Obituaries, April 16
Hayek, Gibson, Christopher, Petersen, Elhert, Phillips, Cole
Thomas J. Hayek
Thomas J. “Tom” Hayek, 73, passed away on Saturday, April 4 at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell following a heart attack. He was born on Feb. 21, 1936 in St. Paul, Minn. to Joseph and Rose (Atz) Hayek.
Tom spent his school years in St. Paul and at the age of 17, joined the Marine Corp. While they were both stationed in San Diego, Calif. he met and married Peggy Darlene Dodd. Peggy and Tom had four children. In the early years of their marriage, Tom served two tours in Vietnam, rising to the rank of Master Sergeant. He retired from the Marines after 20 years of service.
Tom and his family moved to Somers in 1973, and have lived here since. Until retirement at 62, Tom worked for Northern Energy. Tom enjoyed camping and fishing. He spent many hours woodworking and playing with his grandchildren. His family was the most important aspect of his life. His wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were what he lived for.
Anyone who knew Tom had a brighter day after spending time with him. His sense of humor was infectious.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Gene; a grandson, Brad Williams and great-grandaughter Korbyn Williams. He is survived by his wife, Peggy of Somers; three sons: Lonnie and wife Carla; Rusty and partner Barb Handford and Doug and wife Melanie; one daughter: Wendy Kienas and husband Bob; 12 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren; one brother, Art Hayek and wife Linda, and sister-in-law Jerry Bunker and husband Don, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Graveside services for Tom were held on Wednesday, April 8 at Glacier Memorial Gardens with Jamie Wood of the Christian Center/Assembly of God officiating. A reception for family and friends will follow at Vista Linda in Somers. Visitation was on Wednesday in the Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Tom’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Tom’s guest book.
Eloise F. Giannini Gibson
Eloise Francine Giannini Gibson passed away on April 5 at the age of 94. She was born January 1, 1915, in Jackson, Calif. to Joseph and Marie Giannini.
Eloise graduated from Jackson High School on June 8, 1933. She later worked for Pacific Telephone in Grass Valley, Calif.
On July 6, 1937, she married Herbert P. Gibson and together they had four children: Charles (1938), Robert (1946) and Janice (1948) born in California. They moved to Missoula in May of 1949 where they owned and operated Gibson’s Magazine on North Higgins Avenue. In 1954, Paul was born. Eloise returned to school to receive her Licensed Practical Nursing degree in 1967. She worked at the University Health Service and then Hillside Manor until 1987, when she retired. She loved the people she cared for and the people she worked with.
Eloise loved flowers. As a young child she always picked the neighbors’ flowers. Her great-granddaughter, Sophia, inherited her ability to find and pick flowers. She loved gardening, canning, bowling, camping, fishing and traveling with family. She traveled to Hawaii, Europe, the Panama Canal and Alaska. It was always a treat for her to travel in the motor home with the grandkids to California and Arizona and she loved to play the nickel machines in Las Vegas and Jackpot, Nev. She bowled in a league at Five Valleys Bowl and was very involved with the Bowl for Kid’s Sake fundraiser. At Christmas time, she took charge of divinity making and fruitcake production and in the summer and fall would guide people through canning and pickle making. She loved bread and butter pickles. She loved to fish and usually caught the biggest one. Mom loved to dye Easter eggs with the grandkids, and enjoyed fireworks on the Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. She loved Christmas time and enjoyed driving around looking at the lights and decorations and loved any gift she received. It was pure delight to watch her open presents. Her smile was radiant and constant. She enjoyed delivering treats to her neighbors on the Fourth floor at the Clark Fork Manor for various holidays and she loved to have her door decorated. She was an avid Grizzly fan and was the oldest person to travel to Chattanooga to watch them play in a national championship game with her grandaughter, Lori. She won the hearts of many people on her charter because of her genuinely sweet and witty personality and by the end of the trip was fondly referred by many as “Granny.” Eloise was also an avid NFL and NBA fan. Her favorite teams were the Phoenix Suns and the San Francisco 49ers. She loved to go see the Suns play when she was in Phoenix.
Eloise was a two-time cancer survivor, she had two knee implants, but she continued to attend the Women’s Club for morning water aerobics with the “girls.” She dearly loved all the people in her class and it kept her heart stronger than one could imagine.
She enjoyed her dinner companions and friends at the Clark Fork Riverside and missed them immensely when she moved to Polson in November of 2008.
She is survived by her children, Robert and wife Anna Gibson of Phoenix, Ariz; Janice and husband Jim Phillips of Big Arm; Paul and wife Nancy Gibson of Missoula and daughter-in-law Pat Gibson, widow of Charles, of Missoula. Grandchildren, Lori Richardson, and fiancé Jeff Talbott, Angi Phillips, Cheri and husband Matthew Jacobs, Wendy, and husband Chuck Forgey, Blake and Nicolas Gibson, David and Jeff Gibson. Great-grandchildren, Tyler Trowbridge, Danni and Krista Johnston, Conner Richardson, Charles Jaden and Sophia Forgey and Justin and Jaymeson Jacobs and Nickolas and Ryan Talbott. Sister, Donna Renwick of Fresno, Calif., nephews David, Blair, Jon and niece Kristen and their families. Cousin, LaRaine Schlatter of Oak Harbor, Wash. and son Bob of Monroe, Wash.
