Obituaries, Jan. 22, 2009
Kaercher, Morehead, Davies, Firestone, Kennedy, Westernman, Branson, Ross, Sego
Marcia Marie Kaercher
Marcia Marie Kaercher, 81, of Anchorage, Alaska died peacefully surrounded by her family at Providence Hospital on Jan. 6. She was born in Odessa, Minn. at the family farm on Nov. 18, 1927, to Max and Minnie Schmeichel. She was married to John Russell Kaercher in 1947, and together they raised five children. They lived in several states including Minnesota, Montana and Alaska. Marcia worked for the U.S. Post Office and retired in 1989.
Marcia was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and remained active her entire life. She taught Sunday school, was a leader in Lutheran Woman’s Missionary League, enjoyed bible studies, and loved to attend church gatherings and potlucks. Her faith was always a great source of comfort to her. Her hobbies included gardening, 4H club, coin and stamp collecting, watching PBR bull riding, playing cards with friends and family and her wonderful baking. She was a Minnesota State Fair Blue Ribbon winner for her pies and breads.
Marcia’s close knit family was what she truly cherished. From grandkids’ hockey games to big family reunions, she enjoyed the many family functions and outings.
Marcia is survived by her sister Lillian Gierke of Fremont, Neb.; her children, Jerry (Timona) Kaercher of Burnsville, Minn., Dale (Patty) Kaercher of Anchorage, Alaska, Janet King of Fairbanks, Alaska, Michael (Terra) Kaercher, and Anthony (Sonya) Kaercher both of Anchorage. She is also survived by ten grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and her sister-in-laws Muriel Sherman of Ortonville, Minn., and Joanne Schmeichel of Odessa, Minn. She was proceeded in death by her husband, John Kaercher; her sister Edna Busse-Holzheimer; her brother Rudy Schmeichel; her twin brother, Marvin Schmeichel and her son-in-law Victor King.
Funeral services were held on Monday, Jan. 12 at Anchorage Lutheran Church. A reception followed.
There will be a memorial service this spring in Odessa, Minn. where she will be interred next to her husband at Trinity Lutheran Cemetery.
Memorials for Marcia can be made to the Cemetery fund at Trinity Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 38, Odessa, MN., 56276
Shirley Jean Morehead
Our mother and wife, Shirley Jean Morehead, passed away from this world to the next early in the morning on Jan. 15 at her home in Polson. She fought a short battle with liver cancer before she left us. She was 77 years old. She was born in Morrill, Neb. on Aug. 7, 1931, to Ruby and George Richardson, and grew up in Colorado.
She married E.D. “Corkey” Morehead on Nov. 27, 1947, in Fort Collins, Colo.. They lived on the Morehead wheat farm near Bayard, Neb. for nine years. In 1956, they moved to a cattle ranch near Absarokee, over the following 14 years Shirley raised her four children: David, Barbara, Janet and Dan. She helped work the cattle ranch and also helped run a working guest ranch, The 4K, which they also owned at the time. In 1970, they sold the ranches and moved to Billings. In Billings Shirley worked as a bookkeeper at Parker Livestock Supply and then at the Warehouse Market grocery store. In 1975, Shirley and Corkey decided they wanted to return to a rural life style and moved to Polson to Morehead Orchards.
In Polson, Shirley helped run the orchard, doing anything from gardening and driving the tractor to supervising harvest crews and making payroll. Besides helping with the orchard, Shirley worked for Security State Bank which is now 1st Interstate Bank. She was with the bank 32 years. At the bank Shirley made many true friends. She enjoyed playing cards with the ladies card club and even made a couple trips to Las Vegas with the girls to play Blackjack.
Heaven has another angel. All who knew her, especially her family, will dearly miss Shirley.
Her sister, Dee Watson of Fort Collins, Colo.; and her brother Bob Richardson, Craig, Colo., preceded her in death. She is surivived by her husband Corkey Morehead; her children David Morehead, Chewelah, Wash.; Barbara Morehead Shannon, Phoenix, Ariz.. Janet Morehead Gustuson, Missoula, and Dan Morehead of Missoula, and their families.
