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Joe An Harris
(September 5, 1931 - September 23, 2011)
Joe An Harris was born in Hawley, Minnesota on September 5, 1931.
The stock market had crashed and her father, Harry Dallum, a butcher by profession, had joined the ranks for the unemployed.
Little Joannie was left with her paternal grandparents so that her father and mother, Ruthe (Hall) Dallum could search for work.
The bond between Joe An and her grandparents, who had recently immigrated from Norway, and particularly with her gramma, Hannah, modeled the closeness that Joe An had with her own grandchildren, Nicholas, Hunter and Amanda Poole and Austen and Lily Peterson. The scarcities of being raised during the 1930’s and ‘40’s were to establish the core character of Jo Anne: grit, and unerring ability to cut to the quick, personal responsibility, determination, and acceptance of and immediate resolution, and an inability to complain or permit it from others. As the economy prospered in the early 1950’s, Joe An’s parents settled in Cutbank, Montana where Joe An graduated from high school and later married
Lee Duane Harris.
The two raised three children, Lee, Kim, and Melanie.
Employed as a roughneck for Mobile Oil, Lee and the family followed the boom to Farmington, New Mexico. During the ‘60’s, Joe An liberated herself from the typical housewife traditions and enrolled in college.
Fascinated by the ideals during the social upheaval of the Age of Aquarius, Joe An became a lifelong rabid democrat and the believer in the tenants of the Great Society.
Another move back to Montana, she graduated from college Eastern Montana College and began her 24 year career as an English teacher.
Settling in Helena, she worked at Capital High School.
Joe An turned her fierce determination to enlightening often reluctant students about the dangers of dangling participles, split infinitives, Shakespeare, parallel sentence structure, and how to write a paragraph.
Described as fair and hard by her students, Joe An was proud of her many successes.
In retirement, Joe An cultivated flowers and landscaped a yard best described as a Better Homes and Garden’s yard.
She was as devoted a grandmother as her’s had been to her.
Guiding with constant support and understanding, with love tempered by gentle Scandinavian humor, Joe An was seen again at Capital High School as her granddaughters graduated.
For all of this and because we cannot get the time back to see you, Mom you will be missed.
Memorials can be made to Capital High School, 100 Valley Dr., Helena, MT 59601.
A gathering will be at Retz Funeral Home at 3pm and a reception at 5463 Sahara Court on Friday, September 30.
AGNES SLONAKER
RITZVILLE, Wash. - Agnes Monson Slonaker, 88, died Monday, June 30, 2003, at a Ritzville care center.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Emanuel Lutheran Church at Ritzville. Graveside services will be held at the Highland cemetery at Havre on Monday at 1 p.m. Viewing was today at Danekas Chapel in Ritzville.
She was born in Chinook on Aug. 28, 1914, to Martin and Gina (Halingstad) Monson. Agnes graduated from Chinook High School in 1932.
She married
Fred T. Slonaker on Aug. 19, 1938, at Havre. They lived in Montana, where Fred worked in the gas fields before moving their family to Ritzville in 1957.
Agnes was a homemaker and Fred managed the Columbia Gas Company. They made Ritzville their home the past 46 years.
She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother and two sisters.
Survivors include her husband, Fred; son, Norman (Helen) of New York; daughter, Janice (Steve) Shineman of Shelton, Wash.; sisters, Esther Dougherty of Chinook and Helen Monson of San Francisco, Calif.
Memorials may be made to Emanuel Lutheran Church, 206 S. Division, Ritzville, WA 99169.
Danekas Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements at Ritzville, and Holland and Bonine Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements at Havre.
EARL AYERS
Earl Joseph Ayers, 82, of Billings died Monday, Aug. 18, 2003, at a Billings rest home.
A vigil service was held Tuesday evening at Dahl Chapel. A funeral Mass was scheduled to be celebrated at 11 a.m. today at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Committal will be in Holy Cross cemetery.
He was born on March 22, 1921, to Earl and Anna (Reinholtz) Ayers in Glendive. He graduated from Dawson County High School in Glendive in 1939. Earl sang and acted in the high school plays. He won the statewide competition in clarinet in high school.
On Aug. 24, 1941 he married
Bertha Ann Idland in Glendive. He served in the U.S. Army in the South Pacific during World War II.
Earl worked as a brakeman for 45 years for Northern Pacific and Burlington Northern railways.
He enjoyed crossword puzzles and loved music and the outdoors.
He was a member of the Elks Club, American Legion and St. Pius X Catholic Church.
Earl was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Bertha in 1991 and his brothers, Arthur and James.
Survivors include his children, Marcia (Jim) Miller from Riverton, Wy., Ron (Susan) Ayers of Billings, Peggy (John) Quinlivan of Havre, and Michael (Jacquelyn) Ayers of Billings; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to St. Vincent DePaul, 2610 Montana Ave., Billings, MT 59101.
Winnifred L. Crowley
(October 24, 1916 - September 22, 2011)
Winnifred L. Crowley went peacefully into the arms of her Savior on September 22, 2011 surrounded by her family at the age of 94 - one of Montana’s last women WWII Veterans.
Winnifred was born October 24, 1916 to Rev. George and Nellie Cagle in Texarkana, Arkansas.
She graduated high school in Eldorado and attended nurses training in San Antonio, Texas.
In 1943 she joined the US Army during WWII and rose to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.
In 2001 she was honored in a ceremony by the State of Montana as one of the few living women WWII Veterans.
It was one of the highlights of her life.
During WWII she was stationed at Camp Maxey, Texas where she met her future husband, Gerald Crowley.
She always said he was the best looking man in a uniform she ever saw.
