William George 'Bill' Barba

POLSON — William George Barba, 80, of Polson died of natural causes on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, at St. Joseph Hospital. Bill was born at Pittsburgh, Pa. on Feb. 11, 1927, to William and Amelia Barba.

Bill joined the US Navy in 1944 and served through 1946. He then returned to school and graduated from Woodrow Wilson High School in California. On Feb. 13, 1948, Bill married Dolores Sumner in Hollywood, Calif. Bill returned to the armed forces and joined the Air Force in 1950 and served through 1952.

Bill worked with microfilm, he was a fireman, real estate agent, land developer, welder, salesman, and was the inventor of the salvage master. In the late 1970s, Bill tried his hand in politics, running for the position of Lake County Commissioner.

He had a wide variety of hobbies and interests. He enjoyed photography, fishing, hunting, model airplanes, restoring old cars, painted heavy equipment, oil painting, scuba diving, flying, metal cowboy art, and he built a bi-plane from scratch from plans he had purchased.

His parents William V. and Amelia, sisters Queen and Pat, brothers Vince, Jack, and David preceded Bill in death.

Bill is survived by his loving wife Dolores; children John Charles, Donald Robert, Evie Marie, Philip James; sisters Lois and Monte; brothers Bob, Jerry and Jimmy, and seven grandchildren.

A memorial service was held for Bill on Feb. 5 in the New Life Christian Center with Pastor Shawn Madsen officiating. Memorials may be made in Bill's name to the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation, 636 Morris Turnpike Suite 3-A, Short Hills, NJ, 07078 or at www.christopherreeve.org

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

Elda Rae Taylor

Elda Rae Taylor went home to be with her Lord on Jan. 30, 2008, with her husband and children at her bedside.

Elda was born Feb. 4, 1935, in Big Oak Flat, Calif., to James and Edna Mapston. She and her family moved to Polson in 1947. She graduated from Bigfork High School in 1953.

She married Paul W. Taylor from Columbia Falls on Sept. 11, 1954. Over a period of 40 years they raised four of their own children and over 100 foster children. Elda was a woman who loved the Lord and expressed that in all she did. Elda loved children and being involved in teaching activities.

She taught Sunday school, was Sunday School Superintendent for many years, Pioneer Girls Leader, Awana Leader, and involved in many ladies' Bible study groups at First Baptist Church of Polson. She and Paul helped to begin the Polson Alliance Church in their home where Elda was also a teacher and Sunday School superintendent. They were also involved in mission trips to Mexico with Youth With a Mission.

She taught kindergarten for several years. Elda was very creative from a young age and enjoyed sketching, painting, sculpting, writing, and crafts of all kinds. She was an avid dog lover, trainer, breeder and dog sled musher. She loved the outdoors: hiking, camping, swimming and gardening.

Elda and Paul moved to Sierraville, Calif., in August 2005 where they have enjoyed their retirement years on the Wallace Ranch. They have been actively involved in the Community Church of Loyalton since moving to California.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Jimmy Mapston.

She is survived by her brother, Don Mapston and his wife Carla of Conroe, Texas; sister in-law Ruth Mapston of Apple Valley, Minn., husband Paul and children: Diane Rice of Ronan, Penny Warren of Polson, Danny Taylor of Loyalton, Bonita Wallace of Sierraville, and Kirn Cummins of Missoula; nine grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

A celebration of her life was held at the Community Church of Loyalton, Feb. 2.

Memorial donations may be made to Community Church of Loyalton for the Kids Care Mission. Donations can be sent to the following address: Community Church of Loyalton, P.O. Box 326, Loyalton, CA 96118.

Harvey Allen Keller

RONAN — Harvey Allen Keller, 62, of Ronan died at his home on Jan. 27, 2008. A graveside service will be held at a later date. Cremation and arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home & Crematory of Polson.

William (Bill) P. Haigh

Nov. 15, 1934- Jan. 30, 2008

Born in Seattle to a large family, Bill Haigh was raised in the Madrona neighborhood and graduated from Garfield High School. He was a Teamster working in the trucking industry at both United Parcel Service and Ric's Transfer before retiring to Mesa, Ariz. and Polson.

Bill was an avid golfer and left his mark on courses in Washington, Arizona, California and Montana. He made a multitude of friends while driving — both on the road and on the greens. Being fond of tomatoes, in retirement Bill learned to grow and enjoy his own.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Leo and Ethel (Darby) Haigh; brothers Dan, Steve, John and his infant son John.

He is survived by Sherry, his wife of 54 years; children Teri (Carmen), Chris, Laurel (Brian) and Andy (Alfredia); four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; his siblings, Jack (Fran), Helen, Tess, Jim, Bea (Dick), Larry (Lucy), Phil, Rose (Don), Ray (Connie), Greg (Sonia), Geri (Lynn) and Dave (Barb), and a host of nieces, nephews and cousins, notably the Egan clan.

Bill's ready smile, love of debate, and great sense of humor will be dearly missed.

A celebration of Bill's life was held Feb. 5 at Ballinger Lake Golf Club, Mountlake Terrace, Wash. Memorials may be made to Cancer Lifeline in support of the Lung Cancer Group at Northwest Hospital and Medical Center, or Providence Hospice of Seattle.

