Dean Mitchell Clary

Dean Mitchell Clary, 42, of Wasilla, Alaska, died Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2007, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., after a multi-year battle with an extremely rare blood disorder.

Dean, one of four children, was born Oct. 21, 1964, to Loren and Bonnie Clary in Ronan. He resided in Ronan throughout his childhood, attending Ronan High School where he graduated in 1983.

Following high school, Dean attended Missoula Vocational-Technical School where he earned a degree in Welding Technology. For the past 20 years, Dean has operated heavy equipment on the oil fields of the North Slope of Alaska, recently being promoted to supervisor.

Dean lived in Wasilla with his loving wife, Karen, and their three children, Brooke (12), Paige (8) and Kaylee (7).

Dean was a big game hunter, chasing moose, caribou, muskox and big horn sheep across the state of Alaska. He also loved Westerns, especially anything containing John Wayne. However, Dean's number one focus in life was his commitment to "his girls." Karen, Brooke, Paige and Kaylee were the loves of his life. He adored his daughters and loved attending their soccer games, cheering them on from the sidelines.

Together over the past several years, his family has created memories to last a lifetime, including touring 26 of the 50 United States on an extended vacation, camping and fishing across Alaska, and visiting the Hawaiian islands.

In his family, Dean was respected by his wife and revered by his children for his loving ability to know just what to say and do for "his girls." Dean gathered friends wherever he landed and made a lasting impact on their lives. He loved openly and unconditionally in every interaction. Dean's friends and family remember his selfless commitment to help anyone, anytime with anything. He showed everyone that he loved … and how to love.

Dean will be lovingly remembered by his best friend and wife, Karen, and their three girls, Brooke, Paige, and Kaylee; his parents, Loren and Bonnie Clary of Charlo; his brother, Michael Clary (Kelly) of Minneapolis; his brother, Mark (Jami) Clary and their three children Michele, Christopher and Andrew of Ronan; his sister, Pam (Darren) Wiese and their three children Stephanie, Kellin and Courtney of Richardton, N.D.; his mother-in-law, Barbara Schiermbock of Sutton, Alaska; his brother-in-law, John Schiermbock, and his two children, Bo and Johnny of Sutton; his sister-in-law, Magen Schiermbock and her four children, Ian, Daniel, Jillian and Zeb of Sutton; his aunt, Lonna Stevens and her two children Brad and Diana of Ronan; his aunt and uncle, June and Floyd Kodalen of Great Falls; his cousins, Kermit Clary and Rick Clary of Ronan, and many, many friends.

Dean was preceded in death by his four grandparents. Our loss is great.

A memorial service for Dean is planned for Saturday, Oct. 27, at 11 a.m. at the Mission Valley United Methodist Church, located at the top of Post Creek Hill, mile marker 39.5, on Highway 93 south of Ronan.

The family suggests memorials to Dean, in honor of "his girls," be sent to the Dean M. Clary Memorial Fund, c/o Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union, 1020 S. Bailey St, Palmer, AK 99645.

Howard F. Seiffert

SPOKANE — Howard F. Seiffert, 93, died in Spokane on Sept. 25, 2007.

He was born on the family farm in Reservoir Valley near Polson to Carl and Katie Seiffert. He attended grade school all eight years in Reservoir Valley, then went on to Polson High School where he graduated with the class of 1932. He attended Kinman Business School in Spokane.

On July 6, 1940, he married Eleanor Blumhagen. He worked accounting in Ronan and Missoula and then moved to Spokane in 1948, where he was business manager for a car dealership for 22 years before retiring in 1979. He loved metal detecting and found many treasures.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Albert and Clarence; a sister, Virginia.

Surviving are his wife, Eleanor; two sons, Sidney (Janice) of Timball, Texas, and Randy of Portland, Ore; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mayme Skogen of Tacoma, Wash., and Carol Miller of Corona Del Mar, Calif.

Cremation has taken place and no services are planned.

Gracie Mae Haynes

BIG ARM — Gracie Mae Haynes, infant daughter of Brian and Jenni Haynes of Big Arm, born on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2007, at 8:05 p.m. was taken home by angels to the warm loving arms of our Father in Heaven, after only a few short hours. Though her life was very brief here on earth, she touched our hearts and was dearly loved by her father and mother and older siblings Nathan, Karlie and Tommy and many other family members, and will live in our hearts forever as our little angel Gracie Mae, and deeply missed. Amen.

Graveside services were held on Tuesday, Oct. 2, in the Lakeview Cemetery with Dr. Daniel Rausch officiating. Arrangements were by Grogan Funeral Home, Polson.

Twila Newgard Adams

HOT SPRINGS — Twila Newgard Adams, 92, died Monday, Oct. 1, 2007, at Clark Fork Valley Hospital.

Twila was born to Fred and Josie Newgard, March 6, 1915, in Ronan. She attended Pablo grade school and Ronan High School, where she graduated with honors. She received a scholarship for the University of Montana. However, unforeseen circumstances prevented her attendance.

On May 23, 1936, she was united in marriage to Harold Adams from Dickinson, N.D. The couple served the Montana State Orphanage early in their marriage, then resided in Polson on a fruit farm.

In 1945, they moved to Lonepine, where they had since lived.

They had been married 71 years.

Twila served the community as a CNA and then as an LPN, first working at the Sanders County Hospital until its closure.

Then she worked at the Hot Springs Manor until 1977, and her retirement. She had many interests: gardening, canning, freezing, quilt-making, baking, music, helping others, serving the Seventh-day Adventist Church and mostly, loving all people.

She is survived by her husband, Harold; sons, Dale of Lonepine and Barry of Berrien Springs, Mich.; daughters, Delores Lee of Polson and Lynn Seland of Eckville, Alberta, Canada; sister, Laura Robertson of Missoula; 17 nieces and nephews; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were held Oct. 8, at the Lonepine Hall.

Bunch-Toews Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Florence Schultz Ingraham

PHOENIX — Florence Schultz Ingraham, 76, died in Phoenix on Sept. 13, 2007.

Florence was born Jan. 16, 1931, in Lakeside to Ben and Alice Schultz, the youngest of 11 children. She lived and attended school in Dayton and Polson and graduated from Polson High School.

She married Fred Ingraham and from this union were born five children, Susan, Rodney, Hugh, Grant and Crystal.

She was preceded in death by her husband Fred in 1968; her parents, six brothers and two sisters.

Surviving are her five children; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, LaDyne Allen and June Smith; two sisters-in-law, Virginia Schultz of Phoenix, and Rose Schultz of Polson.

She will be dearly missed by her family and many friends.

Carol Jane Gillette

DIXON — Carol Jane Gillette, 85, died on Oct. 5, 2007.

Born to William Leroy and Stella Hogan, she grew up in Silverdale, Wash., and attended the Clear Creek School and had many fond memories of that place and time.

She married the love of her youth, Douglas H. Gillette, and they moved to the Burien, Wash., area in 1947 where they raised there three children and lived in the same house until 2004.

Her last years were spent with her daughter, Alison Rose in Dixon.

She was preceded in death by Douglas in 1968 and son Jon in 2004.

Surviving are daughter Alison and son Bill; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Cremation has taken place and services will be held next spring in Washington.