Eunice K. Gillie

POLSON — Eunice K. Gillie, 86, former Butte resident, died peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2007, in Polson following a short illness.

Eunice was born in Thief River Falls, Minn., on July 19, 1921, to Olaf and Olga Knutson. Olga raised Eunice and her sister, Irma, in Minneapolis after Olaf died as a result of wounds from his service duty during WWI.

Eunice attended Abbot Hospital for nurses training and following graduation joined the Army at the start of WWII. She was stationed in Iran for two years, where she met her future husband Captain John Gillie of Butte. They married in the fall of 1945 in Seattle.

After John Gillie's discharge from the Army, they made their home in Butte where they raised four children. John Gillie preceded Eunice in death in 1977. In Butte, she worked as a nurse at the old St. James Hospital, the Crest Nursing Home and then as a private duty nurse. She moved to Polson after her retirement in 1982.

She is survived by her sister, Irma Knutson of Polson; children, Susan of Bozeman, James (Carla) of Puyallup, Wash., Samuel (Sachiko) of Honolulu, and Geoffrey Gillie of Sacramento, Calif.; grandchildren, JoLynn, Gina, John, Sean and Christine Gillie; sister-in-law Rosemary Brown of Missoula, and five nephews.

Funeral services were held Sept. 8 at Grogan Funeral Home in Polson. A graveside service was held on Sept. 10, in Butte at Mount Moriah Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com

Lawrence P. Hughes

POLSON — Lawrence P. Hughes was born Oct. 28, 1913, in Clontarf, Minn., to William J. and Lauretta Hughes.

He attended school in Montana, North Dakota, and graduated from high school in Murdock, Minn., in 1931. He was assigned to a CCC Camp in Northern Minnesota in 1933 for nine months.

Lawrence married Pauline O'Leary on Dec. 9, 1935, in Danvers, Minn. Five children were born to this union, Edward, JoAnn, Harold, Richard and Stephan. They lived in Minnesota and moved to North Dakota in 1947 where he took his position of REA Superintendent for Williams Electric Cooperative until 1966.

He was involved in farming and ranching and retired to Polson.

Surviving Lawrence are his daughter JoAnn (Eugene) Emery of Williston, N.D., Harold (Pat) Hughes of Polson, Richard (Ginny) Hughes of Grandridge, Ill., and Steve (Sandra) Hughes of Polson, 21 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Preceding Lawrence in death were his son, Edward Hughes in 1965; his wife Pauline Hughes in 2003; five brothers and two sisters.

Mass of Christian Burial was held Sept. 10, at Immaculate Conception Church. Interment was at Lakeview Cemetery. Memorials may be made in Lawrence's name to Immaculate Conception Parish, P.O. Box 1477, Polson, MT 59860 attn: air conditioning fund.

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

Robert 'Bob' Schure,

ARLEE — Robert "Bob" Schure, M.D., died peacefully in his sleep of unknown causes Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007.

He wanted his body to be used as a medical cadaver and he will be cremated at a later date. Early next summer a ceremony of his life will take place at the trailhead to Graywolf Lake and those who want to hike or ride horses into the lake are welcome. A full obitury will appear next week.

John Daniel Armstrong

ARLEE — John Daniel Armstrong, 42, our loving husband, son, brother and father, died peacefully of cardiac arrest in his sleep on Aug. 31, 2007 in Maui. John was born Aug. 18, 1965, to Mert and Sharon Armstrong at Community Hospital in Missoula. He grew up in Arlee where he attended school.

He was so proud to be part of the 1981 state championship football team.

He also participated in baseball and track. After high school he joined the Navy.

After returning from the Navy, John started his construction career as a laborer, then as a pipefitter/welder, and then John moved on to be a superintendent for Alstom Power.

From there he went to his current dream job as a project manager for Good Fellows Construction in Maui.

John is survived by his parents Mert and Sharon of Missoula; wife Molly of Maui; his children, Mercedes of Stevensville, and Makaio of Maui; brother Jim (Anna) and sister Jennifer (Mike); nieces and nephews Amanda, Clay, Shelby, Michael and Ryann and numerous other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were held Sunday, Sept. 9, in the Arlee Community Center with Interment following in the Jocko Cemetery.

