Obituaries, May 21
Bouma, Maass, Coster, Lockwood, Bockman
Debra A. Bouma
Debra A. Bouma, born June 14, 1956, joined in marriage for 16 loving years to John B. Bouma, lost her battle to cancer on May 12. She was born in San Diego, Calif., but found her home here in Dixon. She was an angel who testified of Christ even on death’s door. Her loving spirit lives on with her six children and 15 grandbabies. Her precious loving nature will be greatly missed by all that were blessed to have known her.
James M. Stewart
James M. Stewart, 84, of Polson, passed away on Saturday, May 16 at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. Services and arrangements for Dr. J.M. Stewart will be announced by Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory of Polson.
Mary Maass
Mary Maass, 97, longtime resident of St. Ignatius, passed away at St. Luke’s Hospital in Ronan.
She was the second of eight children born to George and Mary Morris in Belt on Sept. 12, 1911. She began her grade school education at Belt and finished at Augusta. In 1924, the family moved to a farm on the Fairfield Bench, located midway between Choteau and Augusta. She attended Teton County High School in Choteau, graduating in 1929 with a two year teaching certificate.
Her teaching career began in a one-room rural school near Dutton. There she taught for four years, attending summer sessions in Dillon and Missoula University to update her teaching credentials.
In 1934, she married Karl Maass and they made their home in Great Falls for several years. Their three children were born there. In 1945, they moved to the Mission Valley and settled on a 120-acre farm west of Charlo. They raised clover seed, sugar beets and potatoes and operated a small dairy.
After the death of her husband in 1954, Mary renewed her teacher’s certificate and resumed teaching. She taught one year in the Charlo elementary school and 22 years in the St. Ignatius Elementary, retiring in 1978.
She spent her early retirement years traveling to various places in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico and the States. In her later retirement years, she did volunteer work at the St. Ignatius Public Library, grade school and the senior citizens center. She was a member of the Leon Community Club, of the Ronan Faith Lutheran Church and a 35-year member of delta Kappa Gamma International Society and was involved in many of their activities. Her hobbies included reading, sewing, crossword puzzles, crocheting, quilting bowling and spoiling “her grand and great-grandchildren.”
Beside her husband she was preceded by her parents, three brothers and one sister.
She is survived by her two sons: Karl of Missoula, George and wife Joyce of Corvallis; a daughter Marilyn and husband George Broadwater of Missoula; sister in law Emily of Riverside, Calif.; brother Arnold and wife Phyllis of Portland, Ore.; two sisters Ruth Morris and Edna Minckler both of Great Falls; nine grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service has tentatively been scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 24 in the Faith Lutheran Church in Ronan with Pastor Rand Drollman officiating.
Donations in her honor may be given to St. Ignatius Senior Center, Leon Community Club or Ronan Faith Lutheran Church.
Cecily R. Coster
Cis passed away on Sunday, April 26, after a courageous battle against respiratory disease. Cecily Ree Emerson was born on Feb. 7, 1927, in St. Ignatius, to Dempsey and Frances Emerson and was one of 11 children. She moved to Carpinteria in 1958 where she resided with family for 43 years. In 2002, she relocated to Santa Barbara to live closer to her bridge club and her sister Beverly and her husband Tom Patelzick. Bridge was her passion and she was a well-known and respected player. One of her great joys was baking cookies for her bridge groups, which were greatly appreciated, and she became known as the “Cookie Lady.”
Cis was preceded in death by her husband Norman Coster and her son David. She is survived by her son Ron Coster and wife Carolyn of Washington state, her son Robert Coster and wife Kristine of Washington state, daughter Kathryn Ellis and husband Hugh of Glendora, daughter Carolyn Hackett and husband Bill of San Diego and Leslie Coster (Dave’s wife) residing in Colorado. She is also survived by her sisters Myra Meyers of Missoula, Maida Houston of Roseville, Calif., Beverly and Tom Patelzik of Santa Barbara and her brother Frank and Flora Emerson of Grants Pass, N.M. She has six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
The family wishes to express their deepest gratitude to the exemplary doctors and staff at Cottage Hospital and the wonderful staff at Valle Verde. Also, a heartfelt “Thank You” to her many friends, neighbors and the bridge community for their caring support and kindness.
In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer donations be made in her memory to the Veterans of Foreign War. Interment will be later this year at Polson.
