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George McMillan
George William McMillan, 70, died June 11, 2001, in Missoula.
He was born in the Black River Country of Wisconsin on Jan. 17, 1931, to John Vance and Jessie (Bryan) McMillan.
He grew up to love the outdoors and all of God's creatures. At an early age he moved with his family to northern Illinois in the heart of farm country. There, he went through school and life's experiences to mold his nature. He was always ready to lend a helping hand and ask for nothing in return.
In 1948, the call of the Wild West rang and he went out on the road. He passed through the Flathead Valley and it was love at first sight. He wanted to make the Flathead his home then, but it wasn't to be just yet. After odd jobs and helping his mother and father out, the Korean War broke out. He was drafted into the army, Seventh Division, where he served as a bomb disposal expert. He took great pride in having served his country, being a war veteran.
He married the love of his life, Eloise, and raised a family of five children, Patt, Cathy, Vance, Bryan, and Wesley. Some of his happiest moments were shared in Wisconsin and Illinois at family reunions, reminiscing around campfires and spending time with his siblings and their respective families.
After the service, he worked in construction. He designed and built his first home in Sycamaore, Ill. From there he eventually worked as a general contractor designing and building many homes along the way. The call of the West was still in his heart and he longed to live in the Flathead Valley. In 1968, he finally had saved enough for a down-payment on 66 acres of land.
In 1969 he and his family made the move. For two and one-half years he worked as a seasonal carpenter for Glacier National Park. He especially loved backpacking into the chalets to make repairs. In 1972 he started his own contracting business. He served nine years on the United Methodist Church Yellowstone Conference Building Committee. During this time, he helped build the sanctuary addition, which still stands today.
He also served eight and one-half years on the Flathead County Planning Board. He was a member of the Flathead Home Builders Association, where he served as vice-president and president.
One of his favorite pastimes included gathering with friends and family members at Sykes Family Restaurant for coffee and chats. Topics of discussion often included anything and everything, but mostly he enjoyed sharing stories about his pets. These included his horse, some cows, a few cats, but his greatest love was reserved for his dogs. A restaurant meal would not be complete without saving portions of his own meal to treat his favorite four-legged friends.
Although he may have lacked in financial abundance, he more than made up for this by demonstrating a richness of spirit through his compassion and many kindnesses to others. He will be greatly missed by family and friend alike.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Virgil McMillan, and a sister, Sara Jane Skelly.
He is survived by his wife, Eloise; three sons, Vance and wife, Wendy, Bryan and wife, Cindy McMillan, Wesley McMillan; two daughters, Patt Bremberg, Cathy and husband, Ron McKinney; three brothers, David and wife, Vivian McMillan, Walter and wife, Linda McMillan, Larry and wife, Ellen McMillan; four sisters, Velma and husband, Marvin Singleton, Nora and husband, Art Palm, Carol Lee and husband, James Zink, Mary Jo Dees; 10 grandchildren, Frances McMillan, Jeremy McMillan, Patrick McMillan, Richard Orze, Michael Orze, Bryan Doyle, Regan McKinney, Adrienne McKinney, Debi Bergeson, Michael Lapp; six great-grandchildren, Alexandra Orze, Debra Orze, Stephanie Orze, Eric Orze, Auston Bergeson, Brady Bergeson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral service was held June 15, at Johnson Mortuary Chapel with Reverend Marvin Northcutt officiating.
Burial was at Fairview Ceme-tery in Kalispell. Military honors was provided by the United Veterans of the Flathead.
Memorials may be sent, in his name, to the Veterans Children Memorial Fund or to the heart and Stroke Fund.
Edith Rasmusan
Edith Rasmusan, 93, died June 14, 2001, at the Brendan House in Kalispell.
She was born in Skane, Sweden on Jan. 19, 1908, to August and Sigrid (Sandberg) Palm.
She was preceded in death by her parents; both husbands; her brothers, Oscar, Henning, Axel, and Swen; son, Vern Strandberg; son-in-law, Kenneth Long; granddaughter, Linda Long, and grandsons, Mark and Kevin Strandberg.