She was preceded in death by her oldest son Charles in 2006 and husband Herbert in 1986.
A memorial service will be held on June 10 at Christ the King Church with a reception following immediately at the church. Interment will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery following the reception. Details will be posted at a later date. Donations can be made to the charity of choice. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com
Kenneth Orvin Christopher
Kenneth Orvin Christopher, 92, of Missoula and formerly of Polson, died on Tuesday, April 7, in Missoula. He could walk on his hands, climb a tree and mend a little girl’s broken heart. He was a talented self-taught harmonica player. His love for the outdoors included hunting with his brother and nephews, taking his family boating and water skiing. He had a quick smile, great sense of humor and his quiet strength kept his family together. He taught us love, sharing and the importance of family. He was a proud Marine, a hard worker and a true jack-of-all-trades.
On September 7, 1916, in Medina, N.D., Kenneth Orvin Christopher was the seventh of 11 children born to Carl and Inga Christopher. After graduating from the eighth grade, he worked for area farmers until drifting west to visit brothers in Arlee, where he met his future wife, Ruby Fleming.
Kenneth joined the Marines in 1934 and served most of his 4-year tour on the USS Arizona. He then joined the reserves. From California, he wrote and asked for Ruby’s hand and they were married in 1940. The Marines called him up in 1941, but because he was married and employed, he was released from active duty in November of 1941.
Kenneth and Ruby had a daughter, Gloria, born in Richmond, Calif. and then moved back to Arlee where they lived when their second daughter, Marjorie, was born. He worked several jobs, including working for Zip Auto, Missoula White Pine and the Missoula Sugar Beet Factory. Beside ranching, Kenneth worked for the Montana Fish Hatchery in Arlee. He and Ruby owned and operated Sunshine Grocery in Missoula and The Fountain in Arlee. He even tried his hand as a landlord when they bought an apartment house in Missoula. Kenneth enjoyed his job as custodian and bus driver for the Arlee Schools, where he worked until retiring in 1979. After retirement, they enjoyed travel and entertaining family and friends in their home on Flathead Lake.
Kenneth was caregiver to Ruby, his wife of 41 years, prior to her death in 1982. Then with time on his hands, he decided buying a motorcycle and riding it to North Dakota was a good idea, but soon found short trips more appealing. He spent time with his family and enjoyed getting together with friends at the Polson Senior Citizens Center.
In 1987, Kenneth married Mildred Olsen, a long ago friend from his childhood in North Dakota. They shared many memories of family and friends and were happily married for 22 years. This union increased his family by four boys and five sisters-in-law.
Ken and Mille lived at his home on Flathead Lake and traveled extensively via RV to all of the lower 48 states and visited with family and friends. Ken was never just a guest, he was a good helping hand in building projects and gardening. Keeping busy kept him younger than his years.
Ken enjoyed their life as “snow birds,” but when their traveling days were done, he was content to stay at home again on the lake playing his harmonica and watching the birds. He always had some “rock project” to keep him busy, but not out of trouble. In 2008, health issues required him to move to Missoula where they lived at The Village Senior Residence for a time and with his daughter.
When Kenneth finished his journey on April 7 he was greeted by those who went before him: his wife Ruby. daughter Gloria, grandson Ken, his parents, eight brothers and two sisters. Also joining in to welcome him home were Millie’s son Dale and her sisters, Dagmar and Lillian.
Those Ken left behind include his wife, Millie and her sons, Stuart, Charles and Wade, all of California, and their families and the family of her son Dale; Ken’s daughter and son-in-law, Marjorie and Weldon Sparks of Missoula; three granddaughters, Kim Blake of Kalispell, Judy Craven of Mesa, Ariz., and Heather Smith of Missoula; one grandson, Richard Frey of Altus, Okla.; six great-grandchildren, numerous nieces and many more from his extended family who loved and called him great-grandpa.
Services were held on Saturday, April 11 at Grogan Funeral Home, Polson where a reception will follow. Burial with Military Honors will followed at 1:15 p.m. at Lakeview Cemetery, Polson. To send messages of condolence to the family, or to view the obituary, please go to http://www.groganfuneralhome.com.
Lois R. Petersen
Lois R. Petersen, 94, of Polson, passed away on March 30, 2009 from natural causes. She was born June 19, 1914 in Shafer N.D. to Ruben and Netta Gorrell Oeder. As a child she moved west with her family to Nimrod MT, east of Missoula then finally to Missoula where she and her brother Bill were raised and went to school. Lois graduated from Missoula County High School in 1933. Although she married Arthur E. Petersen in Deer Lodge in 1934, they resided in Missoula.
During WWII, while Dad was in the Philippines Mom worked at the Missoula Mercantile and later at JC Penney. Lois was a member of the Orchard Homes Country Life Club in Missoula, the Masumola Women’s Club in Polson and the First Baptist Church of Polson. She loved reading, enjoyed knitting, camping and traveling.
