Obituaries, April 23

Gross, Miller, Stephenson, Knipe, Zumwalt, Bigcrane, Guenzler

Kenyon A. Gross

Kenyon “Kenny” A. Gross, 87, of Polson, passed away on Sunday, April 5 at Mountain View Care Center in Ronan from natural causes. Mr. Gross was born on June 28, 1920, in Belltower, the son of the late Joseph Guy and Grace Naugle Gross. He is also preceded in death by his wife Virginia Fowler Gross; a son, Robert Kenyon Gross; two brothers, Joe and Ellsworth Gross, and one sister, Eva Campbell. Growing up, Kenny helped his parents on their farm and then joined the US Army and served during WWII. In 1964, he married Virginia Fowler. Virginia passed away in 1991. Kenny was a farmer in the eastern part of Montana, a rancher in the Polson, Ronan and Charlo areas, and a millworker in the Polson area. Kenny loved to play cards and board games, games of horseshoe, fishing, hunting, and at one time especially enjoyed dancing. Mr. Gross leaves behind a daughter, Theresa Neely of Pablo; two sisters, Isabelle Sites and Gladys Askins, and two grandchildren, Robert P. Statczar and Ashley Steele. Graveside services were held on Thursday, April 16 at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson. A reception followed at the VFW in Polson. Online condolences may be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com.

Norman Ray Miller

Norman Ray “Norm” Miller, 74, passed away on Monday, April 13 from complications of pneumonia at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. At 10:15 a.m. on a chilly Thursday morning, on Feb. 28, 1935, Norm became the seventh child of Johnnie Roscoe and Eva May (Bower) Miller.  The family would grow to eight boys and three girls.

Norm attended Bald Rock School northwest of Kalispell where he met his life long best friend, Leonard Goss. Over the years, the two of them shared many good times and not so little mischief.

As a young man, Norm met the love of his life Virginia “Bunnie” Larson. Soon after, on May 1, 1953, the two were married in Coeur D’ Alene, Idaho. They would spend their entire life together in the Flathead Valley. To this union was born five daughters. Norm is descended from strong, proud Scots – Irish stock that came to America for a new life in 1756 from the Northern Ireland region of Ulster, County Tyrone. They entered near Philadelphia and soon moved west and helped open the wilderness of America, moving ever westward, selling their farms and settling new ones as land was opened, in western Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Missouri.

Martin Miller, Norm’s grandfather moved his family from Worth County, Missouri to the Demersville area in about 1900.

They soon adapted to the timber country of Montana, and became hard working loggers, avid hunters and fabled fisherman.

Norm began his logging career at the age of 13 at the business end of a cross cut saw. He worked many years for Lyman H. Claridge and Johnny Slack at S and S Logging. He could fall timber, hunt elk, catch bull trout and overhaul your cat, maybe all in the same day.

He loved the wilderness, the mountains, the rivers, the people and most all his wife, daughters and extended family. Everyone was always welcome at Norm and Bunnies, the hand of friendship was readily extended to one and all. If you were a stranger it was only that Norm had not yet met you.

Norm was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ross, Johnnie, Richard, Bennie and Marvin; sisters, Virginia and Luella; a very special grandson Bradley Williams and very sweet great-granddaughter Korbyn EvaMay Williams. He is survived by his wife Bunnie Miller at the family home in Kalispell; his daughters, Sharyle Miller and Jerry Welker of Rollins; Cindy Regnier and husband MSgt Fulton of Kalispell; Wendy Reiter and husband Steve of Black Diamond; Carla Hayek and husband Lonnie of Somers and Heather Robbins and husband Sam of Helena; Norm enjoyed the company of a very special nephew Steve Miller of Billings; also 13 grandchildren, Beci Davenport (that he raised as his own daughter), Tyler Miller, Darin Regnier, Tiffany Audette, Kyle and Katy Harland, Aimee and Jim Bob Williams, Heather Hayek, Kwyncee, Kennar, Kerstie Ward and Aden Robbins and 7 great-grandchildren, unborn granddaughter Hailey, Cylus, Lindsay, Braylon, Kya, Tommy and Makenzie; also two brothers, Irvin Miller and Ken Miller both of Kalispell and one sister Sylvia Evans of Newport, Wash. and countless other relatives and friends. No greater honor can be bestowed on a man’s life than to be known simply, as a good man.

A Celebration of Life for Norman was held on Friday, April 17 at Stillwater Grange 1810 W. Reserve in Kalispell. A visitation was on Wednesday, April 15 at Johnson – Gloschat Funeral Home. 

Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home is caring for Norm’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Norm’s guest book.

Floyd A. Knipe

On March 31, our dad slipped his boot into the stirrup and mounted his favorite pony from his youth to take a ride across the Milky Way. Floyd A. Knipe died in his home in Post Falls, Idaho of progressive lung disease. His wife of 60 years, Delores (Dee) was at his side.

Floyd was born on December, 15, 1929, in Everett, Mich. He was the youngest of three children. Following the death of his mother at the age of 9, Floyd entered the work force at an early age. He became a master stone mason, plaster as well as a custom home builder. However, his passion was raising Herford cows and horses. 