Donald Dee. Lockwood
Donald Dee Lockwood, 85, of Ronan, passed away peacefully at St. Luke’s Extended Care Facility in Ronan on Tuesday, May 12.
He was born on May 1, 1924, in Kimball, Neb. to Frank W. and Olive (Sutherland) Lockwood. Donald was the twelve of 16 children. His family moved to Ronan in 1939 where they farmed. Don attended school in Ronan. Under the guidance of his uncle, Gene Sutherland, he becamse a master carpenter. He worked for Rolfson’s Building Supply and Contracting Company for 30 years, helping build structures throughout the Mission Valley. He also worked on the construction of Hungry Horse Dam. Don was hurt on the job in 1978 and forced to retire.
He spend his retirement years in his beloved shop, lending his talents and tools to all who needed help. He was also well-known for his carpentry skills and was never knonw to make just one item.
Along with enjoying his woodworking, he thoroughly enjoyed going big game hunting every autum with his sons-in-law and grandsons, taking his yellow school bus that he had converted into a “moving camp.” Don was always playing jokes on his grandchildren. He also loved to play cards, and was very happy when he beat his wife, Darlene, at cribbage. Being born on May 1, made him a May Day baby and he always looked forward to his annual May Day party.
Because Don was almost the youngest of the family, he was blessed with many nieces and nephews, some he helped raise and was known by almost everyone as “Uncle Don.” In fact, his license palte was “Uncl Don.”
Don married Jane Graham on May 11, 1944, to this union, four daughters were born: Deleen Winters (Larry), Charlene Barber (Sam), Peggy Sloan (Allen) and Judy Collins (Jack) all of Ronan. Jane passed away in January of 1983.
He married Irene S. Kobilanksy in 1984. She passed away in 1994.
In 1995, Don married Darlene Winner and they lived at the family home in Ronan until Don moved to St. Luke’s in 2008.
Don was preceded in deaeth by his parents; an infant son, Rocky; seven brothers and seven sisters.
He is survived by his wife Darlene; brother Richard (Mardy) of Missoula; his four daughters; five step-children; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
A viewing was held on May 16 at the Shrider-Thompson Funeral Chapel in Ronan. Graveside services were held at the Calvary Cemetery in Ronan. The family prefers memorials be made to Lake Count Home Options (Hospice), 711 Main St., Ronan, MT, 59864, or to the St. Luke Extended Care facility in Ronan.
Shrider-Thompson Funeral and Cremation Services of Ronan assisted in with the arrangements.
Montana Lee Bockman
On the morning of May 16, Montana Lee (Tana) Bockman filleted and released his last fish. No one else will be able to challenge the Master and World Champion of Cribbage. He has packed and moved his final peg.
Tana was vorn on Jan. 23, 1937 in Missoula, to G. and Joy Bockman. He graduated from Missoula County High School in 1955, played Grizzly football and graduated from the University of Montana in 1961. He taught and coached in Hot Springs, Eureka, Chinook and St. Ignatius. In 1977, he bought and operated two businesses in Ronan, the Training Room Bar and The White Elephant second hand store and has resided there since.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Karen Kennedy, and his niece Stacey Kennedy.
He is survived by his wife Carlene of 51 years; his son, Scott (Mardie) Bockman, Helena; two daughters: Becky (Dave) Toelke, Kalispell, and Christy Fryberger, Charlo. He is also survievd by three grandsons: Montana S. Bockman, Tucker Lee Toelke and Brady Lee Fryberger, and three granddaughters: Lindsey Ray Bockman, Carlene Elizabeth and Connor Mae Fryberger. He will be missed by his family, fishing buddies athletes he has coached, cribbage palyers (who he has also coached) BSers, hunters and all-around great people and friends.
A potluck celebration of Tana’s life will be held at 5 p.m. at the Ronan Community Center on Saturday, may 23. Bring your “cribbage face” and wear your Griz gear. Bobcat gear will be accepted, but carefully screened.
Memorials may be sent to the Ronan Wrestling Club, care of Ryan Fisher at 421 Andrew St. NW in Ronan, the VFW Post 5652 at 35981 Round Butte Road in Ronan, the Grizzly Scholarship Association at UM Adams Center, 139 MIssoula, MT, 59812 or a charity of your choice.
This is his final classic story - and it’s the “honest to God truth!”