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Jim Larson
James "Jim" Gordon Larson, 63, of Spokane and former resident of Stevensville, died on March 6, 2004 in Spokane.
He was born on October 3, 1940, at Missoula and was the son of Ernest and Grace (Guest) Larson.
Jim was raised in Stevensville and graduated from Stevensville High School in 1959.
He graduated from Western Montana College in Dillon in 1963 and received a Masters Degree at Whitworth College in Washington.
He entered the U.S. Army on July 2, 1964 and was honorably discharged on June 27, 1966 and then discharged from the National Guard in 1970.
He served in Vietnam and received the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal and Sharpshooter Medal.
Jim taught school at Creston High School for 18 years in Opheim, MT and for two years in Tanana, Alaska, two years at Bridgeport, WA, three years at Coulee Dam, WA and he coached football and basketball for three years.
He retired from teaching in 1998.
He was preceded in death by his sister Mildred Fisher, brothers Ron Larson and Jack Larson and a grandchild, Cade Brown (Dana Larson's son).
Survivors include two daughters, Kelli Trautmann of Spokane Valley and Dana Larson of Spokane; eight brothers and sisters: Bernice Bratton of Ashland, OR, Doris Felde of Idaho Falls and Nina Schaffer of Dallas, TX, Ella Mae Evans, Bessie Schaffer, Jerry Larson, Mike Larson and Glenn Larson, all of Missoula.
Also surviving is a grandchild.
Graveside services are scheduled for Saturday, September 11 at 1 p.m. with Rev. David Anderson officiating.
Military honors will be presented by VFW Post 1507.
Reception will follow at the United Methodist Church.
The Whitesitt Funeral Home of Stevensville is in charge of arrangements.
John Keeley
Maurice John Keeley, 96, longtime resident of Stevensville, died at his home on Friday, November 4, 2005.
He was born at Port Kennedy, Pennsylvania on January 20, 1909 and was the son of Irvin and Sarah E. (Winings) Keeley.
John received an eighth grade education before walking, at age 16, from Pennsylvania to Montana.
When he arrived in the Bitterroot he worked for several ranches, including the McClay Ranch, the Schroeder Ranch and Bugli Ranch.
He was a cowboy and worked the rodeo circuit.
John entered the U.S. Army on November 14, 1940 and later received a medical discharge on November, 1941.
He married
Julia Margaret Wandler on November 29, 1941.
John worked for Highlander Brewery in Missoula.
He later moved back to Limerick, Pennsylvania for Valley Forge Brewery and worked in the bottle house, a job he held for 20 years.
The company was bought out by C. Schmidt and Sons of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and John continued to work for that company for several years.
The Keeley family moved back to Montana in 1971, settling in Stevensville.
He was preceded in death by a son George.
Mr. Keeley is survived by his wife, Julia; three sons: James (Kathy) of Collegeville, PA and John "Rich" (Joan) Keeley of Stevensville and Bill (Kay) Keeley of Missoula and a daughter Julie (Michael) Jalcs of Phoenixville, PA; eight grandchildren, five great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.
Memorial services will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Stevensville with Father Michael Smith officiating on Thursday, November 17, 2005, at 4 p.m. A reception will follow at the Family Center.
Memorials may be sent in lieu of flowers to Hospice of Missoula, 800 Kensington, Suite 209, Missoula MT 59801.
The Whitesitt Funeral Home and Cremation of Stevensville was in charge of cremation arrangements.
Ron Bausman
Ronald "Slim" Bausman, 61, of Stevensville, died at his home on October 24, 2005.
He was born on May 4, 1944 in Grand Junction, Colorado and was the son of Glen and Saloma (Womack) Bausman.
Ron had a wide range experiences, including packing, ranching and trucking in Montana and Idaho.
After returning to Montana, he met Yvonne, his friend and love.
The couple were married
in January, 1984.
He felt the best times were spent with his wife, friends, and dog when fishing, hunting and riding horses.
When he owned Western Supply he was involved with the High School Rodeo Club.
Slim was honest, friendly and giving.
He will be missed by all who experienced his smile and sense of humor.
His church was on the mountain; God whispered to him on the wind.
He was preceded in death by his father, Glenn, and a brother, Jerry.
Survivors include his wife Yvonne of Stevensville; stepdaughters, Melodie, Missoula, and Denise in Washington, DC; a sister Glendora in Montana, brother Lawrence in Florida, three grandsons and two granddaughters.
Also surviving is his mother Saloma, and numerous nieces and nephews, and crowds of friends in all corners of the country.
Memorial services were held on Saturday, November 12 at the Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville with Mark Hawes, Ravalli County Sheriff's Dept. Chaplain, officiating.
