Margit Smith

MISSOULA — Margit Smith, formerly of Polson, died peacefully on Monday, March 5, at Riverside Health Care Center in Missoula with her family at her side.

Margit Fehervari was born Sept. 17, 1939, in Maria Halom, Hungary, to Rudolf and Katharina Fehervari, the youngest of three children. Her family included her brothers, Henrich and Wilhelm.

During her life she was a mother, grandmother, wife, sister and friend.

As a child she moved from Hungary to Bahnbrueken, Germany, and from there to Ubstadt, Germany, where she lived until traveling to Belgium to work as a nanny. She returned to Germany and met and married Siegfried Endlichhofer. They emigrated to Chicago in 1961 and she gave birth to her daughter, Isabel, that year. In Chicago she worked for Siemens Corp. and as an executive secretary for Harris Bank. Now a single parent, she purchased her first home.

In 1970, on a vacation to Montana, she met Robert C. Smith of Polson, whom she married in Chicago on Sept. 18 of that year. She and Isabel moved to Montana shortly thereafter. In February 1973 she gave birth to her son, Gregory, followed by the birth of her son, Neal, in November 1974.

While living in Montana, Margit assisted Robert in the operation of his business, Smith Electric. She was an excellent gardener raising many flowers, vegetables and fruit trees and kept bees. She had a life-long interest in nutrition.

Margit was an avid tennis player and played on the USTA circuit, winning more than one title. She coached the Polson High School girls’ tennis team and youth soccer. She could often be seen walking for pleasure, with friends or alone, in Polson and surrounding areas. She had a life-long commitment to Christianity and devoted herself to study and worship through several churches and Christian organizations in both the Polson and Missoula areas.

In 2003 she was diagnosed with progressive supra-nuclear palsy and went to Missoula to be near Neal and his wife, Jill Edgell-Smith.

The family wishes to extend their profound gratitude and thanks to Partners Hospice of Missoula and the staff of Riverside Health Care Center, as well as to her many friends.

Margit is survived by her daughter Isabel (Jason) Liss (nee Endlichhofer), of Chicago, and her sons, Gregory Smith of Kalispell, and Neal (Jill) Smith of Missoula; her grandchildren Samuel Liss and Averi Smith; and her brother, Wilhelm (Sally) of Mansfield, Mass..

Funeral services were held March 8 at 1 p.m. in the Grogan Funeral Home in Polson, followed by inurnment at the Lakeview Cemetery with Tom King officiating.

The family requests that memorials be made to Partners Hospice of Missoula.

Ralph H. ‘Diggin’ Wiggin

POLSON — Ralph H. “Diggin” Wiggin, 87, of Polson, died of natural causes on Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at St. Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan, MT.

He was born in Harlem on Dec. 14, 1919, to Andrew and Esther Wiggin, the oldest of six children. After Ralph was born, his family moved to his parents’ homestead near Zurich. They later moved to Charlo, and then moved to Pablo, where his father, Andy Wiggin, worked for the Reclamation Project running dragline.

There in Pablo is where his parents built a home and all his siblings were born. They had a milk cow, chickens and a large garden. Ralph attended school through the eighth grade in Pablo, and then he went on to Ronan High School graduating with the Class of 1937. Ralph later met the love of his life, Korrine Wigen, at a county dance. Ralph and Korrine were married Sept. 1, 1941.

They soon settled in Polson and Ralph was the auto body repairman for the Dodge and Plymouth garage then later for Tower and Robinson GMC Pontiac. He became known as the best in the business.

Right before the war, Ralph worked as a drag saw operator for Rauthers Tie Mill near the Flathead Mines. In 1944, he joined the Army, and was sent to Europe as an Infantryman. Ralph served in the 317th Infantry Regiment 80th Division Company B under General George Patton. He saw action in the Battle of the Bulge, Rhine River and Argonne Forest across France, Germany and Austria. During his service in the Army, Ralph was awarded the Bronze Star.