A memorial service was held on Monday, Jan. 19 in the Grogan Funeral Home with Rev. John Payne officiating. A reception will be held at the Mission Valley Elks Club in Polson following the services. Inurnment was held on Tuesday, Jan. 20 in the Lakeview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Interstate Bank for their team at this years Relay For Life Cancer Walk. Arrangements are by the Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory. Condolences to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com
John Reno Davies
Peacefully and willing, John left this life for the next on Jan. 13. Physically overwhelmed by a myriad of illness, and not wanting to live by heroic measures he chose to take the next step in life. With optimism and enthusiasm he lived life, the first to help someone in need. He never did meet a stranger. A most wonderful father and husband, he gave everything he could to his wife and two sons.
Born John Reno Rorvik in Glendive, on May 22, 1919, the last of 12 children born to sheep herders from Norway, Peter and Marie Rorvik, of Circle. Life on the frontier was harsh, his mother passed away before his first birthday. His father’s new wife also had many children of her own and John was passed on to an older sibling, then adopted by a loving couple, Art and Marie Davies. He grew up in Circle until the Dust Bowl and hard times chased the family to Polson, where he went to high school and graduated at age 16.
Cowboying was his life. Life was good on horseback, riding his own horse from the age of 3, until selling the farm in Round Butte (Ronan) 30 years later. He even met his bride of 62 years, Margaret Beck, after getting kicked in the head by a horse. Stories of hunting trips, riding from Ronan to the Bob, and summers in Ovando working on haying crews have been told many a time. Budding career as a cattle rustler was short lived at age 13.
Enlisting in the Navy as soon as he could when WW II broke out, he became a ship fitter first class in charge of repairing battle ships in New Guinea.
“We were just a bunch of kids,” he would often remark when reminiscing about his service. Seeing New Guinea natives must have been quite an eyeful for a Round Butte cowboy.
John and Margaret carved a life for their family in Montana, living mostly in Kalispell and working incredibly physical jobs at Plum Creek for 20 years. Active in the Boy Scouts and Sea Scouts, John donated many hours as a leader and helper. Golfing became a passion later in life, he made four hole-in-ones, while his wife may have topped that.
For the last 20 years John has had a guardian angel in the form of Ed and Molly Clark whose help allowed them to live “independently.” A true friend, thanks Ed and Molly.
John was preceded in death by his natural parents, adopted parents and eleven brothers and sisters. He is survived by his wife Margaret; sons Kirk and Eileen Davies of Lolo, Don and Wanda Davies of Florence; five grandchildren and one beautiful great-grandbaby.
We miss you and love you dad.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Red Cross, the Boy Scouts of America, or the Partners in Home Care Hospice.
Memorial services to be held at 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31in Kalispell at the Elks Lodge.
Hildegarde A. Firestone
Hildegarde A. Firestone, 81, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Jan.15 in Missoula.
A descendant of ChiefVictor, Hildegard was a Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal member. She was born in Evaro on Aug. 9, 1927, and educated at the Urselines in St. Ignatius. Hildegarde became a devout Catholic and was active in the St. Ignatius and Jocko Parishes as well as the Kateri Tekakwitha Ministry. A very private person, she and her friend Dorothy would often conduct Mass at Jocko and helped serve communion whenever asked. She had many close friends and was also involved in the senior citizens and with the Jocko Cemetery Board.
She liked the outdoors and would snowmobile, garden, pick huckleberries and fish. She also enjoyed flying with her husband Jack in their little plane.
Her husband Jack Firestone always joked that he followed a set of moccasin tracks to find Hildegarde and it must of really worked for they made a wonderful life together in the Jocko Valley, running many businesses there for many years.