A celebration of his love for life will be held in the spring near rushing water in the forest.
George Douglas Turnbull
George Douglas Turnbull, 62, of Stevensville, died at the Evergreen Nursing Home in Missoula on Sunday, November 6, 2005.
He was born on August 6, 1943 in Wayne, Michigan, to Robert Hill and Loretta (Schultise) Turnbull.
He entered the U.S. Army in 1962 and was honorably discharged in 1965.
Survivors include a son, Alec in Texas, daughters Julie and Marie, both in Texas, and Kim in Arizona and Tammy in Arkansas.
Three brothers also survive: Robert Turnbull of Stevensville and Richard and Bill, both in Washington.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
The Whitesitt Funeral Home and Cremation of Stevensville was in charge of arrangements.
Gwen Powell
Gwendolyn Ellen "Gwen" Puyear Powell of Stevensville passed away on Monday, November 7, 2005 in Florence.
Gwen was born on January 26, 1919 in Victor, MT to Edgar and Frances (Keirns) Puyear.
She graduated from Corvallis High School on May 19, 1937.
Two days later she married
the love of her life, Chester (Chet) L. Powell, May 21, 1937.
After 63 years of marriage, he preceded her in death on August 30, 2000.
Gwen was active throughout her life.
Gwen and Chet enjoyed camping and fishing throughout the Bitterroot Valley (after the gardening and canning were done).
Gwen was a talented seamstress, and enjoyed all kinds of needlework.
Chat boasted of her skill, "She even made me a suit."
She loved flowers, both growing and arranging them.
The Stevensville Methodist Church was often the recipient of a beautiful Sunday bouquet.
When giving directions to the house, all one had to mention was "the iris and gladiola garden on (old) Ravalli Street."
She was a good cook and liked trying new recipes.
But the favorites of her family and company were her pies and cookies.
Gwen's passions were her family and her painting.
After taking lessons and trekking into the mountains and down to the river with her artist friends, she mastered all mediums but was especially proud of her portraits, many of them of her children and grandchildren.
In her later years, Gwen enjoyed watching baseball, basketball and golf on television and had time to indulge her lifelong passion of reading.
Gwen was a member of the Garden Club of Montana, Stevensville Garden Club, and Beulah Chapter #8 of the Order of Eastern Star, Rebecca Lodge, United Methodist Church of Stevensville and the Indian Hills Retirement Community of Salome, AZ.
Gwen worked as a truck driver hauling bulk milk with baby Larry riding shotgun, at Farmers State Bank and First State Bank as a proof machine operator, and as principal bookkeeper at Powell's Conoco bulk plant and service station.
Her adoring husband Chet, youngest son, Larry, dear sister Mildred and loving parents Frances and Edgar Puyear, preceded her in death.
Her children survive Gwen: Linda K. (John) Berge of Issaquah, WA, and E. Leon (Linda) Powell of Stevensville; sisters Barbara (Terry) Kerr of Stevensville and Gerald (Joanne) Puyear of Yakima, WA; four grandchildren: Michael and Loren Berge, Lori (Bill) Swinehart, Curtis (Elissa) Powell Douglas; six great grandchildren: Samuel and Benjamin Berge, Kara Berge, Rebecca and Karine Swinehart and Diego Powell Douglas.
Funeral services were held Saturday, November 12, 2005 at the Stevensville United Methodist Church with Rev. Nancy Slaubaugh-Hart officiating.
Eastern Star Ritualistic Services concluded the services.
Burial was at Riverside cemetery in Stevensville.
A reception in honor of Gwen followed at the church.
Memorials are asked in lieu of flowers in the name of Gwen Powell to the Alzheimer's Association, 3010 11th Ave. N, Billings MT 59101.
Lydia M. Weisz
Lydia M. Weisz, 88, of Stevensville, passed from this world to be with Jesus on the evening of November 30, 2005.
Lydia was born on April 13, 1917, in Los Angeles, California to George and Helen Lundstedt.
She was youngest of five children all who have preceded her.
She was raised in southern California where she met, fell in love and married
Bernard E. Weisz.
The couple raised a family of five children, traditional style, where Mom stayed home with the kids and Dad worked hard to support his family.
When life became too hard to handle, Lydia and Bernard moved to Stevensville to the Bitterroot Valley Living Center.
Bernard passed away in 1999 and Lydia has been lost ever since. Now, they are together again.
Lydia is survived by her five children: daughters Penny (Bill) Ford, Bernadine (Tibor) Toth, Lydia Gomes, and Debbie (Jon) Svenson, and son Bernard E. Weisz, Jr.; and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be planned for Lydia in the late spring of 2006.
The Whitesitt Funeral Home and Cremation of Stevensville was in charge of arrangements.
