-Michael Harry Czerwinski

April 16, 1943 - April 14, 2008

ST. IGNATIUS - Michael Harry Czerwinski died on April 14, 2008, at his home in Trout Creek after a courageous battle with cancer.

Mike was born April 16, 1943 in Milwaukee, Wis. to Harry T. Czerwinski and Florence (Davis) Czerwinski.

Mike's quest for a career in forestry led him to Moscow, Idaho, to attend the University of Idaho, along with his cousin from Milwaukee, William (Bill) Knispek. Joining the Forest Service after graduation brought him to Trout Creek where he met his future wife, Betty Stonehocker Simmons, a former Ronan resident. They were married May 8, 1970.

Forestry, horse logging, hunting, and huckleberry picking kept Mike rooted in Western Montana. The grizzly bears and mountain goats became well acquainted with Mike.

Mike's trusty horse, Rascal, that he used in logging may enjoy a longer retirement than Mike. Rascal will be 33 years old in July. Mike never knew a stranger, and had a story to tell everyone.

Mike was pre-deceased by his parents and a younger brother, Joseph.

Survivors include his wife; a younger sister, Carol (Jerry) Roche, of Lancaster, Ohio; a sister-in-law, Beverly (Joe) Czerwinski of Thompson Falls; a stepson, Michael (Elizabeth) Simmons of Belton, Mo.; a stepdaughter, Patti (Robin) Meek of Helena, and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and grandchildren.

Services were held April 18 at Trout Creek Community Church with Thomas Wagler overseeing. Burial was at the Whitepine - Trout Creek Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to Plains Home Health Hospice.

Foster & Durgeloh Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Alma Louise Oliver

POLSON - Alma Louise Oliver, 95, of Pablo died of natural causes on Thursday, April 17, 2008, at Evergreen Health & Rehab. Center.

She was born Feb. 27, 1913, at Butte, to William and Sarah Perkins Wallace. Alma attended school in both McAllister and Ennis. She and Clarence L. Oliver married in 1936 in Butte. During her life she cooked at Madison Valley Hospital, Ennis Cafe, Betty's Cafe, Sportsman Lodge, cleaned cabins at the Sportsman Lodge and Morgan's El Western in Ennis, and worked on Meals on Wheels in Ennis.

Alma was a member of the Senior Citizens and Eagles Lodge. She loved fishing, playing cards, crochet, knit and work crafts.

Her parents, husband Clarence in 1973, two brothers and a sister preceded her in death.

She is survived by her daughters Dorothy (Jim) Short of Belgrade and Ethel (Donald) Heaney of Pablo; six grandchildren and one step-grandchild, eight great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren, and one niece.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 25, at 2 p.m. in the K & L Mortuary in Ennis, with burial to follow at the Meadow Creek Cemetery at McAllister. Memorials may be made to the donor's choice.

Local arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home, Polson.

Charles Joseph (Chuck) Mikulecky

HAVRE - Charles Joseph (Chuck) Mikulecky, 73, died peacefully at the Chester Hospital on the early morning of April 15, 2008. He was born Aug. 26, 1934, in Havre, one of five children born to Catherine Janice Clark and Charles J. Mikulecky.

Chuck grew up in the Hi-Line and received his early education at Rudyard. He graduated from Hingham High School in 1953.

Chuck married a young school teacher, Patricia Louise Peschel, on Sept. 7, 1958, at Ronan.

They made their home on the MK ('M K Bar') Ranch south of Rudyard, where they raised a family of three. In 1974 the Mikulecky's purchased a home in Rudyard so they could enjoy their children's school activities. Chuck continued to farm until 1991, when he retired, sold the farm, and enjoyed his passion for fishing.

Chuck suffered from asthma and emphysema, and his health declined steadily in the past few years. He was recently admitted to the Liberty Medical Center in Chester and was comforted to have his family at his bedside during his final days.

In his earlier days Chuck was an active member of the Rudyard Gun Club, the Rudyard Saddle Club, and the Farmer's Union. He was a staunch Democrat who proudly served as a Democratic Central Committeeman for many years. Although he never ran for a political office, he loved politics and was very knowledgeable of political history.