Lois Ann Sharp Aznoe

MISSOULA — Lois Ann Sharp Aznoe, 90, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Feb. 4, 2008, with scripture reading, singing and surrounded by family and loved ones.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James W. Aznoe, and brother, Kenneth P. Sharp.

Surviving are her children: Karen Kersul of Spokane, Kenton Aznoe of Missoula and Gerald Aznoe of Polson; four grandchildren, eight great-grandsons, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Born in Albert Lea, Minn., on Jan. 9, 1918, to Alvy and Maude Sharp, they later moved to Great Falls. Lois graduated from Great Falls High, attended nursing school and married Jim Aznoe. After moving with the military, they resided in Chinook, Fort Benton, Polson and Missoula. Most recently she was an active member of the Polson Community Church.

Lois enjoyed many friendships and was always faithful to stay in touch. Her final residence was Edgewood Vista, Missoula, where she received wonderful loving care. Lois is remembered as a dedicated wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt and friend-always looking for ways to serve others.

She got enjoyment out of gardening and homemaking. Her hospitable, loving, kind and unselfish spirit was enjoyed by all who loved and knew her. Lois will be missed but now can enjoy her heavenly home.

Her life will be celebrated at a memorial service at Polson Community Church, 1814 1st Street East, on Friday, Feb. 8, at 1 p.m. A brief graveside service will follow at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson.

Remembrances may be directed to Polson Community Church or the charity of your choice.

Condolences may be left for the family at www.missoulafuneralhomes.com

John Jay Stokes

POLSON — John Jay Stokes, 76, of Polson died of cancer on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008, at his home in Polson with his wife Pat and son Jack by his side.

He was born on Sept. 1, 1931, northwest of Valier, to John Henry and Luella (Armstrong) Stokes. John attended school in Valier and worked on his dad's farm. They later moved to Dupuyer, which is where he married Sheila Shelmerdine in 1950. He continued farming and ranching with his dad until 1960 when they moved to the Ronan area.

John went into several businesses, which included custom farming and haying, owning and operating school buses, and for several years he owned and operated the Pheasant Lounge. Later years found him in the trucking business, buying 24 new trucks in 30 years and having five on the road at times.

John and Sheila had two children, John and Lori, and they later divorced.

John married Patricia Lynn Beaver of Polson in 1969. They moved the trucking business to Great Falls in 1986, remaining there for 13 years until returning to the Polson area in 1999. Most recently, he owned and operated water tender trucks that were used for fighting forest fires.

John loved snowmobiling, 4-wheeling, hunting, and fishing and especially looked forward each fall to big game hunting on the Sterling Ranch with his buddies Les, Mike and Dennis. He really enjoyed his log cabin and friends on his property at Sudden Valley, while living in Great Falls.

John is survived by his wife Pat of Polson; son John L. (Jack) Stokes of Polson; daughter Lori Harbour and Mark Flora of Bartlesville, Okla.; four step-children, Kathryn Harding and her husband Gary of Pablo; Hu Beaver and his wife Patsy of Polson; Joanne Emerson and her husband Wade of Ronan; and Jeanne Cochran and her husband Brad of Polson; sisters Bernice Scott and her son Robert of Conrad; Vergie Williamson of Butte and her daughters Cindy and Erlene, and son Ron Hartwell; grandchildren Paul Stokes, Cicily Stokes, Emily Emerson, Michael Lytton of Ronan; Tricia Anderson, Cody Harbour, Kayla Harbour of Bartlesville; Sami Beaver of Albuquerque; Sunshine Harding, of Portland, Travis Harding of Whitefish; Arlis Harding of Pablo; Jody, Jeremy and Tommy Seifert of Polson; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made in John's name to St. Joseph Home Health, 6 - 13th Avenue East, Polson, MT 59860.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 7, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. at Grogan Funeral Home. Funeral service will be at Grogan Funeral Home on Friday, Feb. 8, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. John Payne officiating.

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

Gail Taylor Knapp

POLSON — Funeral services for Gail Taylor Knapp, 73, of Polson died at her home on Sunday, Feb. 3, 2008. A visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., today (Thursday) at the Grogan Funeral Home in Polson.

Services will be Friday, Feb. 8, 2008, at 11 am in the Clark Fork City Church in Missoula. Interment will follow at Riverview Cemetery in Hamilton at 2:30 p.m. A full obituary will follow next week

Robert L. 'Bob' Middlemist

RONAN — Robert Leonard "Bob" Middlemist, 79, was born to G.W. "Bill" and Verna (Talbot) Middlemist on March 16, 1928, at the Flathead Agency in Dixon. He died Sunday, Jan. 27, 2008, at St. Luke Hospital in Ronan.

Services were held Feb. 1, in the Dixon Gym with interment in the St. Ignatius Cemetery. The full obituary will appear next week.

Addison Ernest McKinnon

ANACORTES, Wash. — Former Polson resident Addison Ernest ("Addie") McKinnon, 92, Jan. 21, 2008, of natural causes. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m., Feb. 9 at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Missoula. A full obituary will appear next week.