She is preceded in death by her husband Jack Firestone; her parents Laughing Louis Adams and Mary Pellew Adams; stepfather John Peone and her three brothers: Ed and George Adams and Tony Pellew Adams.
She leaves behind her children, .Mary (Brad) Habermahl of Warden Wash., Michael Hatch of False Pass, Alask, Ron Hatch of Tukwila, Wash., and Connie Cok of Bozeman; grandson Ronnie Hatch of Olympia, Wash.; a special nephew Shawn Dumont, as well as a large extended family of nieces, nephews and cousins, including Scotty Gardipe and Charlene SiJohn who she was raised with.
A visitation was held on Sunday at the Foster Funeral Home in St. Ignatius with the Rosary being recited at 7 p.m. Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. on Monday in the St. Ignatius Catholic Church with Interment following the Jocko Catholic Cemetery.
Memorials may be made in her name to the Katerie Tekakwitha Ministry or to the St. John Berchmann’s Catholic Church (Jocko) restoration fund.
Eugene Kenendy
Eugene Kennedy was born on March 1, 1923, and passed from this life on Jan. 16. He was the second of three children born to Joe and Gladys (Noyes) Kennedy. He was raised on a ranch up the Rosebud Creek in eastern Montana. When he was 13, the family moved to Manhattan. Gene graduated from high school in Manhattan.
After high school Gene enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served as co-pilot on a B-17 in Italy during WWII. The young men of his flight crew kept in touch as lifelong friends.
Like so many in his generation, Gene returned home after the war to a life dedicated to family and community. He married his childhood friend, Lucy Bryson, in 1945. He attended University of Montana in Missoula for three years, during which time their daughter Maria was born. They returned to Manhattan and two more children joined the family, Joe and Jane.
Gene spent 13 years working as a clerk in the Post Office and also working on his dad’s mink farm. Eventually, he became Postmaster and held that post 15 years until his retirement in 1978.
While raising their family, both Gene and Lucy were active contributors to the Manhattan community. Gene helped found the Volunteer Fire Department and the summer recreation program for the community’s kids. He was also involved in the American Legion, the PTA, the city council, civil defense a nd Boy Scouts.
After retirement , Gene and Lucy spent 20 years going to Yuma Arizona in the winter. Gene had been there for flight training as a young man, and he spent many happy hours out by the air base with his binoculars. He also loved riding his bike all over the place. In the summers, they came home to time filled with family and old friends.
In 2002, Gene lost his beloved partner Lucy, and found he couldn’t be in either Manhattan or Yuma without her. After a period of illness he relocated to Grizzly Peak Retirement Center in Missoula for three years. Since 2005, he has lived in Polson with his son-in-law and daughter, Dave and Jane Morton. He has greatly enjoyed the wildlife and natural beauty on the shore of Flathead Lake.
During his last months, Gene was in the care of his family aided by the wonderful people of Lake County Hospice. His final month was spent in the loving atmosphere of St. Luke’s Extended Care Facility.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents; wife Lucy; brother Jim Kennedy; great-granddaughter Brooke Fleming, and many friends and relatives.
He is survived by his sister Evelyn (Bill) Brainard of Three Forks; sister-in-law Elsie Kennedy of Manhattan; children Maria Kennedy of Bozeman, Joe (Danni) Kennedy of Polson, and Jane (Dave) Morton also of Polson; grandchildren Kalee Sprague, Chuck (Amy) Sprague, Angela (Jacob) Ormes, Michelle Fleming, Alex Morton and Mattie Morton; 10 great grandchildren and 13 nieces and nephews.
Per Gene’s instructions, cremation has taken place. A graveside memorial will take place in the future, at which time his remains will be placed side by side with his Lucy in Manhattan, where they lived their life together.