James Patrick 'Jim' Kearney

STEVENSVILLE — James Patrick 'Jim' Kearney, 67, of Stevensville died of lung cancer on Aug. 24, 2007, at his home.

He was born in Akron, Ohio, and was the son of John and Elizabeth Kearney. He graduated from Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, Calif. Jim received an Associates degree in forestry from college in San Mateo. He joined the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Asbestos Workers Local 16 as an apprentice in December 1961.

He was active in his union and retired with a gold watch in February 1996.

He entered the US Army as a Reservist in June 1957 following graduation from high school and served as a Medical Corpsman. He completed his Reserve obligation in March 1965, having attained the rank of sergeant and was honorably discharged.

He married Joyce and had two daughters. The couple later divorced.

He married Liz Rumple in Montana and they, too, were later divorced. Afterward, he lived a single life with his three devoted companions, his dogs.

Jim also worked as a firefighter in Burlingame, Calif., where he drove the engine until moving to Montana in 1978.

As a young man he enjoyed diving for abalone, surf fishing along the Pacific Ocean, hunting and fly fishing. His great love of the outdoors led him to move to Polson in 1978. He owned and operated the Polson Sports Center for several years.

He moved to the Bitterroot Valley and built his own home in 1994 and became active in local politics, especially regarding river access and fishing rights.

Jim was a hard worker, a good provider, a loving father and a true friend who gave freely of his time and was always willing to help a friend in need.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, his brother Bill and sister Elizabeth.

Survivors include daughters Jane (Mike) Murphy in Boulder Creek, Calif., and Margaret Kearney of Polson; sisters Mary Naples of San Mateo and Rita Alvarado of San Jose, and brother Richard Kearney of Granite Bay, Calif.

Memorial services will be held at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville, Friday, Sept. 14, at 3 p.m. with Father Michael Smith officiating.

A reception will follow at Jim's home in Stevensville.

Ronald Harold Petet

ARLEE — Ronald Harold Petet, 64, died Monday afternoon, Sept. 10, at his home in Arlee.

Mass was celebrated Sept. 12 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Arlee where military honors were presented.

As per his request, cremation followed the service.

A complete obituary will be in next week's paper.

Glesnor A. Kemp Hammes

POLSON — Glesnor A. Kemp Hammes was born in Nebraska on March 6, 1917. Her family eventually moved to Montana where they made their home in Polson.

Glesnor was the oldest of six children, three sisters who survive her and two brothers who are deceased. Glesnor married Neil L. DeGolier and they were married until his death in May of 1976.

Later she met and married Lemuel Hammes and they spent 24 years together until his death in 2003.

Glesnor died of natural causes in Ronan, on Thursday, Sept. 6, 2007.

Her three sisters survive Glesnor: Patricia Nesselrodt, of Washington, Billy Martino of California and Kay and Bill O'Neil, also of California; three of her children, Neil L. DeGolier of Washington, Deed and Marsha DeGolier of Helena, and Nita Rae Randles in Moiese.

She has eight grandchildren, Paul DeGolier, Danica and Dean Hatch, Conan and Heather DeGolier, Renee' and Shad Schneider, Frank and Donna Randles, Ryan and Korrina Randles, and Jessie Randles, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Her funeral service was Sept. 10, at Grogan Funeral Home in Polson. Interment was in Lakeview Cemetery.

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

Patricia Darline Andersen

RONAN — Patricia Darline Andersen, 82, of Ronan died unexpectedly on Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2007, at St. Luke Community Hospital.

Patricia was born Nov. 28, 1924, in Musselshell to Patrick J. and Iva (Thompson) Mitchell. She was one of nine children, all of whom preceded her in death.

She graduated from Ronan High School where she developed many friendships that remained strong throughout her life. In June of 1943 she married her husband of 64 years, Harold E. Andersen.

