Elva Arlington Crockett Whiting
POLSON — Elva Arlington Crockett Whiting fell asleep in death June 22, 2006. Elva was an eccentric, feisty, young-hearted lady who loved her family, loved life, loved her fellow man and loved her God Jehovah, without reservation.
Elva was born on June 17, 1918 to William and Ethel Crockett in Minto Township, N.D. The third of nine children, she was taught to work hard and be loyal to family. Her mother taught her to sew exquisitely and for many years Elva made stylish clothes for herself and her children.
Elva loved to dance, from schoolroom to Grand Ballroom, and even on the Lawrence Welk Show. Elva moved to Minneapolis in the 1940s to find work. While working in an office, she met Donald Earl Whiting. They made a beautiful couple and were married Aug. 14, 1945, in Arlington, Texas, while Don was serving in the Air Force.
Elva was relieved when the war was over and Don could rejoin their family. She was a good mother to her four children, always working hard to provide for their health and encourage their individuality. Elva longed for meaning and truth and her search was rewarded when she began to study the Bible with Jehovah's Witnesses. She learned God's name, and His wonderful purpose for the earth.
She eagerly shared this knowledge with everyone she met. From 1953 until the very end, her concern was that others have a good relationship with Jehovah God so they could see the fulfillment of His promise of a perfect new world. She firmly believed in this promise and looked forward with confidence to being resurrected onto a paradise earth and being reunited with her loved ones.
Friends from all over the world enjoyed Don and Elva's dinner parties. Their house on Flathead Lake was home to many gracious and joyful evenings. Elva was also a talented photographer and artist. She loved to capture images of flowers and the mountains and grandchildren. She enjoyed working in her garden and harvesting fruit from her orchard, which her family enjoyed eating.
Elva was passionate about antiques and vintage hats, even being known as "the hat lady." She loved pretty things and jazz music and traveling anywhere. Elva was a wonderful grandmother, she taught her loved ones to be creative, to be fearless and to enjoy life. She encouraged our interest in art and culture, people, and spirituality, and comforted us in our trials.
Don and Elva kept a guest book from 1947 until 2006, the thousands of comments reveal love and respect for a gracious couple. Elva Whiting affected many lives in a positive way. At her own request, no memorial will be held.
As a tribute to her, please read Revelation 21:3-5.
Elva Whiting was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Whiting; siblings Norma Crockett, Nivea Domries, Nathaniel "Cal" Crockett and Willard Crockett.
She is survived by siblings Wanelda (Earle) Schafer, Claude (Cleo) Crockett, Ione Schmidt, and Norene Bishop; her children Dave (Sharon) Whiting, Bill (Kate) Whiting, Claudia (Alex) Ogilvie, and Jack (Jane) Whiting and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
I would like to thank my grandmother for giving her family the gift of life and a love for Bible truths. We appreciate it.
Arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory of Polson. Condolences may also be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com
Korrine Wiggin
POLSON — Korrine Wiggin, 83, of Ronan, (formerly of Polson) died on Wednesday, June 21, 2006, at St. Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan.
Korrine was born to Andrew and Jennie Belle Wiggin, along with her twin brother Ole "Kenneth" at Buffalo Ferry, now Buffalo Bridge, where they resided in a big white house, and they rode horseback to Valley View School, then on to Polson High School, where she graduated in 1940.
Times were tough for the family, as her father died when the twins were three;, their sister Betty, 7, and brother John, 10, hauled water up from the river, and their mother tried to run, the farm, but could not keep the taxes paid, and on Christmas Eve, the sheriff put a foreclosure sign on the gate.
She married Ralph H. Wiggin in September 1940. They lived in and around Polson and have been married 65 years. She was a past president of the American Legion Auxiliary, a member of the Rebekahs and South Shore Garden Club for 45 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers and a sister.
