Obituaries, Dec. 10
Stockhill, Plank, Mays, Johns, Fiddler, Yancy, Burau, Stasso, Miller
Lawrence E. Stockhill
Lawrence E. Stockhill, 89, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. He is survived by his wife Linda Stockhill of the family home, and a son, Michael L. Stockhill of Polson.
Funeral services for Larry are pending at this time.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Larry’s family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to view Larry’s guest book, offer condolences and share memories.
Marge Plank
Marge Plank, 93, relocated to Heaven on Monday, Nov. 30, at St. Luke’s Extended Care Facility in Ronan.
Our mother and beloved Grammy, vivacious and full of joy, gentle and loving, was a gift to each person she touched. We can’t think of her without a smile coming to our faces.
Marjorie Valerie Elmore was born on Aug. 17, 1916, in Ida Grove, Iowa, the daughter of William and Ethel Elmore.
Through her life, she lived from one end of the country to the other and places in between. In 1932, in Salem, Mo., she met Paul, the love of her life. The first time she saw him she said, “I’m gonna marry that boy!”
They moved to Kalispell where she attended school, then married Paul in 1934. They lived many places in the United States, finally settling in Polson to raise their daughters.
Marge is preceded in death by her mother, Ethel Stein, brother Derrill, and her beloved husband, Paul.
She is survived by her three daughters: Donna Bahm of Polson, Colleen (Blackie) Pollreisz of Polson, and Polly (Larry) Robinson of St. Ignatius; her grandchildren, Jessie Stinger, Martin (Sue) Pollreisz, Monte Bahm, Valene (Ed) Laughlin, Janalee (Chris) Ellenwood, Shane (Kimberly) Robinson, Shonna (Dodd) Elverud, Paul Blue (Christina) Robinson; 24 great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren; her sisters, Clarice Kimes and Annette Gobert both of Missoula and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service was held on Friday, Dec. 4, at New Life Christian Center, 1414 2nd Street W., Polson. Messages of condolence may be sent to the family online by visiting www.groganfuneralhome.com. The staff at Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson, considers it a privilege to care for Mrs. Plank’s family.
Sophie Quequesah Mays
RONAN — Sophie “Supi” Quequesah Mays, 56, went to be with our ancestors on Nov. 30. Supi was a very shy person who loved her people and dedicated her life to teaching the Salish language. She started out her educational journey in working her first job as a secretary for our Salish Kootenai College president, Dr. Joseph McDonald, which led her down the path as a Salish Language Professor throughout the Flathead Indian Reservation and beyond. Supi was an awesome instructor, full of life and love when teaching the language.
Supi also worked at NKWUSM, the Salish Language School Immersion and also enjoyed fishing, beading, picking apples, softball, riding horses, fighting fires and spending time with her family and friends.
Sophie is survived by husband David Eugene Mays; children, son Lawrence (Lonnie), and their children Kristina and Lawrence Jr.; son Nick and his children Karlee Jo and Brandee Rhea; daughter Pam (Alfred Woodcock) and their children Lomah and Sophia; son Doug (Amanda) and their children Courtney and Justin; son Dan (Evelyn Charlo) and their child Payton; brother Alex (Betty) Quequesah and his children Tom (Linda Ferris) and their children Maii, Siliye, Susseli, Ignace and Atwen; Charlie (Sonia) and their children Joanie, Keithetta and Michael; Jerome Quequesah and his children Justice and Aspen.
Supi was preceded in death by parents Ignace and Anastasia (Finley) Quequesah; brothers and sisters, Susan, John, Mose, Mike, Mary Sue, Martina, Teresa, Pete, Joe, Louie, Tom, Nick and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
A traditional wake began at the Longhouse this past Wednesday with the Rosary being recited on Thursday evening. Wake closing was on Friday. Mass followed in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission with burial following in the Ronan Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the NKWUSM Language Immersion School in Arlee.
Dale Edward Johns
Dale Edward Johns, 80, of Ronan, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 2, at Polson Health and Rehabilitation Center from natural causes. He was born on May 29, 1929, in Ronan, to L.D. and Edith Johns. He served his county in the Marine Corps during the Korean War. After his discharge from the service, he worked as a heavy equipment operator and rode in rodeos.
His parents; two wives Jean Howell and Shirley Dupuis; a son Joe Johns, preceded him in death. Survivors include his children: Mary Foster of Billings, Allen Johns of Anaconda and Koralyn Johns of Lakeside, and his best friend and partner Betty Kuntz of Ronan, along with 10 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place and no services are planned at this time in following Dale’s wishes. Grogan Funeral Home is caring for Dale’s family. Condolences to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com
Shane Alex Fiddler
Shane Alex Fiddler, 35, passed away from an accident on Wednesday, Dec. 2, while at work in Glacier County.
He is preceded in death by great-grandparents Alex and Cecelia Vanderburg; grandmother Donna Mae McClure; grandfather Mickey Couture; great-aunt Alice Vanderburg; aunts: Lynn Shelby and Sandy Morigeau Adams; uncles: Rusty Fiddler, Dennis, Dale and Gary Shelby.
He leaves behind his children McKayla of Arlee, Shalee and Isabella of Salt Lake City, Utah. Shane is survived by his parents, Deeda and Neil Adams of the family home in Arlee, and Wally Couture of Portland, Ore.; girlfriend Kelly Casey of Missoula; grandmother Cora Couture of Missoula; brothers: Joe Don (Kimberly) of Charlo and Chad Couture of Missoula; sisters: Sam Shelby (Brittany) and Tara Couture of Missoula; aunts: Connie Jo Stevens of Deer Lodge, Linda (Tim) Jefferies of St. Ignatius; uncles: Bruce (Velda) Shelby of Pablo, Charles and Dennis Couture of Missoula, Gail (Bobbie) Adams, Francis Adams, Mary (Frank) First Raised, Mel Doney, Nancy (George) Boushie, cousins Louis Fiddler and family of Arlee, Lisa Fiddler, Lakota Fiddler and family of Arlee, Joel McGlynn of Missoula and Marcie (Jon) Stevens of Arlee, Dusty Shelby and family of Polson, and Erica Shelby of Van Nuys, Calif.
