that donations be made in Wayne's name to the St. Paul's United Methodist Church Building Fund, 505 Logan, Helena, MT 59601.

Arrangements were by Retz Funeral Home in Helena.

John Clay Barker, Sr.

POLSON — John Clay Barker, Sr., 65, of Polson, (formerly of Thompson Falls) died peacefully on Dec. 18, 2004, with his daughter at his side.

He was born in Lilburn, Mo., on July 10, 1939, to Jesse and Edna Barker. He moved to central California with his father around the age of eight, after the death of his mother.

John picked cotton in his youth. He attended school in California. He enjoyed rebuilding old cars and worked in demolition for many years.

He moved to live with his daughter and her family in April 1997 and enjoyed trips to town and walking to the creek.

He is survived by his children, Marcie Jean Butte of Polson, John Clay Barker, Jr., of Torrance, Calif., and Rusty Michael Barker of Visalia, Calif.; five grandchildren, Clay Jonathan Butte, Ethan Garrett Butte, Saydee Grace Butte, Caleb Dean Barker, Rilyn Mitchell Fox Barker; and a brother, Willard Jesse Barker.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and four siblings. Virginia Lee Pickens, Cecil (Bud) Barker, Aretta (Sue) Pomeroy and Larry Wayne Barker.

Graveside services will be held on Monday, Dec. 27, 2004, at 1 p.m. in Lakeview Cemetery, with the Rev. Shawn Madsen officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home, Polson.