Furn Leona Boyd

POLSON — Our beloved Granny Furn died at St. Joseph Medical Center in Polson on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2007. She was born March 23, 1916, at the family’s farm home south of Poplar to Charles and Minta Maude Gidley. She will be missed by all those who knew her and loved her.

Furn graduated from Richey High School in Richey. She was married to John Boyd, her high school sweetheart, in Wolf Point on June 19, 1933. They lived in Richey where John worked at the Standard Oil gas station and Furn became a mother for the first time. They later moved to Culbertson where John was a bulk dealer for Standard Oil Company and Furn gave birth to two more daughters.

Furn and John moved to Wolf Point where she was able to enjoy being a mother and an active part of her community. When John retired in 1972, they moved to Apache Wells, Ariz. Furn later moved to Leisure World in Mesa, Ariz.

In 2004, she moved to Polson, where she had many friends and relatives. She loved Flathead Lake, the Mission Mountains and the beautiful seasons of Montana. She was so happy to return to the resting place of her husband John.

Furn had three daughters and she lost her beloved husband John in May 1974. Furn’s infectious smile and sweet manner won her many wonderful friends. She loved the Phoenix Suns, bowling, golf, dancing, playing card games and bridge, but her greatest love was her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was a lifetime member of Eastern Star in Wolf Point and a member of the Community Church in Apache Wells.

Furn was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Minta Maude Gidley, her husband John Boyd, sister-in-law Gertrude Boyd Gariepy Joy, brothers Jim Gidley, Cecil Gidley and Maurice Gidley.

She is survived by her sister, Beverly Johnston (Johnnie) of Poplar; sister-in-law, Pauline Gidley of Colorado Springs; daughters Vonda Lee Ashberger (Gary) of Tucson, Ariz., Jeanette Phillips (Bill) of Polson, and JoAnne Lenzen of Minneapolis; grandchildren, Kelly Gonzalez (Donald) of Fresno, Calif., Jamie Lachman (Dan) of Minneapolis, Bob White (Leslie) of Lemoore, Calif., Tammy Louria (Bill) of Waxahachie, Texas; 16 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren, and many wonderful nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held at the Grogan Funeral Home on Friday, Aug. 24, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Services will be held in the Mission Valley United Methodist Church on Saturday, Aug. 25, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow services at Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius.

Memorials for Furn may be sent to Apache Wells Community Church, 2115 N. Gayridge Road, Mesa, AZ 85215, or St. Joseph Medical Center Foundation, 6 13th Ave. E., Polson, MT 59860.

Arrangements are being made by Grogan Funeral Home, Polson.

Rosemary Theresa (Doyle) Miller

RONAN — No, you’re not crazy, those trees really do talk to each other. And on Aug. 16, 2007, at 6:30 a.m, trees everywhere started singing a sweet journeying song for Rosemary Theresa (Doyle) Miller.

Born Nov. 11, 1926, in Wallace, Idaho, to her ecstatic parents, Eola (Geary) Doyle and James J. Doyle, Rosemary was immediately a force to be reckoned with, and remained a powerful presence her entire 80 years.

The family moved to Ovando when Rosemary was very young, igniting in her a lifelong love of the forest and all it contained. They moved again to Missoula, where her father, Jim, joined the police force. She graduated from high school at Sacred Heart Academy into a world divided by World War II. At the tender age of 17, she enrolled in St. Patrick School of Nursing in the Nurse Cadet program, graduating in 1947.

Introduced to the brother of her dear friend Nona (Miller) Fuhrmann, Rosemary jumped with both high-heeled feet into love and married Harry Miller in 1948 — a heart-and-soul commitment that would last for the next six decades. But just in case, during the wedding, her father had his police officers stationed at all the doors of St. Francis Xavier Church in Missoula!

Rosemary and Harry gave creation to their own baseball team, bringing into the world five girls and four boys.

Rosemary’s career as a nurse spanned from 1947 through 1991. She worked first in Kalispell and then at St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan, where she served proudly as director of nurses from 1977 to her retirement in 1991. She worked in every aspect of nursing, but had a special part of her heart that beat for obstetrics and all the babies she saw brought into the world.