He graduated from Arlee High School in 1992. Shane was an excellent carpenter, he loved to build and create things. His most recent job was with SK Construction as a GPS surveying technician and Riverside Construction working as a framer. He previously started his own construction company in Missoula and later moved it to Salt Lake City, Utah.
Shane loved horses and was known as a prankster. He loved life and lived it to the fullest.
A large part of his life was making people laugh, if you didn’t know Shane you missed out. He was a great teacher, a loving friend, and an amazing father. He had a beautiful smile and a great laugh. Shane will be in our hearts forever. He may be gone, but he will never be forgotten.
Pallbearers are his friends and family (brothers in trouble): Louis Fiddler, Lakota Fiddler, Quenelle Matt, Kean McCrea, Mike McCrea Jr., and Linden Plant.
A wake began Friday, Dec. 4, at the family home in Arlee and will be moved to the Arlee Community Center and Rosary was recited on Sunday. Mass was held on Monday with burial following in the Jocko Cemetery.
Bob Yancy
ST. IGNATIUS — Bob Yancy, born in Marshall, Ark., the son of Rebecca and Clyde Yancey, lost his fierce battle with cancer on Thursday, Dec. 3.
Bob had six brothers: Clyde Edward, Billy Jean, Jacky Lynn, Johnny Ray, Bobby Joe and Tommy Lou, and one sister, Jerry Lee Yancey.
Bob married his teenage sweetheart, Jimmie Carol Pool. They had two daughters, Laura Christine Yancey and Paytra Dawn Yancey; one grandson Christopher Robert Allison; one granddaughter Morgan Lashea Olivera and one great-grandson, Jesse James Allison.
They lived most of their lives in Olivehurst, Calif.
Bob was a truck driver most of his life.
After many years of marriage, they went their separate ways.
Bob moved to Marshall, Ark., and met his companion Helen Harris and her sons, Danny Leffett Harris III and Jerry Cole Malachi Harris Yancey. They moved together to Montana on their mission to build their lives somewhere good for his boys.
Bob is survived by Helen, Danny and Malachi of Charlo; daughters Laura and son-in-law Jesse Olivera of Yuba City, Calif.; Paytra and son-in-law John Starkel of Montana; grandson Christopher Allison of Yuba City, Calif.; granddaughter Morgan Olivera of Yuba City, Calif.; great-grandson Lesse Allison of Yuba City, Calif.; sister Jerry and husband John Cole of Marshall, Ark.: brothers Eddie Yancey of Wheatland, Calif.; Joe Yancey and wife Donna of Marshall, Ark. and Johnny Yancey of Marshall, Ark.
Bob was preceded in death by his mother Rebecca Yancey, father Clyde Yancey, brothers Billy Yancey, Jackie Yancey and Tommy Yancey all of Arkansas.
Cremation has taken place and no formal services are planned at this time.
Beatrice A. Burau
MISSOULA — Beatrice “Bea” A. Burau, 78, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 3. Services are pending and will be announced by Sunset Memorial Funeral Home.
Theresa Stasso
Theresa Marie Andrew Stasso, 66, of Elmo, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 3, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center from natural causes. She was born on March 21, 1943, in St. Ignatius, to Charles and Mary Lefthand Andrew. She attended the Urseline School in St. Ignatius and Pierre, S.D. She moved to Blackfoot, Idaho and Washkie, Wyoming where she met and married her husband Larry Heron, then later divorced and moved back to the Flathead Reservation.
Marie loved to shop and pick huckleberries. She was a proud member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Her parents; a sister Annie Tenas and husband Peter Stasso preceded her in death. Survivors included her three sisters; Louise Andrew of Niarada, Cathy Andrew, of Elmo, and Diane Auld of Elmo, along with numerous nieces, nephews and relatives in Elmo and British Columbia.
Mass of Christian Burial was held on Saturday, Dec. 5, in the Elmo Hall with Father James Connor officiating. Burial will be held in the Dayton Cemetery. Condolences to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com.
James Franklin Miller
Former Salt Lake City resident and Skyline High School Choir teacher, James (Jim) Franklin Miller, 71, passed away on Nov. 22, in Missoula, of complications from heart surgery.
A celebration of Jim’s life will take place at a future date.
He was born on June 29, 1938, in Santa Cruz, Calif., to Warren and Catherine Miller. He attended BYU in Provo and Hawaii, then he enlisted in the Army. After spending 2 years in Germany with his bride, Lois Hawley, whom he married in the Cardston, Alberta templem Jim spent some time in Montana before returning to BYU where he received his B.A. in music education. He taught choir and English at Skyline High School for many years then retired to Flathead Lake in Montana where he could be close to his family. A man of many friends, Jim will be deeply missed by so many who loved and respected him.
Survivors include his wife, Lois; daughters, Catherine (James) Finlayson, Shannon (Kurt) Garman, all of Conrad; grandchildren, Clint (Alissa) of Seattle,Wash., Shannalee, Alexander, Elli and Logan; brothers, Don (Jean) of Reno, Nev., and Roy (Peggy) of Logan, Utah and many lifelong friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents and half siblings, Robert, Harold and Charlotte.
Memorials may be made to Pondera Arts Council, P. O. Box 565, Conrad, MT 59425.