Mom wrote the following life story for the 50th Anniversary of her high school graduation – the first time her class had a reunion. “I’ve had a good share of happiness and some sorrow, too. Arthur E. Petersen and I were married and raised three children. I have six grandchildren that I enjoy very much. We both enjoyed the outdoors and spent much time at Flathead Lake with my parents. We also traveled various other parts of the country. In 1966, a new experience, we moved to Puyallup, Wash. and lived there for seven years. When my husband passed away in 1973, I moved back to Polson. My friend, Beth Olson, also a widow, and I are now taking the trips around this beautiful country of ours that we and our husbands had planned to take when we were retired. We have traveled much of the United States and found there is no place like home.”
Since writing that, Mom became a Great Grandmother to 11. She loved her family and always lit up when the grandchildren and great-grandchildren came to visit.
Her parents, husband and two brothers preceded Lois in death. She is survived by her children: Roger (Robin) Petersen, Henderson, NV, Karen (Ken) Smith, Kathie (Tom) Newgard both of Polson and grandchildren: Kirsten Petersen, Jay (Cindy) Petersen, Heather Smith, Kellie Smith, Tara (Steve) Carvey and Kory (Tiffany) Newgard.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday April 18 in the First Baptist church with Rev. Rudy Ringhoff officiating. Inurnment will take place at 11 a.m. on Monday April 20 in the Missoula City cemetery. Memorials may be made in Lois’s name to the Polson City Library, Mission Valley Animal Shelter or the donor’s choice. Condolences to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com
Carl E. Ehlert
Carl E. Ehlert, 87, of Polson, passed away on Saturday, April 11 at his daughter’s home on Finley Point. Arrangements will announced and a full obituary will follow. Arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory of Polson.
Jim Phillips
The name Phillips means “lover of horses” and Jim Phillips was an avid lover of horses. He passed away on Thursday, April 9 at the age of 77, at his home in rural Polson with his beloved wife and children by his side.
Born in his father’s farmhouse near Alexandria, N.H. on Dec. 16, 1931, Jim was sixth of fourteen children. He lived and went to school in various places, sometimes living and working with his uncle in logging camps.
In 1947, he traveled west with his aunt and uncle to begin a new life in western South Dakota. While there, he finished his eighth grade education and began working for Ed Scott on his ranch where he made his home with the Scott family for several years. During this time, he also broke Cavalry horses for the U.S. Government.
On July 16, 1952, he married Lou Ann Scott at First Baptist Church in Rapid City, S.D. Three months later, he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He took his basic training at Ft. Sill, Ok. and was shipped to Korea in March 1953. He loved his country and served willingly. While in Korea, he was wounded in action and was awarded the Purple Heart. When his tour of duty ended, he returned home and went to work for Barber Transportation Co. of Rapid City, S.D., where he was employed as a truck driver for 31 years.
His son, Ed, was born in 1955 and daughter, Jeanne followed in 1959. They also ranched in the Rapid City area from 1961 until Jim retired in 1985. The family then moved to Montana where he continued to work with horses, breaking colts, horse logging and riding for Big Meadow Grazing Association until Sept. 16, 2008 when he suffered a severe head injury when his horse went over backwards on him. After seven months, he succumbed to those injuries.
He is survived by his bride of nearly 57 years, Lou Ann, of the family home; his two children, son, Ed (Trina) of Polson; daughter, Jeanne (roger) Tauck of Ronan. One brother, bud (Jeri) Phillips of Milton Freewater, Oregono; four sisters, Pandora (Marty) Martel of Concord, N.H., Liz (Wes) Westgate of Pembroke, N.H. Ann (Bill) Simpson of Contoocook, NH and Judy (Milt) Tasker of Concord, N.H., and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Freeman S. and Cristabel Chamberlain Phillips; brothers Earl, Freeman, and William; sisters, Waneta, Winona, Diane, and two infant siblings.
He loved the lord and was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Polson, where a memorial has been established to the youth ministries.
Visitation was held at Grogan Funeral Home in Polson on Wednesday, April 15. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, April 16 at the First Baptist Church, Polson, with burial to follow in Ronan Cemetery with military honors. Condolences may be sent to the family or the obituary viewed online at www.groganfuneralhome.com.
John M. Cole
John M. Cole Jr., 90, of Dixon, passed away on April 12 in Jacksonville, Fla. Born on Dec, 29, 1918, in Oklahoma, he lived the majority of his life in Montana. John served in the Coast Guard during WWII. He retired from the Missoula School District where he worked in the maintenance department. He was also a member of the Dixon Baptist Church.
John is preceded in death by his daughter, Patty Cole, and his first wife Edna Cole.
John leaves behind his wife, Allene Cole; children, LeRoy (Bobbie) Cole and Karen Cole; step-daughters, Martha Swonson, Betty Chenette, and Sally Whiffen, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Shenna Green and her daughter Erica Green, Corey (Erin), their child Tyler, and Natasha, with her children, Dylan, Bryan and Jordan.
A memorial service honoring John’s life will be held in Montana at a later date.
Arrangements by: Hardage-Giddens Mandarin Chapel, 11801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL (904) 288-0025. Visit http://www.mem.com to leave a written tribute.