Lily Bielby
POLSON — Lily Bielby, 93, died of natural causes at Ronan St. Luke Extended Care on Friday April 6, 2007.
She was born Oct. 11, 1913, in Bowbells, N.D. to Niels “Pete” and Christine Andersen, the youngest of five children. Her siblings were Myrtle (Rungborg), Harvey, Clifford, and Andrew. In 1916, the family moved to Dagmar. Lily graduated from the 8th grade at Hawthorne School where she attended all eight grades.
In her late teens, she went to Chicago and worked for a private family, and later, she moved to New Orleans and worked as a cook’s helper on a plantation. Lily moved to California in 1936 where she met Henry “Brownie” Brown, a truck driver, and married him a few years later. They lived in Oakland for a time and then moved to Orland, Calif., in the spring of 1943. In 1944, they moved to Grenora, N.D., and Henry went into a partnership with Lily’s brother, Harvey, and they ran an International Harvester implement agency there, and also were partners in a farm.
In the late ‘40s they moved to Polson and bought a house on the East Shore of Flathead Lake and Lily became a member of the Mystic Chapter of Order of Eastern Star, and made many new friends. She and Henry spent several winters in Mesa, Ariz., but moved to an apartment in Polson when his health deteriorated.
After Henry died on April 1, 1967, Lily remained single for many years and then married Rusty Bielby on Jan. 25, 1977. They enjoyed a wonderful life together until he died in September 1996. Neither Lily nor Rusty had children, but they enriched the lives of so many people who loved them. They both received the Jefferson Awards from Governor Ted Schwinden because of their kind and compassionate acts. They met trains and planes, shopped and brought food for ill friends and neighbors, chauffeured people to their doctor appointments and cooked dinners for those who were alone on the holidays. They did countless other “Good Samaritan” deeds.
Lily loved trying new recipes and was a wonderful cook. She loved music, dancing and always had a good time. She was dearly loved by all her nieces and nephews and by two little neighbor girls, D.J. and Alex, who she adored.
Lily is survived by 10 nieces and nephews: Kermit Andersen of Ronan, Gordon Rungborg of St. Ignatius, Neil Andersen of Reserve, Verlyn Andersen, Arleen Dale, Clarice Caporusso, and Ardith Kuss, all of California; Darrel Andersen of St. Helens, Ore., Ardell Nelson of Homestead, and Velma Madsen of Ronan.
Visitation was held on April 11 at Grogan Funeral Home and will continue today, Thursday, April 12, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. Funeral services will be held at Grogan Funeral Home today, Thursday April 12, at 2 p.m. A reception will follow the services and interment will be held at Lakeview Cemetery.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com
Margaret Finan Beeks
POLSON — Margaret Finan Beeks, 84, passed from this life into the next, on Tuesday, April 3, 2007, in Polson.
Born Oct. 17, 1922, in Denver, Colo., to Elizabeth and Michael Finan, she spent her childhood until graduating from Catholic High School in Denver. During World War II she moved to Los Angeles, where she worked for Lockheed Aircraft. There she met her husband Leo S. Beeks. The two married in Nevada on Oct. 18, 1946. They had one child, Jerry Beeks. Following the war they made their home in Sacramento. Marge and Leo divorced in 1960.
Marge worked for the State of California Dept. of Justice and the State Printing Plant until she retired in 1987.
Marge was loved for her indomitable, and independent spirit. Her can-do attitude kept her a very busy woman until her health began to fail at the age of 80. Her active lifestyle included refinishing antique furniture, fixing her own car, putting in tiling, gardening, searching on the Internet, playing the keyboard, caring for her beloved dogs and bowling in two leagues a week.
In 2003 Marge moved to Polson where she lived with her son Jerry and his family. In 2006 she moved into her own place at St. Joseph Retirement Community. She very much enjoyed the independence her apartment afforded her as well as the company of the new friends she made there. Her witty Irish humor kept her smiling and laughing much of the time. In her final days she enjoyed serenading family and friends with her harmonica.