Floyd, Dee and their four children moved from Michigan to Montana in 1962, settling in the Mission Valley. Over the course of the next 40 years Floyd completed construction jobs across Montana, Wyoming, California, Canada, and Idaho. In addition to a busy construction business Floyd ranched in the shadow of the Mission Mountains.

He is survived by his wife, Dee Knipe; their four children, Teri L. Sanddal (Nels) of Bozeman, Ben F. (Deana) Knipe of Polson, Brian S. Knipe of Great Falls and Tina M. (Shannon) Embry of Vallejo, Calif. He is also survived by his siblings; a brother, Ronald from Ariz., and a sister, Margery from Colo. Floyd had eight grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren and, perhaps, his very best friend – his dog “Keeper.” 

A memorial service will be held later this spring to honor Floyd’s life and his love of the sunshine, horses, dogs and life. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Critical Illness and Trauma Foundation, 2075 Charlotte, Suite 1, Bozeman MT 59718 or to your favorite charity.

James Stephenson Faw

 On Sunday, April 12, James Stephenson “Steve” Faw died at his home in Polson.

He was born in Newburgh, N.Y. on Dec. 14, 1944, to James Enoch and Martha Cornelia Sims Faw. He grew up on Woodcliff Lake, N.J. with twin brother John Marshall, sister Cornelia and brother Gerald. He attended the University of Maryland where he met and married Eileen Cumberland in 1965.

Steve’s life was blessed with two daughters whom he dearly loved, Stephanie Faw and Diane Torry. He also deeply loved and enjoyed his grandchildren, Rob, Heather and Haylee Bruton and Ciara Torry.

Steve came to Montana in 1994 on a work assignment and he decided that this was where he would stay. As all who knew him can testify, when Steve found something he enjoyed he couldn’t wait to share it with all who would listen. He will be remembered with smiles and laughter and with stories of his enthusiasm for life. He was greatly loved.

A memorial service was on Saturday, April 18 at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, Polson in Pastor Stuart Boyer officiated. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home, Polson. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Steve’s loving memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, JDRF Northwest Chapter, 1200 Sixth Ave., #605, Seattle, WA 98101; or online at www.jdrf.org. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online and the obituary viewed at www.groganfuneralhome.com.

Hazel Frey Zumwalt

A memorial service for Hazel Lauretta Frey Zumwalt, 84, of Polson, who passed away on January 2 in Polson, will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 2 in the Grogan Funeral Home with Rev. Robert C. Larson of the St. Ignatius Christian Church officiating. 

Hazel was born on February 16, 1924, in Bundy and passed away of natural causes in the early morning hours of January 2 in Polson at her home of seven years, Home Sweet Home Assisted Living.  She is surivived by her daughter Vicki (Gary) Riebe, a granddaughter Wendy (Scott) Sturm, a great granddaughter Brittany Sturm, her sister Grace (Russell) Brooks of Missoula and many nephews and nieces. A reception will follow the services in the Grogan Funeral Home. Her cremains will be buried along aside her husband and son in Pleasant View Cemetery at St, Ignatius in a private family service.

Steven James Bigcrane

RONAN — Steven James “Eagleskin” Bigcrane Sr., 48, of CP, Ronan left this world to be with his parents John Francis and Alice Y. Hawk Bigcrane on April 18. He was born on May 11, 1960, in St. Ignatius at the Holy Family Hospital.

 He is survived by his loving companion, Venita Lozeau Wall; his children Charlyn (Brian) Chapman and Steven “Woody” Bigcrane Jr.; brothers Roy, Art, Lester, James and Ed and sister Arlene all of Ronan and sister Ellen Rose Pretty On Top of Crow Agency.

 Wake services began at the Longhouse on Sunday evening. Rosary services were on Monday with funeral services on Tuesday at the Longhouse. His resting place will be at Snyelmn Sntmtmne.

Walter J. Guenzler

Walter J. Guenzler passed away on Saturday, April 11. Walter was born on Nov. 17, 1929 in Ronan to Harold and Effe Mae Guenzler. He attended schools in Ronan and Dixon. Later, he joined the Air Force, serving as a mechanic in Alaska and California. Whie in the Air Force, he married his sweetheart, Maxine Billie, on Feb. 17, 1951. In 1954, they returned to the Mission Valley, where Walter was employed in  the lumber industy. In 1984, he retired to work a small farm in Round Butte and did custom haying in the valley. In later years, he and Maxine moved to Ronan where he resided until his death.

Walter as a loving husband and father. He was a hard worker and good provider for his family. He enjoyed coaching baseball, hunting, fishing, wood working, metal working and auto mechanics. He was an avid reader and loved to learn about Montana history and the Old West. He and Maxine loved to travel in their motor home through the western states, Canada and Alaska.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents, wife Maxine and three brothers. He is survived by his children: Denise Des Jarais of Laurel, Denna (Dave) Stephens of Colber, Wash., Dan (Roxy) Guenzler of Arlington, Wash.; eigth grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; one sister, Betty (Jim) Fargher of Ronan and numerous nieces and nephews.

As per his wishes, there will be no services. A private family celebration will be held at a later date. Memorials may be sent in his name to St. Luke Community Hospital, for the excellent care Walter received while there.

Shrider-Thompson Funeral and Cremation Services of Ronan is assisting with arrangements.