G.O. 'Doc' Brown
POLSON — G.O. "Doc" Brown, 95, of Polson, died of natural causes on Wednesday, June 20, 2007, at Lily of The Valley in Pablo.
He was born Jan. 6, 1912, at Fort Smith, Ark., to James L. and Ida Brown. After high school he attended Stephen F. Austin State College in Nacogodoches, Texas. Doc & Edith Lucille Green were married in Texas in 1936. Lou died in 1996.
Doc was involved in farming in Texas along with the jewelry business before moving to Polson in 1954, where he purchased the jewelry store and operated it as Brown's Jewelry.
Doc served as president of the Polson Chamber of Commerce, the Salish Shrine Club, and the Salish Shrine Mounted Patrol. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and recreation in the Swan Valley.
His parents preceded him in death, along with his wife Edith, sisters Jane Wysel and Francis Hawkins.
He is surivived by his sons Thomas G. "Tex" Brown (Babs) and James N. "Jim" Brown (Judi), both of Polson; sister Ida Mae Royston of Atlanta, Ga.; three grandchildren; Shelly (Steve) Sandler, David (Stephanie) Brown, Marne (Darryn) Frost, and four great grandchildren, Cody, Ridge, Shaeley, and Cameron.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, June 24, 2007 from 12 noon to 4 p.m. in the Grogan Funeral Home. Masonic services will be held on Monday, June 25, at 1 p.m. in the Grogan Funeral Home, with interment to follow at Lakeview Cemetery. Memorials in Doc's name may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, WA 99201-2472.
Arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home. Condolences to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com
Rochelle Marie Normandeau
RONAN — Our loving daughter Rochelle Marie Normandeau, 17, died on Monday, June 18, 2007, at St. Patrick Hospital, after a 10-year battle with cancer.
Rochelle was born in Everett, Wash., on Aug. 24, 1989, to Kevin R. Normandeau and Tracey M. (Johnson) Normandeau. She was raised in Snohomish, Wash., where she attended school and made many friends. She was diagnosed with aplastic anemia on April 26, 1998, and received a bone marrow transplant on June 13, 2000. She made many friends at Children's Hospital in Seattle as well. Rochelle and family later relocated to Ronan, where she attended Polson schools, participating in speech and debate as well as school plays.
The family is thankful to the Make-A-Wish foundation for making it possible for her to meet "The Rock" and other professional WWE wrestlers in Detroit. Rochelle was an avid professional wrestling fan as well as a Seattle Super Sonics fan. She enjoyed living life to its fullest, helping others as often as she could.
Rochelle was known by her family and friends as a warrior and mentor with a wonderful sense of humor, love for knowledge, willpower, kindness and the strength to overcome anything thrown her way.
Rochelle is an angel and saint in many people's eyes with strong beliefs in religion. Taking up many interests including beading, braiding, crochet and countless other craft projects, she loved making gifts for loved ones in her life.
She was preceded in death by her grandfather Louis C. Normandeau.
Rochelle is survived by her loving parents, Kevin R. and Tracey M., sister Cassandra L., all of Ronan; brother, Christopher R. of Butte; grandparents, Myrna DuCharme Johnson of Polson, Arthur Johnson of Hawthorne, Nev., Lila Normandeau of Ronan; great-grandmother, Tina Nelson of Ronan, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, two nephews and many other family members.
Memorial services were held at St. Ignatius Catholic Church, June 22.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Shrider-Thompson Funeral and Cremation Services of Ronan assisted with arrangements.
Henry 'Hank' Johnson
Henry "Hank" Julian Johnson, 81, died June 22, 2007, at his home in Beaver Dam, Ariz. Henry was born Aug. 1, 1925, in Kalispell. He was one of 12 children born to Kaurin B. and Johanna Petersen Johnson.
Henry grew up on a ranch in Bigfork. He was one of the best spud growers in Montana. He married Sylvia Hope Fleming on Aug. 16, 1952, in Kalispell. They had one child, Rod. Henry worked as a heavy equipment operator and was one of the best. His work gave him the opportunity to travel and live in many places.
He loved to build things and enjoyed working with wood. He and his wife moved to Beaver Dam to be closer to their family in October 2006.
Henry is survived by his wife, Sylvia Johnson of Beaver Dam; a son, Rod (Marie) Johnson of Beaver Dam; one brother, Harold Johnson of Columbia Falls; four sisters, Lillian Nelson of Bremerton, Wash., Viola Johnson of Missoula, Judy Corneliuson of Tucson, and Eunice Gilbertson of Huntington Beach, Calif.; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements and cremation were under the direction of Virgin Valley Mortuary (702)346-6060.