Obituaries
Patricia A. Vigen
Patricia A. Vigen, 76, of Ronan, passed away on March 2. Memorial services and a celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 31at Faith Lutheran Church in Ronan.
Patsy Mae Anderson
Our beloved Patsy Mae Anderson passed away peacefully on May 16 at her home surrounded by her family and loved ones after a short illness. Patsy was born July 8, 1937 at Holy Family Hospital in St. Ignatius, Montana. She was one of 14 children born to William Herbert Noel and Laura Cecelia Glover. She was a proud enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribe.
Patsy was raised in Polson and graduated from Polson High School in 1955. She participated in several activities in school including flag girl, cheerleading, editor of the school newspaper and Homecoming Queen. In 1957 she earned her teaching certification from Western Montana College of Education in Dillon. In 1967 she earned a four year diploma from the University of Montana. She taught 35 years in public schools throughout the state of Montana, but primarily in the Pablo and Ronan School District. Patsy retired in 1991. Throughout her long and rewarding career in education she touched many lives.
In 1958, she married Larry Anderson at the Polson Catholic Church. Patsy and Larry recently celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in June 2013. To this union four children were born. Patsy was a special, wonderful, loving and caring wife and mother, grandmother and great grandmother to all.
Patsy was a gifted quilt maker and enjoyed the company of friends and family while sewing and making quilts. She enjoyed making many quilts for raffles, charity projects, fire quilts, cancer patients and baby quilts for newborns at area hospitals. Patsy also gifted beautiful quilts to her immediate family members, relatives, and friends. She had an amazing talent for putting together colors in her quilts. We cannot count the number of quilts she made in her lifetime but know that quilting gave her a deep satisfaction.
Patsy also enjoyed her summer months at the family home on Flathead Lake. She loved full moon nights on the lake as it reflected on the water and lit up the entire sky like it was daylight.
Patsy was preceded in death by her beloved daughter Amy Noelle Anderson, her parents Laura and William Noel, and twelve siblings. She is survived by husband, Larry Anderson, children Alan & Tonya Anderson, Valerie & Jerry Johnson, Karin & Tony Williams, sister Barbara Ross, grandchildren Ryan, Randi, Alyssa, Trevor, Jessica, Chelsey, Cassidy, Amber and great grandchildren Hannah, Oliver, Robert, Laurance, Everett, Autumn and Camden; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and other extended family members.
Per her wishes, a memorial mass will be held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at 1002 4th Ave, Polson, MT at 10 am on Friday, May 23. Patsy will be laid to rest next to her daughter Amy Noelle Anderson in a private burial ceremony at the Lakeview Cemetery in Polson, MT. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Amy Noelle Anderson scholarship fund c/o SKC Foundation, Box 70, Pablo, MT 59855 Attn: Angelique Albert.
Arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory. Messages of condolence can be sent to the family online at www.groganfuneralhome.com.
Ronald Eugene Weidman
Ronald Eugene Weidman, of Polson, passed away of natural causes at his home on September 26, 2013. Ronald was 81.
He is survived by his wife, Willa Weidman of Polson, his son Steve (Scarlet) Weidman of Missoula, his daughter Kim (Hall) Edwards of Missoula, his son Brook (Susan) Weidman of Polson, his brother Larry (Lemoine) Weidman, his sister Mildred Lindeman, his brother-in-law Ryan (Bobbi) Swan, his sister-in-law Deanna (Pat) Hanner, 16 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Ron was born in Billings on May 7, 1932. He was raised and attended school in Livingston where he met Willa Swan. Ron enlisted in the Navy and served his country for five years. Ron is a veteran of the Korean War. While in the Navy, he married Willa Swan on January 4, 1954 and they built a life together for 59 years and raised their three children. Ron was a multi-faceted business man and a people person. Ron loved his family and friends. Ron will be missed and always loved.
He is preceded in death by his parents Kenneth and Fletah Weidman, his brother Kenneth Weidman, his sister Judith Desjardins, his sister-in-law Doris Thompkins and his brother-in-law Duane Lindeman.
Ron wishes were to have a “Celebration of his Life,” which will be held for all of his family and friends on Saturday, May 31 at the Polson VFW upstairs Hall from 2 to 4 p.m.
Janet Rodda
Janet Rodda’s life here on earth ended as she stepped into eternity on May 14 one month short of her 80th birthday. She was a long time resident at St. Luke’s Extended Care where she was known as the Trivia Queen. Born in Des Moines, Iowa on June 14, 1934 to John and Frances Dingman, she grew up traveling around the Northwest with her mother, as Frances worked in factories and plants during WWII.
Janet met Miles Rodda while working on a ranch during haying season on Rock Creek near Philipsburg. They were married one month later and celebrated 61 years together last October.
While living on their ranch on Rock Creek, Janet and Miles enjoyed lapidary interests inspired by the sapphire mines in the area. This interest developed into facetting and polishing stones and hunting for rare gems as a family. Janet loved birds and wildflowers and could identify most varieties. She also was an excellent cook and loved doll making.
Janet is survived by her husband Miles, and 6 of her 7 children: Terri Kreps (Dennis) of New Mexico; Carol Rodda of St. Ignatius; Peggy Orr (Tim) of St. Ignatius; Brenda Costilla (Rick) of Polson; Ken Rodda (Mary) of Ronan and Russ Rodda (Marti) St. Ignatius. 21 grandchildren and 35 great-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her mother Frances, her father John and step-father Bill Daus; her first child of 18 months Nita-Kay, 2 grandchildren Tony and Juanita and one great-grandchild Hudson Taylor.
Services will be held at a later date.