Obituaries, Feb. 5
Stripp, Wheeler, Trahan, Fields, Finley, Warford, Stubbs, Ruby, Koble
Elizabeth Ann Stripp
Elizabeth Ann “Libbi” Stripp died on Thursday, Jan. 29 at St. Luke Extended Care from complications of multiple sclerosis.
Libbi was born in Hardin on Oct. 16, 1957. She was the youngest of four children born to John and Therese Corbett. Her sisters and brother are Dana (Oscar) Esobar of Portland, Oregon, Cindy (Ken) Munski of Great Falls, and Timothy (Laura) Corbett of Boise, Idaho. Her nieces and nephews are Mark and John Escobar, Joshua (Callie) Munski, Nathan Munski, Kathryn Munski, Rainee (Nick) Shafer, Andrea (Branden) Carter and Neil Corbett. Her grandnieces are Lucy Shafer, Bailey Munski and Hannah Munski. Her grandnephews are Izaak Munski and Elliot Schafer. Her aunts are Min Corbett of Libby and Ruth Corbett of Helena. She is also survived by numerous cousins.
She married Gerry Weiler and they later divorced. She met and married the love of her life, Rich Stripp in 1992.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Rich Stripp and her father, John Corbett and numerous aunts and uncles.
Libbi was a person who had a genuine love for people. She had loyal friends and touched the lives of many. She had a strong faith in God and was an inspiration to her family and friends. She will be missed!
She is survived by her mother, Therese Corbett and her sisters and brother and their families. Memorials may be sent to St. Luke Extended Care in Ronan or the charity of your choice.
A Memorial Mass was held on Saturday, Feb. 7 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson with Rev. Jim Connor officiating. A reception will follow the service in the church basement. Private Inurnment will be held at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com.
Lesha Lynn Wheeler
RONAN – Lesha Lynn Wheeler was made an angel on Feb. 2. The daughter of Shane and Donna (Cook) Wheeler of St. Ignatius, she was preceded in death by her grandfather Bill Wheeler and Uncle Paul. She is survived by her parents Shane and Donna; her brother and sisters Juliann and Jessica and Marvin; her grandparents Roger and Claudia Cook, and Judy and Terry Wallaser. Graveside services were held this past Friday in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery with Fr. Andrew Maddock, S.J. officiating.
Kyle Joseph Trahan
Ronan – Kyle Joseph Trahan, 20, of St. Ignatius passed away on Sunday, Feb. 1.
Born on Aug. 6, 1988 in Ronan, he lived all his life in St. Ignatius. He worked just for a short time at the Tribal Forestry Planting Trees. His greatest accomplishment was his daughter, Ayden Suset Hawk-Trahan.
He loved to hunt fish and spend time in the outdoors. He also loved to draw and was an excellent artist.
He played three years of high school basketball for the Mission Bulldogs. He won the “Mr. Hustle” award in his sophomore and junior years.
Preceded in death by great-grandparents Conrad and Adele Durgeloh Tupiyes – Thomas and Louise Tupiyes; great-uncles William “Bull” Durgeloh, Francis Durgeloh, Francis McDonald, Louie McDonald and great-auntie Helen McDonald and many relatives in the Courville, Durglo, Durgeloh, McDonald and Trahan families.
Kyle was survived by his parents Arthur Raymond Trahan Jr. and Donna Marie Durglo; his Sela and Yaya Michael and Barbara Durglo; his Hepa Arthur Raymond Trahan Sr.; his Qena Shirley Trahan; his partner Mary Jo Hawk; his daughter Ayden Suset Hawk Trahan; his brothers Daniel (Collette), Trevyn and Kayden “Bear” and his special Bro Chris Whitworth; his sisters Elizabeth (Stephan) and Louette Conko-Camel; best buddies and cousins Jacob, Josh and Austin Durglo; his uncles and aunties Mike (Terry) Joe (Alana), Jim (Angie), Michelle Trahan and Dan (Natasha) Durglo, Doug Charlo, Vick. Dan, and Les (Jennifer) Trahan, who is also his godfather; Caroline Durglo, Adele Durgeloh, Nicki (Mark Peasley) Trahan , Francis (Joanne) Durgeloh, Dave (Kelly) Durgeloh, Rose Lozeau, Jolene Durgeloh and William “Bill” Durgeloh and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends
A traditional wake began on Tuesday at noon in the Longhouse with the Rosary being recited at 8 p.m. on Wednesday evening in the Longhouse. Funeral services were held on Thursday in the Longhouse with cremation following the services.
Family asks that memorials be made in his name at the Whitefish Credit Union in Polson for his daughter Ayden.
Jean K. Fields
Longtime Alaskan Jean K. Fields died on Sunday, Feb. 1. She was 89.
A celebration of her life was at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the Redoubt Conference Room at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna, Alaska. Meg Zerbinos officiating.