At war’s end, he was stationed in Munich, with the RTO, running the Rail System. Ralph was discharged in 1946 and returned home to Polson. He went into business for himself in 1956, and was known as “Diggin’ Wiggin.” Later, he and Korrine built a new home in the Mountain View area and they raised cattle, put up hay and all that goes along with a small farm.

He served with the Red Cross during the Gulf War. Ralph was American Legion Commander three times and District Commander for one year. He was a member of Hardwick Post #112 for over 50 years. Ralph also enjoyed his membership with the IOOF. He loved to fish and hunt, watch his cows, his dog “Blue,” and playing cards with his friends. He also loved the family gatherings with the children and grandchildren all attending.

His wife Korrine, his parents, his sisters Blanche, June, Hazel, and Alice, and a brother John preceded Ralph in death.

Surviving Ralph are his sons Tom of Kalispell, Ernie (Sherree) of Polson; daughter Janice (Dave) Tromp of Missoula; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

The funeral service was held March 12 at the First Baptist Church of Polson with the Rev. Rudy Ringhoff officiating. Interment followed at Lakeview Cemetery with full military honors.

The family suggests memorials in Ralph’s name to either the American Legion or to the Polson Veteran Honor Guard. The Ralph Wiggin family would like to graciously thank the staff at St. Luke Extended Care Facility for their loving care for Ralph.

Arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com

Alice Aipperspach

RONAN — Alice Aipperspach, 69, of Ronan died Tuesday, March 6, 2007, at the Polson Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center.

She was born May 24, 1937, at McIntosh, S.D., to John and Katie Merck. Alice graduated from Sykeston High School in Sykeston, N.D., in May 1955. She married Gus Aipperspach on Oct. 26, 1955, in Sykeston; they later separated.

She had three sons, Tony (Toni) Aipperspach of Rochester, Minn., Kim (Denise) Aipperspach of Ronan, and Brad (Maryna) Aipperspach of Missoula; nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild; three brothers, John (Jacquie) Merck of Ft. Collins, Colo., Jim (Mollie) Merck of Redmond, Ore., and Michael Merck of Ft. Collins; six sisters, Johanna Fruhwirth Epier of McMinnville, Ore., Frances Hollingsworth of Carrington, N.D., Connie (Ken) Garland of Rapid City. S.D., Shirley (Jim) Engbrecht of Winona, Minn., Cathy (tom) Colgan of Rapid City, Mary Hart of Orchard Park, N.Y., and Michael Merck of Ft. Collins.

Alice had lived in Fessenden, N.D., Barlow, N.D., Westby, Carlisle, Minn., and Ronan. She attended Salish Kootenai College in 1985-86, majoring in journalism. In 1995, she published a book of poems, “From the Heart,” and in 2003, she published “What the Voices Say.”

Mass of the Christian Burial was celebrated on March 10 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with the Rev. James Connor as celebrant. Interment was in the Ronan Cemetery.

Shrider-Thompson Funeral & Cremation Services of Ronan assisted with arrangements.

Beatrice (Betty) Arlene Silvas

RONAN — Beatrice (Betty) Arlene Silvas, 80, of Ronan died of natural causes March 10, 2007, at St. Luke Extended Care Center with her family at her side.

Betty was born on May 5, 1926, in Apgar Village in Glacier Park to William and Pauline Douglas Anderson. She was raised in Browning and married Earl Silvas of Browning in 1947. They were married for 59 years and had five children. They lived in Salinas, Calif., for over 30 years and returned to Montana in 1991.

Betty was a retired teachers’ aide with a lifelong passion for education. She continued her enthusiasm for education by tutoring in adult literacy programs. Betty loved music and dancing. She was an avid gardener.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Earl.

She is survived by her five children: Patricia LaPlant (Bradley) of Missoula, Jeanne Whiteing (David) of Boulder, Colo., Wayne Silvas (Lori) of Salinas, Sharon Silvas of East Glacier, and Barbara Grealish (Chris) of Boulder, Colo.; 14 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

A mass was celebrated March 12 in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission with Fr. Andrew Maddock, S.J. as celebrant.