She is survived by her daughter, Norma Long of Kalispell; one sister, Alice Soiseth of Williston, N.D.; grandsons, Bruce Craig and wife, Sue, Tony and Michael Strandberg of Kalispell and Bigfork, and David Strandberg of Williston, N.D.; granddaughters, Dee Ann Bradford and husband, Jon of Littleton, Colo., and Cindy Galloway and husband, Craig of Spokane, Wash.; great-grandchildren, Tierney and Cailin Strand-berg of Kalispell, S.A. Curt Galloway of Great Lakes, Ill., and Courtney Galloway of Boise, Idaho; dear nephews, nieces, her loved daughter-in-law, Darlene Strandberg and brother-in-law, Leonard Soiseth of Williston, N.D.
At her request, cremation will take place and interment of the urn will be in Williston, N.D., at Hillside Memory Gardens at a later date.
The family suggests memorials to the organization of your choice or Calvary Lutheran Church, 2200 U.S. Highway 2 East, Kalispell MT 59901.
Margaret Brown
Margaret J. Brown, 91, of Coram, died at North Valley Hospital Saturday morning July 7, 2001. She was born July 11, 1910 in Tolley North, Dakota the daughter of John and Belle Pautz.
The family moved to Eastern Montana, where she grew up and attended school near Malta.
She received her degree in teaching from Montana State University. On June 4, 1932, she and Rex Brown were married in Malta. They came to the Flathead on their honeymoon and decided to remain in the area. Rex was employed by the railroad, and she taught at various schools. They later formed their own lumber and logging company. in Coram. She became in charge of bookkeeping and sales. They became involved with the raising of purebred Arabian Horses in the 1960s. This was a dream come true for her and a life-long passion. She was a charter member of the local Arabian Horse Club. She also loved and collected western art work.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers, Alfred William and James, her sisters Violet and Lily, and her husband Rex, in 1971.
She is survived by her sister Roseanita; her daughter and son-in-law Erna and Larry Fortin of Coram; her grandsons David and Brian Fortin of Coram; her granddaughter Shelley Maguire, also of Coram, along with four great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be conducted 2 p.m. on Thursday July 12 at the Columbia Mortuary of Columbia Falls. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.
Robert Fuller
Robert W. "Mr. Bob" Fuller, 70, died July 5, 2001, at the Brendan House.
He was born Aug. 17, 1930, in Eureka to James E. and Cora (Wood) Fuller.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara; daughter Alison Keene; son, Michael, all of Kalispell; brother Edward Fuller of Eureka; four granddaughters, Spring Keene, Stormy Fuller, and twins Jenny and Beth Hawkins, all of Kalispell, and numerous other relatives.
A celebration of his life was held at the Fuller family home in Kalispell on July 10.
Gary Gustafson
Gary D. Gustafson, 43, died July 4, 2001, at his home in Kalispell.
He was born in Shelby on Aug. 4, 1957, and resided in Sunburst.
While attending school in Sunburst, he achieved Life Scout and received the Order of the Arrow at the Boy Scout National Jamboree in Ferris Park, Idaho.
He moved to Whitefish in 1974 where he met his wife-to-be, Tammy Cusick, and graduated from Whitefish High School in 1975. He and Tammy were married June 21, 1980, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Kalispell. Later that same year he went to work in Williston, N.D., at Tractor and Equipment as a sales representative.
Their first child was born in 1981 and he worked at Tractor and Equipment until 1985 when their second child Samantha was born. The family moved back to Kalispell in 1986 where he worked for Long Machinery. He worked for Long Machinery for one year when he suffered a back injury and went to work for Moovie Club.
In the 1990s he purchased his own business, Montana West Distributing. He owned and operated the business, working as a wholesale distributor servicing convenience stores mainly to the Great Falls area, but also almost every other part of Eastern and Western Montana until his death.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers Patrick Sanderson and William Gustafon; grandmothers, Alice and Maime; aunt Tookie, and father-in-law Jack Cusick.
He is survived by wife Tammy; son Dustin, and daughter Samantha of Kalispell; parents Don and Zoe Gustafson of Whitefish, Mickey and Mary Pat Kimmet of Shelby; brothers Tim and wife, Tracy, Tommy and wife, Lauri, Eric, and Patrick; sister Lori, and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Mass of Christian Burial was held July 6, at St. Matthew's Catholic Church with Father Vic Langhans as Celebrant. Cremation has taken place.