Mrs. Fields was born on Oct. 15, 1919, in Wallace, Idaho. She grew up and received her education in Idaho. She moved to Alaska in 1989 and lived in Fairbanks, and volunteered at the cancer registry at the hospital. She moved to Soldotna in 1997 and volunteered at the gift shop and was the former treasurer for the auxiliary.
Mrs. Fields was a member of the Episcopal Church and enjoyed gardening, quilting and baking.
“To mom, family was the most important. Being raised an only child, her greatest joy was to have her three children and their families all together at gatherings. You could always count on her famous cinnamon rolls, Caesar salad and her infamous corn casserole.”
“In later years, she loved her volunteer work at the hospital. She took her job at the gift shop very seriously and the friends she had at the hospital were very dear to her,” her family said.
Mrs. Fields was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Fields in Feb. 2006. She is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Jane and Wayne Schultz of Kenai, Alaska, and JoAnn and Jim Breznay of Issaquah, Wash.; son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Jennifer Fields of Bellingham, Wash.; grandchildren, Ryan and Jessica Schultz, Tom and Laura Fields, Jared and Jennifer Fields, Stephanie Fields, Barbara and Rod Lamb, and Andrea and Drew Harrell; great-grandchildren, Lili, Tyler, Carson and Nathan.
Memorial donations may be made to Central Peninsula Hospital Auxiliary Education Fund, 250 Hospital Way, Soldotna, AK 99669.
Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.
John Leroy Finley
Ronan – John Leroy Finley “Butch”, 63, passed away at the Mountain View Care Center on Feb. 2.
A member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, he was Salish and Couer d”Alane and was born at home by the Old Mission in St. Ignatius on May 29, 1945.
He has gone to join his parents Katie Saxa and Joseph Dixon Finley; his godparents Agnes and Jim Pichette; grandparents Rosie Paine and John Saxa, Angelic Granjo and Frank Finley; great-grandparents Madeline Pierre Paine, Joseph Paine Jr., August Saxa and Ann Pahte Smallsalmon; sister Sandra Matt Adams; niece Connie Spotted Blanket and nephew Lanie Spotted Blanket.
Butch leaves behind his son Shannon and Debbie Finley; grandsons John Jr. and Kevin Finley; sister Sonia Chippewa; brother Francis and Brenda Finley, and many nieces, nephews cousins and friends.
A wake began on Tuesday at Foster Funeral Home in St. Ignatius and will be moving to the Longhouse on Thursday where the Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Services were held at 10 a.m. on Friday in the Longhouse.
In accordance with his wishes, he will be cremated following the service so that he can be placed in the Mountains he loved.
Esther Louise Warford
Esther Louise Hill Warford went to be with her Lord on Feb. 4 in Polson. She was born in Butte on June 10, 1923, the daughter of William James and Anna May Poole Hill. She attended school in Butte and after high school worked in Hennessy’s department store as manager of the drapery department.
Esther married Roger Preston Warford on Sept. 8, 1946, in St. Patrick’s Church in Butte. They had four children. She and Roger had a wonderful life together for almost 53 years until Roger’s death in 1999. At the beginning of their life together, Roger and Esther lived all over Montana: Butte, Missoula, Fort Howe’s Ranger Station, Hardin, Miles City, Malta, Bridger and Lewistown. Each of their children was born in a different town. After they returned to Missoula in 1958, the two of them decided Missoula was a good place to raise children and the family remained there for 34 years. Roger retired in 1978 and in 1992 they moved to their house on Flathead Lake.
Esther was active in school and church organizations. She served as a Girl Scout and Webelos troop leader and as president of St. Anthony’s Home School Organization and Altar Society in Missoula. In Polson, she was a member of the Immaculate Conception Church’s Parish Council of Catholic Women and the St. Joseph’s Hospital Service League. She cared for Roger and her parents through long illnesses at the end of their lives.
While her children were growing up Esther remained home with them. She was a free-lance writer and for seven years wrote a weekly column “Just a Housewife,” that was carried in several papers of the Catholic Register system.
She enjoyed playing both duplicate and party bridge. She attained the rank of Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League. While in Missoula, she and Roger enjoyed playing in a monthly pinochle club. In later years in Polson, Esther enjoyed playing Panguingue (“Pan”) with family and friends.
Esther will be remembered for her smile, kindness and gentleness. She was always willing to lend a hand for work, an ear for troubles, a shoulder for rest and arms for comfort.
Esther is survived by her children, Esther Anne Sain and husband Ron of Pennsylvania, James Roger (Jim) of California, Teresa Faye (Teri) of Polson, and Mary Louise Howard and husband John of Lakeside; her granddaughters Erin Elizabeth Sain Rhoades and husband Shane of Pennsylvania and Jessica Nicole Holden of Missoula; step-grandchildren Mark, Tami and Lindsey Haro of California, her sister Mary Margaret Nickisch of Billings; sisters-in-law Nellie Dean Warford Kelly, Mary Warford Stabler, Jennie Warford and Josie Warford Potter, as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and two brothers.
