Obituaries
OBITUARIES
Esther Vera Mae Knopp Hamel
Esther Vera Mae Knopp Hamel, 92, of Punta Gorda, Fla. and formerly of St. Ignatius, died on Sunday, Sept. 21 at the Palms of Punta Gorda retirement home. She experienced a stroke in May of 2011 and never fully recovered from it.
Esther was born on May 20, 1922 at the family homestead near Circle, Mont. to Frank Knopp and Kathrine Malhstedt. Her mother died in 1930 and Frank married Pauline Lofts in 1933. The homestead was lost to draught and the family moved to Pablo and Ronan where Esther graduated from high school.
Esther married Robert J. Hamel of St. Ignatius on March 16, 1944 in Las Vegas.
They made their first home in Los Angeles where Robert worked for Vultee Aircraft as a draftsman. After his father’s illness in 1942 they moved back to St. Ignatius, formed Chalimar Farm and began ranching and raising their two children, Kathryn Dee and Dennis Robert. Esther didn’t receive any higher education but was self-taught in a variety of fields. She received 15 local and national honors and wrote 12 books on various subjects. She was a local and national flower show judge and chairman for over 20 years. She was an accomplished seamstress and made her clothing with hats to match. Esther also loved wigs in every color and style to match an outfit, often confusing people to think that Robert had a new wife.
Robert died on Jan. 20, 1996, the year they would have celebrated 55 years of marriage. Esther bought a lot in Florida in 1997 and began subdividing the farm to ultimately have her dream house built down the street from adopted son David in Florida.
She enjoyed her Florida home for 13 years until declining health moved her to independent living.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents and stepmother, husband Bob, son Dennis, brothers Glen and Frankie Knopp, sisters Thelma Knopp-Kelly and son-in-law Bill Kelly.
She is survived by her sisters Joy Knopp Des Rosier of Whitehall, Mont., and Florence Knopp Hayden of Florence, Mont., and daughter Kay Hamel Kelly of St. Ignatius, adopted son David Alligood and friend Ray Bailey of Florida.
She also leaves behind grandsons Anthony Hamel, Robb Kelly and wife Shelli, and great grandchildren Wyatt and Madison Kelly of Kent, Wash., and granddaughter Barabara Kelly Geatches and husband Jeff, and great grandchildren Kelly, Kate, and Andrew of Rathdrum, Idaho. A celebration of Esther’s life will be held in St. Ignatius in the spring of 2015.
Roberta (Bobby) Lee Adams
On Sept. 28, Roberta (Bobby) Lee Adams lost her battle with cancer after many years at the age of 69, at her home in Lonepine. Roberta was born December 21, 1944 in Butte, to Robert and Vera Emerson. She was raised in Bozeman, Montana by her Aunt Elva, Uncle Tom and cousins Marylee and Anna Mae Sipes. Roberta graduated from Mount Ellis Academy at Bozeman. She married the love of her life, Dale on Aug. 30, 1964, celebrating 50 years of marriage this year. Roberta enjoyed her years of transcribing medical records at the Sanders County General Hospital in Hot Springs and book keeping at the Walla Walla College Farm at College Place, Wash. Roberta and her husband returned to their farm at Lonepine, Mont. in 1993. She loved the farm and all the animals. A few of her pets; dogs, cats, birds and a boa constrictor. Among her many hobbies; oil painting, puzzles, collecting and reading books.
Roberta greatly appreciated the love, support and prayers that she received from family and friends, throughout the years. She is survived by her loving husband, Dale, sons; Tom and Bob Adams of College Place, Wash. Sisters; Marilee Hensrud of Kalispell, Anna Mae Nicholson of Bozeman, and Mexico, Angela Sollars of Kerns, Utah, Brothers; Chuck and Bill Spring of Gallatin Gateway, Mont. and numerous nephews and nieces. Cremation has taken place. Services will be held on Oct. 11, at 4 p.m. at the Lonepine Hall, in Lonepine.
Donald R. (Doc) Huard
Donald R. (Doc) Huard, 78, of Billings/Polson, passed away Thursday, Oct. 2, at home in Polson, of natural causes. He was born New Year’s Eve, 1935, in Detroit, Mich.
In 1965, he graduated from the University of Michigan medical school and married Arlene Huard. They celebrated their 56th anniversary in August. They moved to Billings in 1970, where he was one of the founding partners of Orthopedic Associates, and practiced until his retirement in 1996. His daring but clumsy children and grandchildren kept him working part-time afterwards.
Don enjoyed spending time at the family ranch near Billings, working in the cherry orchard in Polson, or any other place that afforded him the opportunity to drive a tractor.
Survivors include his wife Arly, younger brother Mike of Brighton, Mich., and three children and their families: Doug & Colleen Huard of Portland, Ore., Dave Huard of Oklahoma City, Okla., and Kari and Bret Chapman of Bozeman, along with five grandchildren.
While we will not honor his last request of “opening the passenger door and dumping him out,” we will honor his request for no public services.
Arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, 101 6th Avenue East in Polson. Memories and condolences may be sent to www.groganfuneralhome.com.