She is survived by her husband- Ralph H. of Ronan; two sons, Tom Wiggin of Kalispell and Ernie Wiggin and wife Sherree of Polson; one daughter, Janice Tromp and husband Dave of Missoula; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 24, at the First Baptist Church of Polson with Pastor Rudy Ringhoff officiating. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery.
Arrangements were by Grogan Funeral Home of Polson.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com
Myrtle E. Whittle
SEATTLE — Myrtle E. Whittle, 89, died of natural causes Nov. 18, 2005, in Seattle. A memorial service is set for Saturday, July 1, at 10 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson.
Myrtle was born Feb. 4, 1916, in Ronan to Mary Rose Morigeau Clairmont and John Clairmont. She grew up in the Ronan area, moved to Seattle and worked for Boeing Aircraft Company until she retired and moved back to Polson.
The last five years were spent in the Seattle area. Myrtle has many friends and family in Montana.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Harold, Gene, Lourence, Phillip; and sisters Lillian, Sisssie, Alice and Bernice; and three husbands, M. Redding, R. Homestead and C. Whittle.
Survivors include three daughters, Jacqueline Janet and Patricia, and son Alan; sister Ruth Hall; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Hubert Peter Fairbanks, Sr.
RONAN — Our beloved Hubert Peter Fairbanks, 69, died Friday, June 23, 2006, at his home in Ronan, doing the things he loved the most — cooking, eating with his great-grandson and getting to work on a car with his closest friend, Sid.
A member of the Leech Lake Ojibwe tribe, Hubert was born May 29, 1937, in Ballclub, Minn., to William "Bill" Fairbanks and Rachel Wakanabo. He was raised in Minnesota mostly by his grandmother, Maggie Wakanabo
As he turned into a young man he joined the Army and served in the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles. After an honorable discharge, he returned to Minnesota. After the death of his grandmother, he decided to move to Montana where he met his beloved spouse, Catherine Stasso.
In his early years he did labor work for a local rancher (H.O. Bell), millwork and at local potato fields. After they moved Missoula, he went to school to work in heavy equipment; he worked in carpentry and built many houses and buildings throughout Missoula and Ronan. He also worked as a mechanic at T-C Chevy.
He was an Indian firefighter, taking out crews from the Missoula Indian Center. He also served as a chairman of the board of the Missoula Indian Center, also SKI instructing the young kids. His passions in life were boxing (he managed the Missoula Boxing Club) and making cars run beautifully.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Roberta Fairbanks, and siblings Dallas Bellanger, Leonard Bellanger, Bernice Bellanger and Arlene Bellanger.
He is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Catherine Fairbanks; siblings Tommy Bellanger, Frank Bellanger, Ron "Feap" Bellanger, Evelyn Vasquez, Phyllis Stott, Arlen Heyd, Patricia Pasch, Janice Fairbanks, Ralph Fairbanks, Gerald Fairbanks, and Joe Fairbanks; his children, Hubert Fairbanks, Jr., Phyllis Fairbanks and Germaine Fairbanks; his grandchildren, Ernie Crazyboy Jr., Jacinda Fairbanks, Hubert Fairbanks III, David Crumley, Jr., Shawn Star Field and Catherine Delphine Field; great-grandchildren, James Crazyboy, Matthew Crazyboy, Hunter Fairbanks, Chris and Hailee Crumley and Skylar Makai Field.
Amass was celebrated June 27 in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Interment was in the Ronan Cemetery with military honors.
Robert Eugene 'Geno' Adams
POLSON — Robert Eugene "Geno" Adams, 62, died Wednesday, June 21, 2006, at St. Joseph Hospital in Polson after a brief battle with cancer.
Born March 5, 1944, in St. Ignatius to Louis and Rosalie Topseeh Combs Adams, he was raised on the Flathead reservation and in Missoula. He was educated at Chalako Indian School in Oklahoma and Missoula.