Condolences may also be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com
Margaret Mary Westerman
Marie, a mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend joined her husband, Robert E. Westerman (deceased) on Jan. 16. Marie was born in Espinola, Wash., where her parents, Catherine Marie Stitzer and Joseph Felix Bauer, raised Marie and her siblings. Marie later moved to Spokane where she married and raised her own family. She worked for many years at the Crescent department store. Sunday drives were an important part of Marie and Robert’s life, and while Marie obtained her drivers’ license later in life she made up for lost time taking daily drives around and about Spokane, driving back and forth to Montana to visit her daughter, Darlene Morgan, and overall relishing the freedom having a car gave her. She was fortunate to have enjoyed a long retirement. Marie made sport out of clipping coupons looking for that great deal, she was creative in her sewing, knitting and crocheting. She enjoyed gardening and especially growing flowers. She loved her family, friends and her beloved cat, Toto, a treasured pet and companion the past 8 years. Marie, lovingly known as “Granny” by her immediate family, is survived by two of her three children: Darlene Morgan (Bert Morgan), Ronan, and Daryl Stockton, Spokane, Wash.; her brothers, Donald Bauer of St. Louis and Danny Bauer of Bellingham, Wash., and sisters-in-law Jane and Louise Bauer; six grandchildren, Marie Harcus, Teresa Crofts, Gary (“Skeet”) Anderson, Gaynel (“Missi”) Anderson, Ericka Simmons and Zachary Stockton; six great-grandchildren, Paul Brasch, Chelsea Brasch, Joshua Layne, Matthew Layne, Nicholas Anderson, Jackson Simmons; and two great-great-grandchildren, Stella Brasch and Esme Hunt. Marie is pre-deceased by her parents Catherine and Joseph Bauer; brothers George Bauer and Gene Bauer; sister Beatrice Morris, and son Gary Glen Stockton. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a memorial contribution to your favorite charity. A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. in the Fairmount Memorial Park in Spokane on Thursday, Jan. 22.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home of Polson.
Alberta Mae Branson
Our mother, Alberta Mae Branson was born in Spencer, Iowa on Aug. 31, 1907, to John and Mary Campbell. She had 11 brothers and sisters, and is the sole survivor of all the siblings. Alberta, known to most as “Birdie,” had six children. Her first-born daughter died at 3 months of pneumonia, her son Jerry Branson died in 2001 and her surviving children are Roger Louis Branson, 74, Mary Jane B. Branson, 63, John Thomas Branson, 59, and Dayle Alan Branson, 55.
Alberta and her husband Louis “Frenchie” were popular dancers in the Walk-a-thons and dance marathons in the 20s and 30’s, and after they were married they settled in Minnesota, where she worked as a practical nurse and was a very active Seventh Day Adventists Church volunteer. They moved to Kalispell in the early 1970s.
Alberta died of natural causes at the age 101. She also has many grandchildren, and great grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. “Rest well mother,” with love from your family.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory.
Fred Ross
Fred Ross, 68, of Ronan, passed away on Jan. 5, after a two year battle with cancer. Fred was born on Dec. 18, 1940 to Jeffe and Madie Ross. Fred had many occupations throughout his life, including an ocean fisherman, electrician work and working on power lines. Fred loved to tell stories of his life and when he found the Lord. After that, it always included Jesus. Fred was at his daughter’s at the time of death. He said his was going home on Jan. 5, we thought he meant Ronan, but he went home to Heaven. How ironic. His dauther, Terri sue John, and her husband, Karl, live in Sheridan, Oregon. He was married to Joyce Ross for 32 years, until she passed away on Aug. 5, 2006. He was also preceded in death by his daughter, Jamie Holcomb and his son, Rick.
Fred is surivived by his sons, Buddy, of Springfield, Oregon and Chip, of Las Vegas, Nev.; two daughters, Jody, of Coos Bya, Oregon and Terri, of Sheridan, Oregon.
Beverly E. Sego
Beverly E. Sego, 74, of Polson, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 18 at Community Medical Center in Missoula. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24 at the First United Methodist Church in Polson with Rev. Mark Calhoun officiating. A full obit will run in next week’s Leader.