Survivors include husband Harold at the family home in Ronan; daughters Jackie Simmons (Jerry) of Lakeside, JoAnn Marmon (Mike) of Ronan; son Alan Andersen of St. Ignatius; six grandchildren, all residing in western Montana, including Toni Lee Sias-Downey (Dan); David Marmon (Cathy); Shane, Shad (Trish) and Chancy Andersen (fiance' Jeremy), and Victoria Murphy (Wayne). A grandson, Jeffrey Parker-Slater, died in 1991. Her grandchildren brought great joy to her life by the addition of 16 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.

Regarded as more than a sister-in-law, Patricia will be especially mourned by Harold's siblings, Burton D. Andersen (Becky); Elaine Fugatt, and June Stromme (Wayne), all from the Portland, Ore., area, and Duncan Bingham, the widower of sister Pauline from Nampa, Idaho.

Special extended family members, who called her Mom or Grandma Pat, as well as nieces and nephews too numerous to mention, will also miss her special touch of making them feel as welcome and valued as if they were her own. The wonderful gift of hospitality was a strong quality she shared with Harold as they often opened their home and hearts.

She was a long time member of the Sew and So Club, Ronan Women's Club and served as secretary-treasurer of the Heritage Association up until the time of her death. Both she and Harold enjoyed assisting with the development and maintenance of the Garden of the Rockies Museum. Pat was a member of the Ronan Seventh Day Adventist Church.

Her unique creativity and collector nature was evidenced by the collection of friends and family who shared her memorial service on Saturday, Sept. 1, 2007, at the Ronan Community Center.

Following cremation, a private family service was held at the Mountain View Cemetery.

Services were provided by Shrider-Thompson Funeral Chapel. The family requests memorials be made to the Garden of the Rockies Museum.

LaReta Maughan

RONAN — LaReta Holyoak Maughan, 56, died of complications of a serious illness in the presence of her family Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007, at Community Hospital in Missoula.

She was born to Gilbert and LaNae Holyoak Oct. 1, 1950, in Moab, Utah. She moved with her family to a ranch outside St. Ignatius when she was seven. She graduated from St. Ignatius High School and lived in the Mission Valley ever since.

Our wife, mother, daughter, grandmother and friend left this world after a long hard-fought battle. She left us proud and full of love. She set an example that family is important, to love the Lord and to never give up, no matter how hard things get. No battles were lost. She has won and we have won because we were blessed with her in our lives. Even though her time here was short, her impact was great. The Lord needed to call her home to help on the other side and watch over us from above. The love and memories that she left behind will never fade, and she will always stay close to us in our hearts and minds.

LaReta married Edwin Leslie Maughan in the Idaho Falls Temple on May 29, 1971, and was a loving wife for 36 years.

She claimed her family as her greatest accomplishment and considered her grandchildren as her greatest rewards. She enjoyed family outings and supported camping, hiking, whitewater rafting and anything else Ed and the kids thought up. She will be remembered for her kind and generous heart and her wonderful cooking.

LaReta is survived by husband, Edwin, at the family home in Ronan; five children, Ken Maughan (Tina) of Polson, JaRee Howell (Courtney) of Leadore, Idaho, Juanita Gullickson (Ron) of Billings, Stacey Brueckmann (Bruce) of Pablo, and Gil Maughan of Ronan; six grandsons, Kenneth, James, Gabriel, Remington, Dale and Chase, and special granddaughter Kennzington Roze, born during her illness.

She is also survived by her parents, Gilbert and LaNae Holyoak of Thatcher, Idaho; sisters, Janet Anderson (Merlin) of Dillon, Carolyn Forsgren (Larry) of Thatcher, and Marilyn Knutson (Shawn) of Preston, Idaho; brothers, Reed Holyoak (Lili) of Stillwater of Okla., and James Holyoak (Andrea) of Aston, Wyo.; numerous nieces, and nephews; sisters-in-law, Mary Brown of Federal Way, Wash., Irene Lake of Ronan and Betty Baldwin (Richard) of Allen, Texas.

Services were held Sept. 8, at the Latter-day Saints Church in Ronan with Bishop Dave Smith officiating. Burial was at Calvary Cemetery in Ronan.

Foster and Durgeloh in St. Ignatius assisted the family with arrangements.