An avid boxer while in Missoula, he competed on the amateur level and trained others before he went to the Army to serve in the Cuban missile crisis.
Geno was one of the soldiers who served in the detail after the JFK assassination in Dallas.
Geno married Lois Joan Michel on July 18, 1964, and they made their home in Polson where Geno worked at Plum Creek Lumber in Pablo as a forklift operator for over 35 years.
He just recently retired. He was also an original member of the Big Belly Racing Team (22 years) and the Eagles in Polson (20+ years). An avid pool player he was also a member of many of the local pool leagues.
Preceding him death were his wife Lois who died of cancer in 1992; his parents Louis and Rosalie Adams; two sisters, Frances Matt Bourdon and Delphine Matt; two brothers, Frankie Adams and Sammy Adams, and his son, Robert E. "Bobby" Adams.
Survivors include his children, Lisa Mae and Lora Lee Adams of Polson; a brother, Eneas Adams of St. Ignatius; two sisters, Rita Adams of St. Ignatius and Marilyn Adams of Pablo; a brother/nephew, Starvin Marvin Bourdon of Hot Springs; 10 grandchildren; one great-granddaughter and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mass was celebrated in the St. Ignatius Catholic Church.
Interment with military honors was in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.
Ole Amundson, Jr.
POLSON — Ole Amundson, Jr., 77, of Dayton died of natural causes on Tuesday, June 20, 2006, at Healthcenter Northwest in Kalispell. He was born July 17, 1928, in Kloten, N.D., to Ole and Clara Amanda Haugen Amundson. He attended school in Kloten and worked in construction and farming in the Wadena, Minn., area until moving to Montana in 1979.
Ole married Myrtle Heffner Light in 1948 at Fargo. He enjoyed working in his garden.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister Claras, and brother Elton.
Ole is survived by his wife Myrtle of Dayton and a stepson Jerry (Donna) Heffner of Dayton.
Cremation has taken place and no services are planned at this time. Arrangements and cremation were under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home, Polson.
Gale Zavitz Bates
ST. IGNATIUS — Gale "Shorty" Zavitz Bates, born on July 9, 1933, in St. Ignatius, died at his home on Saturday, June 17, 2006.
Shorty served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Then he lived in Seattle where he worked for the Boeing Company for over 30 years.
Upon retirement, Shorty returned to St. Ignatius.
He is survived by his two children, April Ellis and Galen Bates, both from Seattle; his beloved grandsons, Jacob Ellis and Joshua Bates; his three brothers, Ray Bates of Aguila, Ariz., Robert Bates of Port Orchard, Wash., and Wayne Bates of St. Regis.
Also ssurviving are his two sisters, Alleen Sherrill of Goodyear, Ariz., and Lela Amiro of Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as three nieces, four nephews and numerous extended family.
A veteran's memorial service was held at Pleasant View Cemetery on June 24.
Memorials may be made to the Mission Valley Honor Guard.
Gale O. Kimmel
After a long, courageous battle with cancer, Dad finally entered into Heaven on June 18, 2006. God must have needed more humor in Heaven.
Gale O. Kimmel, 69, was born in Ronan, on Feb. 25, 1937. He was a twin and the last of five boys. As a teenager, he moved to Seeley Lake after his parents bought the Tamarack Lodge. For his senior year, he attended Monroe High School in Ohio to graduate from the same school his father did. There he met Marianna Cameron and they were married in Seeley Lake in 1957. Once wed, they moved back to Ohio where they had four children, Teresa, John, Mike, and Tammy. In 1963 they moved back to Montana. They were divorced in 1979.
At a school reunion, he was reacquainted with Juanita Jones. They were married on Nov. 28, 1981, in Polson. Gale and Juanita spent many years in Missoula. In April 2002, they moved to Twin Lakes Village in Rathdrum, Idaho. That same year they became Arizona snowbirds, purchasing a home in Yuma. They thoroughly loved their winters in Yuma and did not miss the snow and ice of Montana and Idaho.
