John Edwin Malatare

ARLEE —John Edwin Malatare, 79, died of cancer at his home near Arlee on Friday, Nov. 17, 2006.

He was born March 9, 1927, in Arlee to Florence and John Edwin Malatare. John attended school in Arlee and enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in November 1951 and served at Kelly Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas, as a basic airman. He was discharged June 25, 1953.

As a youngster, John loved to ride horses, go to rodeos, and visit all the elders. He taught all of his boys to be mechanics and heavy equipment operators. John married the love of his life, Wyona Bierwagen-Stevens on Dec. 10, 1954.

John worked hard at many jobs during his life including driving truck for Florence Laundry, Missoula Rendering, and Burtch's Trucking. He also worked at Montgomery Ward's, a body shop in Monterey, Calif., and as the Arlee Watermaster. He was a Tribal Council Member for the Salish and Kootenai Tribes and worked as a prison guard in Deer Lodge as well as Walla Walla, Wash. prisons. He drove a school bus for several years for Arlee and Two Eagle Schools.

John is survived by his wife of 52 years, Wyona in Arlee; his daughters, Doreen Szpak (Dwight) of Anchorage, Alaska, Dian Jenkins (Russ) of Ronan, JoAnn Pentland (Joe) of Couer d' Alene, Mary Ann Hunter (Gordon) of St. Ignatius, June Sheridan of Arlee and Cheryl Malatare of Pinedale, Wyo.; his sons, Jody (Artha) from Arlee, Jack (Niqui) of Beaverton, Ore., and Shawn of St. Ignatius, 27 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

The funeral services was held Nov. 20 in the Longhouse in St. Ignatius. Burial was in the Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius with military honors.