In lieu of flowers, it is Esther’s wish that donations be made to St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Retirement Community, Immaculate Conception Church in Polson, or charity of choice.
There was a vigil service on Sunday, Feb. 8 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. A reception was held on Monday, Feb. 9, at the St. Joseph Assisted Living Center, 11 Seventeenth Ave. East in Polson. A funeral mass and inurnment will be held this summer when all of her family and friends can join in the celebration of Esther’s life. Arrangements are being made through Grogan’s Funeral Home & Crematory of Polson. Condolences may be made to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com.
Joshua Stubbs
Joshua William Lee Stubbs, loving son and brother passed away on Feb. 6 after a vehicle accident on U.S. Highway 93. Joshua is survived by his mother Connie Boyd of Dixon; father Darrell Stubbs of Tonto Basin, Ariz.; grandfather Bill Stubbs of Globe, Ariz.; sister Aleacia Landon of Dixon; brother Nathan Ioli of Dixon; brother Daniel Ioli of Phoenix, Ariz.; and David John Boyd of Tindall Air Force Base, Fla.
Josh was a free spirit who was loved by everyone he knew. He had a way of drawing people to him through his humor and infinite kindness. Although Josh was known for being funny, a class clown and loved being a joker and a prankster, he had limitless compassion, believed in helping others, was dedicated to family and friends and his faith in God. He believed strongly in being an organ donor and even in death will help others.
Josh was born on July 10, 1990, in Globe, Ariz. He spent most of his life in the Tonto Basin area of Arizona, attending Tonto Basin Elementary and Payson High School. In 2007, Josh moved to Dixon to be with his mother, sister and brother after the death of his step-father, David Boyd. Josh attended Charlo High School and graduated with the class of 2008. Although Josh was a new student in Charlo, he immediately made friends and was accepted by everyone at the school.
Josh was studying at the Pillar of Truth Bible Institute, and although he was a Baptist, he loved learning about other religions and beliefs. He was also involved with the Civil Air Patrol in Arizona, and was in the Charlo High School Choir. Josh loved riding four wheelers, video games and playing in Tonto Creek as a kid.
Josh was beloved by his family and friends and he will be missed by all who knew him.
A memorial service was held at the Christian Church in St. Ignatius on Wednesday, Feb. 11. Another memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Feb. 15 at the Tonto Basin School in Arizona.
The family asks that any donations in Josh’s honor go to SightLife, Pinehaven and/or the Tonto Basin School – Little Red Schoolhouse restoration.
Edna Mary Rubley
Edna Mary Rubley, 83, of Polson passed away on Friday, Feb. 6 at St. Luke Hospital from natural causes. She was born on Oct. 26, 1926, in New York city. She married Harry Rubley in Highland, N.J. in 1973. She was preceded her in death by her husband and a brother John.
She is surivived by her sons Harry Rubley of Denver, Colo. and Richard (Mary Ellen) Rubley of Polson. Cremation has taken place and no services are planned at this time. Cremation under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory.
Audrey Koble
Audrey Lockwood Koble passed on from this world on Feb. 5, due to complications from hear surgery. She was born on Dec. 26, 1926, to Frank and Olive Lockwood in Kimball County, Neb. After moving to Montana, Audrey attended Ronan school from second grade through high school, graduation in 1944. She was bookkeeper at AM Sterling Store in Ronan for a few years before her marriage to Frank J. Koble in 1950.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 46 years, and seven brothers and six sisters.
Survivors include two brothers, Don Lockwood and Darlene of Ronan, and Richard Lockwood and Mardell of Missoula; sisters-in-law-
Maurine Lockwood of Kimball, Neb., Georginia Lockwood of Missoula, and Florence Lockwood of Seeley Lake, and lots and lots of newphews and nieces whom she loved also.
Also survivng Audrey are her four children and their families: Connie and Reg Neidigh, sons Jess and Cody of Conrad and Missoula; Randall and LIsa Koble, sons Shane, Shawn and Caleb of Charlo and Missoula; Jeanida and Pete Donovan, children Erika and Conrad of Helen and Washington; Marvel Carter, sons Colten and Zackery of Arlee.
During Audrey’s life, she enjoyed dancing and live music, especially waltzes, polkas and old time fiddle music. She was very talented in qquilting and creating beautiful family heirlooms that shall be forever treasured. She was always excited to go on any family adventure, such as picnics in the mountains, camping in any season and flights in her newphew’s plan over the Mission Mountains and other destinations. She always loved puzzles or games, and was a pro at solitaire. Her home was always open to guests and company at any time. She was known and loved for her spunky, direct attitude and her witty sense of humor by all who met here. She will be truly missed and will never leave our hearts.
Our family would like to sincerely thanks the staff at Community Rehab, Village Healthcare and St. Patrick Hospital for their expertise, compassion, care and support they provided Audrey.
Cremation has taken place. There will be no services as per her wishes. A graveside memorial gahtering for family and friends willl be held later this summer at the Ronan cemetery.