He spent most of his career in the mobile home and R.V. industry. He retired from NTP Distribution out of Portland, Ore., as a sales consultant for Recreational Vehicle Parts. He received many awards from NTP during his career, including having an award named after him for the best all-around sales consultant.
He made life more enjoyable for all he met with his positive attitude, witty sense of humor and kept everyone's mind sharp with his brain teasers.
He was preceded in death by his dearly beloved grandma, Mary Heath, mother Mary Luella, father O.E. Kimmel and eldest brother Heath.
He is survived by his wife Juanita; mother-in-law Esther Bauer; his brothers Ron (Maxine) Kimmel of Ronan, Don (Jean) Kimmel of Winnett, and Dale (Violet) Kimmel of Eureka; his children, Teresa (David) Englund, John (Brenda) Kimmel, Mike (Carrie) Kimmel, Tammy (Scott) Zetterberg, and their mother Marianna Larson, all of Missoula; 17 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; stepchildren Larry (Jill) Jones, Laurie Jones, Darryl (Susan) Jones, and Doyle Jones; six step-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends.
A beloved friend and co-worker shared a story about Gale. Anyone could call Gale day or night for help and without hesitation he would reply, "I'll be right there." God called Gale saying, "I need some help." Gale replied, "I'll be right there." Keep the jokes coming, Dad, we love you.
Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho Chapel was in charge of cremation.
A celebration of life will be held at Atonement Lutheran Church, 2205 34th St. in Missoula, with Pastors Mitch Jones and Tom Lemmons on Friday, June 30, at 10:30 a.m. Graveside service will follow at Missoula Cemetery.
Contributions may be made to the Kootenai Medical Center Oncology Wing, 2003 Lincoln Way, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.
Althea Fern 'Thea' Bear
ROCKY BOY — Althea Fern "Thea" Bear was born Jan. 19, 1962, in Great Falls. She grew up around the Rocky Boy Reservation and Great Falls. She went home to the Creator on June 18, 2006.
She moved to the Flathead Reservation in her mid-20s and lived the rest of her life here.
He children and her grandchildren were her price and joy. She spent the major part of her life with her dearly departed husband, Richard Neil "Rick" Bear. His loss was very hard on her, but she remained as strong as she was able to after his passing in 2001.
Her present partner and love was Roger Dale OldPerson of Arlee. They spent the last four years together and they never wanted to be apart.
Althea was an excellent mother and grandmother while she struggled with the depressing obstacles that somehow overwhelmed her in the last few years of her life. She was an artist and a perfect homemaker of her own right and provided all she could for her family.
Thea is survived by her son Steven "Pedro" LaMere of Ronan and his children Isaiah LaMere of Arlee and Uriah Twoteeth of Hebena, Canada; his special friend Adeline Lozeau of Ronan and their unborn child; her daughters ReAnna Rae Bear (Sam Colman) and their child, LaRina Rae Colman, all over Evaro, and one more grandchild on the way; Josie Lynn Bear and her child Rickisha Renee Bear of Ronan and her youngest daughter Stormy Marie Bear of Dixon; many sisters, Yvonne Rosette and her family of Box Elder, Carmelina LaMere of Great Falls and her family in Box Elder, Natalie "Peanut" LaMere of Pablo, Tracy LaMere and her family of Box Elder, and Shelley LaMere of St. Ignatius.
She was preceded in death by her mother Viola LaMere and her father, Matthew LaMere of Great Falls; her dearly departed husband Rick Bear, and her beloved nephew Rory LaMere.
Thea will be sorely missed by all of her children, grandchildren and numerous close friends and relatives. Those who truly knew her can say that "she was my friend."
Her family brought her back to her Rocky By Reservation on June 21, 2006. There she was given the honorary/traditional wake and burial services.
We, the family, ask that all who red this and knew her will say a special prayer for her journey home.