OBITUARIES

Valley Ellingsen

Apr 12, 2011

Valley Ellingsen was born to Frank and Verna Heisler on February 27th, 1922, in Shannon, Illinois. She grew up knowing hard work on the family farm but found time for scholastics, piano lessons, and climbing her favorite cherry tree. She graduated from high school as the class valedictorian and promptly joined the Waves, a patriotic and courageously ironic...

Marian White

Apr 7, 2011

Marian Janet White, 76, of Kalispell, passed away surrounded by her family at home on Thursday, April 7th, 2011 following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Marian was born October 8th, 1934 to Ann and Dan Kozeliski in Roundup, Montana. She graduated from Roundup High School and began her lifelong career as a bookkeeper, following...

Robert Thomas

Apr 6, 2011

Robert Clark (Bob) Thomas, age 61, passed away on April 6, 2011, following a brief illness. Robert Clark (Bob) Thomas completed his journey on this earth, leaving behind friends and family who will remember him for his keen sense of humor and willingness to help anyone at...

John Kessler

Mar 31, 2011

John A. Kessler died March 31, 2011, of natural causes. John was born September 10th, 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri. When John was 12 his parents, Carl and Ida Kessler moved to Colorado where they lived on a dude ranch. John spent most of his childhood out of the comforts of his...

Sharon French

Mar 26, 2011

Sharon Dean Berg French, age 69, passed away Saturday March 26, 2011 in the comfort of her Bigfork home.   Sharon was born August 4, 1941 in Eureka, Montana, the daughter of Laurence and Eloise Berg.  She was raised in Devon and Fortine Montana.  She attended grade school in Fortine, high school in Eureka, and also attended Flathead Valley Community...

Mary Zauft

Mar 26, 2011

Mary Logene Zauft, age 84, of Kalispell, died of natural causes on Saturday March 26, 2011 at Heritage Place.  She was born in Minnesota on May 1, 1926, the only child to George A. and Mildred R. Walters.  "Logene" worked at the Sage Building which housed the front line of defense for the U.S. Airforce for many years in Minnesota. ...

Cristi Hand

Mar 7, 2011

Cristi Kay Hand, 53, of Bigfork, died in her home March 7, 2011. She was born June 23, 1957, in Grand Rapids, Mich., to Jerry and Lois Sullivan. She attended schools in Michigan, Idaho and Montana and graduated from Charles M. Russell High School in Great Falls in 1975. She moved to Bigfork in 1976 where she meet her...

Virgil Kaski

Mar 6, 2011

Virgil Emmett Kaski, age 84, passed away March 6, 2011 at the Brendan House in Kalispell, Montana.  Virgil was born February 15, 1927 in Brantwood, Wisconsin to Hemmie and Amelia (Berhow) Kaski.  He married Ruth Pekkala in 1950 in Detroit, Michigan.  They had seven children: Peter and his wife Nellie Kaski of Vancouver, WA; James and his wife Eileen Kaski...

Esther Conner

Mar 3, 2011

Esther Faye Conner, 95, died Feb. 25, 2011. Esther’s husband, Walter Zell Conner, 79, passed away one week later, on March 3, 2011, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center, following an illness. Esther Conner was born Sept. 9, 1915, in Oka, Mont., to Ed and Vera Hooker. She married Melvin Stevens in 1931 (widowed in 1971), having five children, Edith...

David Crowe

Feb 28, 2011

David Charles Crowe, 73, passed away, Feb. 28, 2011, in Kalispell of natural causes.

He was born Jan. 3, 1938, in Gainsboro, Va.

In 1972, he married Berna Jean Smith.

David served honorably in the military and then worked for Plum Creek for over 30 years. David enjoyed fishing, camping and four-wheeling. He...

Robert Bielenberg

Feb 23, 2011

Robert “Marc” Bielenberg, 91, passed away in his sleep at the family’s Bigfork farm early Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2011.

Marc was born in Deer Lodge in 1920. Both his parents and other ancestors were Montana pioneers, of whom he was always proud, one of whom was Conrad Kohrs of the Kohrs and Bielenberg ranches and...

Hilda Irvin

Feb 14, 2011

Hilda Irvin, age 88, joined her heavenly Father on Monday February 14, 2011 in Kalispell.  Hilda was born  May 16, 1922 in Germany, and grew up there  before She immagrated to Montana with her family.  She married her beloved husband William "Bill" Irvin.  Hilda was an outgoing woman with a big heart.  She was a strong minded stubborn German and loved to have...

Randy Willoughby

Feb 14, 2011

Randy David Willoughby (Dell)

Born March 4, 1958 in Butte, MT, Randy was relieved of his pain February 14, 2011 peacefully at his home surrounded by his family. Randy’s passion for life and riding motorcycles motivated him through his struggles with cancer. Known for his graceful smile, big heart, and shiny head, Randy’s devotion and unbeatable...

Glenn Freeman

Feb 1, 2011

Glenn "Nappy" Freeman, age 81, passed away at his Kalispell residence on Tuesday February 1, 2011.  Nappy was born May 30, 1929 in Shelby, Montana to Bud and Jean Freeman.  Glenn was in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean war, was a sheriff, a propane deliveryman, worked for the Forest Service, managed Ski Bowl lanes in Whitefish, installed...

Gerald Maness

Jan 28, 2011

Gerald "Jerry" Maness, age 45, passed away January 28, 2011 with his family by his side in Kalispell, Montana.  He is survived by his wife and two children.  He enjoyed life and celebrated the coming home to his Lord.

Robert Rice

Jan 28, 2011

Robert “Bob” Charles Rice, 73, passed away suddenly on Friday, Jan. 28, 2011, at his home in Somers. Bob was born on Aug. 19, 1937, in Oklahoma City to Paul and Erma Rice. He was raised in Pampa, Texas, and graduated from Pampa High School. After high school, he attended the University of Montana. Bob married Avis M. Oien...

Anna Nolin

Jan 27, 2011

Anna Eleanor Nolin, Age 94, passed away on January 27, 2011 in Kalispell, Eleanor was born on March 17, 1916 in Williams, MN. to William And Etta (Carlson) Mason. Eleanor was raised on the family farm in Northern Minnesota. On June 15, 1935 she married Alfred R. Nolin. During their 46 year marriage, they raised four...

Dell Mcmanus

Jan 25, 2011

Dell Wilbur McManus passed away Tuesday January 25th at his home in Kalispell after a short battle with leukemia.

Dell was born September 22, 1931 in Great Falls, MT to Nathan and Gertrude McManus. He attended school in Great Falls and Coram until the family moved to Rollins in 1944. He attended Polson...

Anna Drew

Jan 24, 2011

Anna R. (Cash) Drew passed away on Monday, January 24, 2011 at Brendan House.  Anna was born July 20, 1924 to James and Mary (Beltramini) Cash in Somers, Montana.  She grew up and went to school in Somers and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1942.  She then attended Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Spokane, Washington, graduating...

Solveig Ensign

Jan 21, 2011

Solveig Alyssa Ensign trusted Jesus as her savior. On January 21st at 12.15 am, the uncreated life of God who indwelled her carried her home to be with Him.

Solveig was born July 22, 1978 at her parents home in the Swan Valley. She attended

the one room country school at Salmon Prairie and...