A truly gifted woman, Rosemary excelled at every hobby or art she ever attempted. Her family’s homes are graced with countless quilts, paintings, embroidery, afghans and crafts made by her hands. She was a voracious reader, expansive gardener and devoted camper. (We are certain her soul flew first to the Swan Valley and then to heaven.)

She was a lifetime and faithful member of Sacred Heart Catholic Parish in Ronan, and a proud and active member of the Sew & Sew Club. She kept in touch with the members of her St. Pat’s graduating class, and loved to get together for their yearly reunions. Once a nurse, always a nurse …

Rosemary was welcomed into heaven with shouts, singing and joyful abandon by her mother and father, oldest son Mike, youngest daughter Frances, grandson Michael, nieces Julie and Candy, and friends too numerous to count. If you close your eyes and listen carefully, you will surely hear the celestial celebrating.

The celebrants of her life here include her first and only love, Harry H. Miller of Ronan; and the children of her body and children of her heart, Leah (Miller) and Don Emerson, Kathy (Grant) Miller, Jeanne Miller, Kathleen (Miller) and Gerry Green, Sheila (Miller) and Matt Softich, David and Susie Miller, Jim and Pam Miller, and Steve and Debbie Miller.

Rosemary’s life is also carried on in love, humor and outrageous character by her many grandchildren: Jim Blackwolf; Matt, Nick and Casey, Chris and Sara Emerson; Joe, Tina, and Becky Miller; Michaela and Wyatt Green, Emma Softich; Hagan and Mekaila Schmidt, Jamie, Shea and Dax Miller; Zachary, Logan and Landon Miller, Rachel and Rebecca; Jack, Hannah and Joshua Miller; and international “grandchildren” David Mundinger, Christina Mueller, Deniz Yildirimoglu, Peta Hughes, Dennis Franke, Julio Garcia, Kaja Meissner and Lena Fischer.

Rosemary will be remembered in life stories and pictures by the next generation: great-grandchildren Hunter Emerson, Abby Miller, Avery Schmidt and yet-to-be-born Holden Emerson.

Aunt Rosie will also be remembered by dozens of nieces and nephews — you know who you are and that you had a place always in her heart.

As much as Rosemary loved flowers, she loved people infinitely more — as a healer and a cancer survivor. Memorial donations for Rosemary should be sent to the American Cancer Society.

The funeral celebration of Rosemary’s life was held Aug. 21 in the Ronan High School gym. Graveside services were in Mountain View Cemetery in Ronan.

So long, farewell … great game, Rosemary.

Shrider-Thompson Funeral & Cremation Services assisted with arrangements.

Morris

Conrad Bjorge

POLSON — Morris Conrad Bjorge, 90, of Polson, formerly of Hot Springs died of natural causes on Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2007, at St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan.

Morris was born on May 10, 1917, in Kalispell, to Martin and Clara Bjorge. Morris graduated from Polson High School in 1936.

On Nov. 14, 1963, he married Adell Hobbs at Coeur d’Alene.

Morris ranched all of his life in Garcon Gulch on the family homestead. He was a member of the Accordion Association, Sons of Norway, Trinity Lutheran Church in Hot Springs, and attended the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church after he moved to Polson. Morris enjoyed accordion music, the Old Time Fiddlers, writing and telling historical stories. Morris always had a story for the date.

His parents Martin and Clara, and his wife Adell preceded Morris in death.

He is survived by his sons Marvin (Laura) Bjorge of Polson and Carl Bjorge of Tacoma, Wash.; and his four grandchildren, Gina, James, Elisabeth, and David.

Funeral services were held on Aug. 18, in the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with the Rev. Paul Rowold and Pastor Gregg Perkins officiating.

Interment was Murray Memorial Cemetery at Lonepine with the Rev. Janet Young officiating.

Memorials may be made to Pinehaven Christian Children’s Ranch, Trinity Lutheran Church of Hot Springs, Hot Springs Senior Citizen Center Transportation or The Gideons International in the name of Morris Bjorge.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com