Foster & Durgeloh Funeral Home of St. Ignatius was in charge of arrangements.

Daniel Joseph Doyle

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Daniel left his earthly home on Feb. 16, 2007, after a courageous battle with a melanoma cancer.

He will be reunited with his parents Daniel James Doyle and Evelyn Withee Doyle, who were longtime Polson residents. Dan was born to them on April, 9, 1950, in Dillon.

He graduated from Lima High School and the University of Montana, Missoula.

He earned a teaching degree in the field of Earth Sciences. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He enjoyed flying, boating, reading as well as spending time with family and friends.

He had an interest in RVs and attended most all the shows in the area.

He went into sales upon graduation and later moved to Texas and pursued a career in the oil industry as a mud engineer with Mi-SWACO, until his death.

He leaves to cherish his love and memories his wife, Laura; stepson Christopher of Edcouch, Texas; his brothers Mike (Dolores) Doyle of Parker, Colo., Robert (Bob) and Marty Doyle, of Corpus Christi; and his sister Margi Corey of Choteau. He will be greatly missed by all and most of all his nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews, as well as his Aunt Tim Lasich of Missoula, cousins JoK Lasich of Missoula, and Peg Norheim of Green Valley, Ariz.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m., on Saturday, March 17, 2007, at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 1302 Lantana Street, Corpus Christi.

This summer, as is the custom of the Doyle family, we will gather in Montana to join with his extended family and friends to say goodbye until we meet again, Rourk.

Memorials may be made to: The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, TX 77210-4486 (Melanoma Program) or to donor’s choice.

Louis Wesley Jepson

POLSON — Louis Wesley Jepson, 79, died March 6, 2007, in Kalispell.

Lou was born in Merrill, Neb., March 22, 1928, the first born child of LeRoy Wesley Jepson and Laura Maretta Goodwin. He grew up in Riverton, Wyo., where he graduated from high school. Immediately following high school, Lou enlisted in the Army at age 18. As he prepared to leave for the service, and later a tour to occupied Japan, his dad hugged him firmly.

This would be the last time they would see each other; his dad died during his tour. This led to a hardship discharge from the Army and Lou was able to return home to be support for his mom and family. Eventually, the family moved to Polson, where Lou met the love of his life, Loretta Wilhelm.

Lou and Loretta married in 1953. They moved to Hamilton to build their lives and family. Lou worked for the Northern Pacific Railroad which took them to Portland, Ore., in 1958. It was there that he began to work as an accountant for A.D. Ford & Son Contractors, and then for R. Hoe & Co. (later, Pacific Hoe Saw Manufacturers) for the next 30 years.

Lou knew no stranger. Wherever he went, he made a friend. He was a talker, an all-out friendly guy. His involvement with youth would be the most remembered thing about Lou. He and Loretta always left an open door for those who needed a “safe” place to go. Lou provided that father figure many of the young people seemed to lack in their own lives. To this day, many still call him “Dad.”

Always involved, his interests included: Little League coach, Cub Scouts and Boy Scout adult trainer, Sunday school teacher, handbell choir, various singing choirs, church Elder, basketball coach, church financial secretary, volunteer for CASA, and others. He loved sports, woodworking and crocheting.

Above all, Lou’s trademark would be the fiddle. From the age of 14, he loved music. Being raised in a family that built their lives around the guitar, mandolin, piano and fiddle, Lou picked up fiddling, and “fiddled around most of his life.” Lou carried his fiddle to various family and group activities. He was part of a country western group called “One Way Train” that played gospel music. This group brought great joy and fellowship to his life. When Lou moved back to Montana, it didn’t take him long to begin playing his fiddle for the senior citizen homes and church activities.

In 2002, Lou and Loretta sold their home in Portland and returned to their roots in Elmo. They lived where Loretta spent much of her growing years. They immediately became part of their community. Living near Flathead Lake and with mountains in view, Lou couldn’t say enough how blessed he was.