They were married
in 1945 in Paris, Texas. After WWII they moved to Missoula Montana where she worked as a nurse at St. Patrick’s Hospital while Gerald attended law school.
In 1950 they made Helena their home.
She worked at Ft. Harrison Veteran’s Hospital, St. John’s Hospital and St. Pete’s Hospital.
Mom never lost her southern accent and was always referred to as the “southern nurse.” She retired from nursing in 1966.
They spent their retirement years traveling to many exotic places and wintering in Mesa, Arizona with their group of special friends.
Winnifred ran her race well and left a legacy of love to her three children, eight grandchildren, and 12 great-grandchildren.
She loved well and all who knew her loved her in return.
She will be greatly missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant son, one son-in-law, two brothers, four brothers-in-law, three sisters-in-law, and all her many friends.
She is survived by her daughters Annell (Mike) Fillinger of Helena, Margaret McGrath of Helena, her son Larry (Barb) Crowley of Dallas Texas, eight grandchildren, Stacy Hamilton, Phoebe Williams, Sgt. Matthew Fillinger, Cara Crowley, Vincent Crowley, Austin Crowley, Lance Corp. Nicholas McGrath, Molly McGrath and twelve great-grandchildren.
The family extends a special note of thanks to the staff at Cooney Home for the loving care and kindness they showed to Mom over the last ten years.
A military graveside service will be held Wednesday September 28th at 1 pm at Resurrection cemetery.
A reception will follow at the home of her daughter Annell.
In lieu of flowers the family requests a donation be made in her name to the charity of your choice.
John Joseph Blotkamp
(October 9, 1960 - September 18, 2011)
Always remember to slow down in life; live, breathe, and learn; take a look around you whenever you have time, and never forget those people who have a place within your heart.
John Joseph Blotkamp, 50 vibrant years of age, left this earth on September 18, 2011.
The heart that deeply touched so many lives stopped beating physically but his love for family, fiancée, friends, co-workers, and faithful companion Jazzy will continue to live on in those hearts he touched. John was born October 9, 1960 in Great Falls, Montana to Thomas J. and Joleen I. Blotkamp. He was the youngest of seven children and the favorite. His love for family had no limits, and John expressed that love whenever he had the chance. Fresh out of college and a graduate of Montana State University, Bozeman, John attained a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1985. A jack of all trades, John rode horses, branded cows, bucked bales, built timber frame homes, including his own home in Unionville which became his pride and joy. He worked as a hard rock miner, and even had an office job working for “the man.” Finally, his hard work paid off and his dreams of remaining close to family and the beautiful Montana mountains came true when he began and personalized his own Real Estate appraisal business, Blotkamp Appraisals.
A man of integrity in both his work and personal life, his business associates considered John not only a business partner but also a trusted and true friend.
In the fall of 2003, John and Jan met on a blind date set in motion by Farrell and Nancy Rose and their daughter Melanie.
What followed was a journey of mountain hikes (sometimes longer than expected), ski trips (down slopes steeper than expected), bike rides and kayak trips that led to a true and lasting love of soul mates.
They shared a love of the outdoors, their dogs, and spending time with family and friends.
John was a man of integrity, humor, and talent in wood working, cooking up the ultimate pizza sauce or pot of spaghetti with all the things growing in his garden.
His favorite place was a chair by the creek next to his house listening to the sounds of the bubbling creek and the chickadees.
He had a knack for knowing who sang every song in the 60’s and 70’s and singing bits and pieces of them often.
He will be forever loved by his fiancée and his dog Jazzy who miss him beyond all words.
John was an avid outdoorsman.
His passion for downhill skiing was evident when he would routinely predict his own snow storms in hopes of a powder day.
An active hiker, avid fly-fisherman, motivated mountain biker, and extraordinary woodworking craftsman, he had a remarkable ability to live and love being alive.
John exhibited exceptional qualities that were obvious, yet hard to define.
He was patient, unpretentious, appreciative, considerate, practical, mechanically gifted, unusually intuitive yet intellectual in many ways.
He was philosophical but well grounded; he knew his root vegetables and grew exceptional raspberries, and was more than willing to share his secret huckleberry picking spots.
John is survived by his fiancée Jan Martineau and also his brothers and sisters: Bruce (Sandra) Blotkamp (Missoula), Patty (Gary) Anderson (KY), Tuck (Anne) Blotkamp (Helena), Jan (Tom) McGree (Helena), Susan (Rob) Spitznagel (CA), and Betty (Mark) Murray (Helena).
John was more than just an uncle, he was a friend, mentor, role model, and father figure to his treasured nieces and nephews: Tommy (Tessa) McGree, Allison McGree, Michelle McGree, Kipper Blotkamp, Drew Blotkamp, Ariel (Lee) Blotkamp-Rademaker, Kody Goettel, Brianne Spitznagel, Katie Spitznagel, Tyler Spitznagel, Scott (Jennifer) Anderson, Shani (Danny) Ramirez, Brett (Mary) Anderson, Nathan Anderson, Chad (Rhonda) Blotkamp, Heather Blotkamp, Tonya (Dan) Neuman, Tiffany (Al) Wellman, Chris Murray, Ryan (Pam) Murray, Scott Murray, and Katie (Jon) Mygland.
Welcoming John with open arms in heaven are parents Thomas J. and Joleen I. Blotkamp, nephew Sean P. McGree, and numerous aunts and uncles.
Our world lost a truly unique man on Sunday, September 18, 2011.
Come celebrate a life well lived and the legacy that remains on Friday, September 23rd, at 2:00 PM at Retz Funeral Home Chapel with a reception to follow at Eagle’s Lodge, 801 N. Fee St.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lewis and Clark Humane Society, PO Box 4455, Helena, MT 59604-4455 or a charity of your choice.