He was a cowboy at heart who loved the great outdoors. He liked to hunt in his younger days and he took many pack-trips with friends into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. After his health began to fail, Chuck was still eager to go on these trips and he enjoyed serving as the 'camp cook.' He also experienced several 'once in a lifetime' fishing trips to the Alaskan wilderness.

Other outdoor activities included boating, waterskiing, and shooting gophers. In his quiet time at home Chuck enjoyed reading. He also liked to play cards, and he enjoyed cooking.

Chuck's acquaintances would probably describe him as a shy, quiet man. His friends would say that he was a great storyteller with a quick wit and a good sense of humor. His family will remember him as a loving man with a kind heart and a gentle soul.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, a stillborn brother (Charles, Jr.), and a sister (Shirley Kroshus).

Surviving are his wife of almost 50 years, Patricia Mikulecky of Rudyard; one son, Edward Charles Mikulecky of Libby; two daughters, Sandra Louise Moog and husband, Bruce of Libby and Lisa May Iverson and husband, John of Stayton, Ore.; eight grandchildren, and numerous nephews and nieces.

Funeral services were April 18 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard.

Memorials may be given to the Rudyard EMS or O.C.E.A.N., a charity established by Lisa and John Iverson to help fund the education of Ugandan children. This past fall Chuck spent an enjoyable month in Oregon where he experienced the plight of nine visiting Ugandan kids and realized the importance of this charity: 'One Child Educates A Nation,' Cascade High School, 10226 Marion Road S.E., Turner, OR 97392.

John Maxmilan Houkal

John Maxmilan Houkal, 91, of Polson, died April 15, 2008, in Ronan.

He lived at Jette Lake Estates for 25 years with his wife Mildred, who died in 1994.

John was born Jan. 2, 1917, in Chicago, to Emil and Emilie (Starek) Houkal. His parents immigrated to the United States from the Czech Republic and raised their only son in Cicero, Ill., which had a large Bohemian community. He and Mildred passed this Czech heritage down to his three children.

John graduated from Morton High School in Cicero and earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in mechanical and aeronautical engineering from TriState University in Angola, Ind.

During World War II, he worked for McDonald Douglas Aircraft Corp. designing bombers. After the war, he designed packaging for Sara Lee Foods, Mars Candy Co., and Stouffer's Foods. John married Mildred Schindler in Cicero in 1940. The couple had three children, a daughter and twin sons. The family enjoyed vacationing in northern Wisconsin, where John and Mildred taught them a love for the outdoors.

John retired in 1979 and the couple moved to the Mission Valley.

He enjoyed fishing for trout and bass in Jette Lake and socializing with neighbors. John was a member of the local Elks. He also was an avid reader, enjoying many genres of books including Louis L'Amour westerns and was a dedicated supporter of the Polson City Library. He built model airplanes ' a hobby he pursued into his advancing years.

John is survived by his children, Joan (Ray) Folwell of Pullman, Wash., John (Bonnie) Houkal of Louisville, Colo., and Dana (Mary) Houkal of Bellevue, Wash.; seven grandchildren, Annette Folwell, Matthew Folwell, Nicholas Houkal, Joseph Houkal, Jeff Houkal, Kim Houkal and Nate Houkal.

The family will have a gathering in celebration of John's life this summer.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Polson City Library or the Mission Valley Animal Shelter.

Alma 'Butch' Bernice Goode

POLSON - A memorial service for Alma 'Butch' Bernice Goode, 78, of Ronan, who died on Jan. 27, 2008, at her home in Ronan, will be held on Friday, April 25, 2008, in the Lonepine Hall, Lonepine, at 2 p.m. Inurnment will be at Murray Memorial Cemetery. A potluck will follow services in the hall. Arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home, Polson.

Duane 'Mike' Plouffe

DIXON - Duane 'Mike' Plouffe, 41, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., died early April 19, 2008, from injuries received in a motorcycle accident in Ft. Lauderdale. Services are pending with Foster & Durgeloh Funeral Home of St. Ignatius.

Anna F. Stromstead

RONAN - Anna F. Stromstead, 95, of Ronan died April 21, of natural causes in the St. Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan. Arrangements will be announced by Shrider-Thompson Funeral and Cremation Services.