Marge was preceded in death by her parents, Elizabeth and Michael Finan; husband Leo Beeks; brothers Clarence, Frank and Lloyd Finan; sister Evelyn Junghane and grandson Scott Mercer.
She is survived by her son Jerry Beeks (Kathi) of Polson; sister Dorothy Robertson of Sacramento; brother George Finan of Denver; seven grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 9 until 10 a.m., followed by a Rosary service at 10 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Friday, April 13, at 11 a.m. in St. Rose’s Catholic Church in Sacramento. Interment will follow at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery. A memorial service at St. Joseph Retirement Community in Polson, will take place the following week. Local arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com
Marie Helen Kuntz Carey
RONAN — Beloved wife, mother and grandmother Marie Helen Kuntz Carey, 64, died peacefully and comfortably on March 30, 2007, in her Ronan home with her loving family by her side.
Even with her years of illness, she lived her life with courage, dignity and strength. She loved her family greatly and she showed that through her strength in life.
Marie was an artist in the truest form, from sewing to sculptures, painting and crocheting, and the list goes on. She was always finding ways to express her creativeness and share it with others. When Marie wanted to do something, she found a way to do it. There was no holding her back.
Marie is survived by her husband, Dale, and their three children, Scott (Sandy), David (Irene), and Lisa (Jim); daughters-in-law, Therese Marie and Angela; her five grandchildren, Tyler, Dylan, Jesse, Montana, and Elijah; a sister, Peggy (Bob) and brother, John (Carolyn), and many other family members too numerous to mention. Let’s not forget Jesse, her cat.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Fred and Helen, and in-laws Paul and Leona.
Graveside services were conducted March 30 in Mountain View cemetery, Ronan.
Billie Jo Staggs
POLSON — Billie Jo Staggs, 41, of Blue Bay, died of a brain aneurism at St. Patrick Hospital, Missoula, on Saturday, April 7, 2007.
She was born Sept. 17, 1965, in Missoula to Glenn Henry and Mary Madeline (Pierre) Umphrey.
She graduated from Ronan High School and went on to graduate from Missoula Vo-Tech. She worked in the Financial Aid Department at the Vo-Tech for many years; she also worked for the City of Missoula.
While in Whittier Grade School, she met the love of her life, Don Staggs. They married April 18, 1987, in East Missoula. Billie was a very compassionate person who always put others before herself.
She centered her life around her family and the time she spent caring for, teaching and loving her children. Billie rarely missed a race at the Mission Valley Speedway where she was the biggest fan of Don and son, Edward.
Billie Jo also loved to play darts, and go to NASCAR races.
She loved to have fun and her friends enjoyed being around her and will always remember her contagious laughter.
She was preceded in death by her beloved father, Glenn Umphrey; her stepfather, Rennal Bramsen, her father-in-law, Robert Staggs; brothers, William Hawkins and Owen Hawkins; sisters, Julie Hawkins and Betty Umphrey; and two nieces Tambi Weinberger and Tina Staggs.
She was preceded in death by her son’s father, Edward Truman.
Billie Jo leaves behind her soulmate, Don Staggs; children, Edward Truman, Benny and Mary Jo of the family home at Blue Bay; her best friend and daughter, Bessie from Albuquerque, N.M., and step-daughter Katelynn; her mother, Mary Bramsen; her mother-in-law, Sally Staggs; her sisters, Cindy Umphrey and Gwen (Kurt) Bautch and a brother, Calvin Hawkins; brothers-in-law Robert (Robin) Staggs, Ted (Tina) Staggs, Ron Staggs; sisters-in-law, Bessie (John) Evans and Rose Minnis; her niece and nephew, Glenda and Matthew Hawkins, who she raised after the death of their mother; and a very large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and many, many friends who loved her.
The funeral service was held April 11 at Grogan Funeral Home with the Rev. John Payne officiating.