His life was full. He loved his wife, his Lord, his family and friends. A life fully lived. He will be so greatly missed.

Lou is survived by his wife: children, LeRoy (Cheryl) of Aloha, Ore., Sandra Johanesen (Ron) of Portland, Wesley (Lauri) of Forest Grove, Ore., Louis of Elmo; sister, Edith Brown of Portland; brothers, Bill Jepson of Townsend and James Jepson (Paula) of Portland; 11 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held March 12 in the First Presbyterian Church of Polson with the Rev. Dave Anson officiating. Private family interment was in the Lakeview Cemetery.

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

Francis Anthony ‘Frank’ Nickol

SHELBY — Francis Anthony “Frank” Nickol, 85, died March 3, 2007 at the Marias Valley Care Center in Shelby.

He was born on Dec. 29, 1921, to George and Elizabeth (Thiese) Nickol on their family farm east of Ledger. Frank received eight years of formal education in the nearby Omhalt School and then educated himself for the rest of his life. He was a prolific reader, reading hundreds of thousands of pages of political history as well as dozens of other subjects, and yet managed to avoid even reading one page of any instruction book, ever. Frank read until his eyesight failed him and even attended some community college courses in his later years.

In 1939 at the age of 18, Frank purchased his first piece of farm ground. The seller asked Frank for one dollar and told him to make payments to him of “whatever and whenever you can make them.” This farm grew to about 2,000 acres. He also purchased a ranch north of Havre that he once said, “Luckily, right before the prices went up.” That ranch was later sold.

In the late fall of 1941, Frank was arrested by the FBI and falsely accused of being a Nazi sympathizer. It was an event that left him with a lifelong suspicion and distrust of government and politics. During the fall of 1953 he went to visit his cousin, Helen Frank, and met Mary Margaret Wendt, who was teaching at the Mountain Brook School. They were married June 14, 1954, at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in Kalispell. They returned to the farm he bought in 1939.

In 1960, the couple moved their growing family into a new home at the present farm site. Frank and Mary raised seven boys starting with George in 1955; Chris came along in ‘57, then Matthew in ‘58, Steve in ‘60, Andy in ‘61, Simon in’ 64, Luke (who was still-born) in’ 68 and Sam in ‘75. Frank worked with all his sons teaching them his mechanical genius as well as an amazing array of talent and ability to get the job done no matter what it may be.

In 1984 he turned the farm over to his eldest son, George, and moved to an 80-acre place in the Flathead Valley, which had been given to them by Mary’s father.

In 1985, Frank helped his son, Steve, buy and rebuild a marina on Flathead Lake. He then helped run it for the next 10 years.

After being involved in an auto accident in 1994, Frank quit working as hard and helped out at the Flathead Food Bank and other charities. While at an old tractor show, Frank was noticed by the world famous photographer, Joyce Tennyson, and she published his photo in her book, “Amazing Men,” which came out in 2004. Willie Nelson and B.B. King were also listed in her book as world-famous men. Frank was pretty proud to be the only farmer in the book, even though he wasn’t world famous.

Last March, Frank moved to Somers to be closer to his sons and then in August he went to assisted living to be with his wife Mary. Health problems necessitated a move to the Marias Valley Care Center in Shelby where he died. Frank’s generous nature and amazing talents and sharp sense of humor will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a stillborn son; and his siblings Fred, Clair, Ed, Joe, Lee and Anna.

He is survived by his wife Mary Margaret Nickol of Kalispell; sons George and wife Bonnie, Chris, Matt, Steve, Andy and wife Cindy, Simon and Sam; grandchildren Jamie, Casey, Sherwood, Victoria Kay “Tori,” and Mary Frances.

Mass of Christian Burial held March 12 at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church with Father Vic Langhans as celebrant. Committal followed at the Glacier Memorial Gardens, next to his son Luke. The family suggests memorial gifts to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory was in charge of arrangements.