Ronald 'Roy' J. Couture

POLSON — Ronald "Roy" J. Couture, 71, of Ronan, died on April 4, 2006, after an 18-month battle with lung cancer at St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan.

Roy was born on July 30, 1934, in St. Ignatius to Joseph and Susie (Andrews) Couture. He mostly grew up in Dayton and Elmo but had lived in several places throughout the west.

He attended schools at the Ursulines, Flandreau in South Dakota and graduated from Polson High School. Roy served in the U.S. Marines during the Korean War. After his discharge from the military he returned to the Flathead Reservation.

Roy married Nadine Ducharme and four children were born to this union. He and Nadine later divorced.

He married Janice Cotton on May 23, 1962, in Coeur d'Alene.

Roy worked in the woods his whole life. He logged for Bud Clark, Jack Long and Dick Grile for most of his career. He also cut Christmas trees, firewood, post and poles and railroad ties.

Roy also worked at the Lake County Sheriff's Department as a jailer. Roy fought forest fires until he was 56 years old. Roy was still working until a week before his death.

He enjoyed hunting, working on cars, attending Powwows and spending time with and raising his grandchildren. Roy really enjoyed working in the family concession stand at Powwows.

He spent his last 18 years working on his biggest dream, which was to see that all of his grandchildren be enrolled members of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes.

He was preceded in death by his parents,; daughter Kathleen Sue Couture; granddaughter Cameron Hendrickson; grandson Lester Couture; sister Regina Matt, and brother- John Thomas Couture.

He is survived by his wife Janice of Ronan; his children and their spouses: Wes Couture and wife Linda of Billings, Tammy Couture of Reno, Nevada, Ronnie Couture of Pablo and Herbie Couture and wife Betty of Great Falls, Ronnie (Carmel) Couture of Ronan, Joe Couture of Ronan, Shannon (Scott) Maxwell of Lewistown, Todd (Gwen) Couture of Charlo and Shelly (Shane) Hendrickson of Valley Creek; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters Rita Cannon of Polson, Rhoda (Joe) Whitehorse of Rocky Boy, Judy Phillips of Pablo, Richard (Annette) Couture of Elmo, Butch (Barb) Couture of Parshell, and Aunt Helen Charlo of Elmo.

Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Saturday, April 8, at the Elmo Hall with Father Val Zdilla officiating. Burial with military honors followed at the Dayton cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.comArrangements were by Grogan Funeral Home of Polson.