Doris Mae Swinehart
POLSON — Doris Mae Swinehart, 84, died of natural causes at St. Joseph Hospital on Wednesday April 4, 2007. Doris was born on Jan. 19, 1922, in East Chicago, Ind., to William and Lela (Rogers) Freedle.
She attended schools in the Chicago area. Doris owned and operated the Fashion Ladies Boutique in East Chicago for years.
She married Robert Swinehart on Sept. 29, 1943, while he was home on leave while serving his country. Doris spent 27 years serving as the Medical Records Librarian for Kaiser Hospital. She moved to Pyote, Texas, and worked at the Rattlesnake Bomber Base driving Burma Road staff cars for the military while her husband was stationed there.
They returned to the Chicago area for a while before relocating to the Bay Area in California as Robert completed his doctorate at Berkeley. Robert then was called to work at Kaiser Steel. The family made their vacations to Montana each year before retiring and moving to Montana.
Robert and Doris enjoyed traveling and migrating south to Bullhead City and spending time in Laughlin, Nevada. Doris was the most wonderful mother to her children and was her daughter’s rock.
Her parents, her loving husband Robert, and two daughters preceded Doris in death.
Her daughter, Robbie Swinehart, survives her.
A graveside service will be held at the Lakeview Cemetery in Polson on April 9 with the Rev. John Payne officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home.
Condolences may be sent to Robbie at www.groganfuneralhome.com
Twilla Marie Blood Gould
RONAN — Twilla Gould, 72, of Ronan, formerly of St. Ignatius, died of heart failure on Thursday, April 5, 2007, at Community Hospital in Missoula.
She was born on Aug. 25, 1934, in St. Ignatius, to Pete and Emma (Schliep) Blood. On Oct. 20, 1951, she married Thomas Donald “Don” Gould in the St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Of this union five daughters were born.
Twilla is survived by daughters Cindy Gould of Flagstaff, Ariz., Lorrene “Lori” Gould of Ronan, Dorrene “Dode” Bykari (Jim) of Ronan, Karen Kunesh of Ronan; brother Bill (Joanne) Blood of St. Ignatius; sister Berdie (Bill) Anderson of Ronan; aunt Irene Blush of Polson; grandchildren Reese Donald Leishman of Condon; Jessica Marie Bykari of Ronan; Justin James Bykari (Katelyn) of Missoula; great-grandson Jace James Bykari of Missoula; nieces and nephews, Richard, David, Lawna, John, Barbie, Michael, Terri, Brad and Linda; and her many cousins in the Blood and Schliep families. Twilla is survived by Linda Merchant (John Conko) of St. Ignatius, her “oldest” daughter and great friend, and her children Jennifer, Jessica, Waco, Nevada and grandchildren,
Twilla was preceded in death by Don, her husband of 47 years, who died on Feb. 7, 1998; her parents; infant daughter Lynnette; sisters Loretta Burland, Francis Estes; brother Keith Blood and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Twilla was a proud member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. She was an excellent cook, baker and homemaker. She loved spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed home crafts and doing things for others, especially her children and grandchildren. After Don retired, they enjoyed many years of traveling and extended camping trips.
The family thanks Dr. Linda Ries, Dr. Patrick Beatty, of the Montana Cancer Specialists of Missoula and the very caring oncology nurses of the Polson clinic for their excellent care in the past year.
There was a graveside service at the Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius April 9.
The family suggests memorials in Twilla’s name be made to the American Cancer Society and the Lake County Relay for Life.
Arrangements were by Foster-Durgeloh Funeral Home in St. Ignatius.
Myrtle Gladys Sturgis Faw
RONAN — Myrtle Gladys Sturgis Faw, 96, of Ronan died peacefully April 4, 2007, at Hillside Manor in Missoula. The family will receive friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 13, at the Shrider-Thompson Funeral & Cremation Services Chapel in Ronan. Viewing will continue at the Victory Worship Center from 10 until services at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 14. Interment will be in Mountain View Cemetery in Ronan. The full obituary will be printed next week.
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