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DONALD JENSEN
ELMO -- Donald Sigurd Jensen died on Aug. 3, 2004, at his home here of natural causes. He was born on April 12, 1925, to Walter and Lillie Jensen. He attended school in Polson until joining the Navy. Upon returning from the Navy, he completed his high school education with the Polson High School class of '45. He later attended Montana State Univ. and became an operating engineer before assuming ownership and operations of the Jensen family ranch. On Feb. 15, 1957, he married Carrie Anna Marshall in Polson. Donald was a lifelong member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council. He was a member of VFW Post 2986, DAV, American Legion Post 112, Elks Lodge 1695, and a charter member of the Mission Valley Chapter of the Sons of Norway. He is survived by his wife, Carrie (Elmo); sons Sigurd M. (Elmo) and Leif D. and wife Nancy (Fort Wayne, IN); brothers and sisters and their spouses: Walden and Bernice Jensen (Missoula), Nordis and Ron Baker (Tacoma, WA), Dolores Franzen (San Diego), Doris and Harlis Hansen (Edmonds, WA), and Wayne and Karen Jensen (Kalispell); four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Services were conducted on Aug. 10 in Polson with interment following at the Lakeview Cemetery with military honors.
LILLIAN KREBS
RONAN -- Lillian M. Krebs died on Aug. 12, 2004. She was born May 2, 1910, in Keuterville, ID, to Matt and Marie Pedersen. In 1917, the family moved to eastern Montana near Circle, where Lillian attended the Hell Creek School and graduated from the eighth grade. On Oct. 10, 1931, she married William Hillebrand; they farmed near Sidney and later Ronan until Bill's death in 1967. Lillian later met Larry Krebs whom she married on Oct. 17, 1969, and continued ranching west of Ronan. Lillian also worked as a retail clerk. Lillian's green thumb was evident in her ability to grow the most beautiful flower garden in the neighborhood. She was also an avid craftswoman and an expert at making "the best sauerkraut around." She was preceded in death by her husband, Larry; her parents; sisters Anna Rector, Carrie Nagle, Bodil Nagle and Julia Enneking; and brothers Hans and Carl Pedersen. She is survived by a sister, Marie Duval (Trout Creek); numerous nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews; and a very special friend, Mardell Smith. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lake County Hospice, 711 Main St. S.W., Ronan, MT 59864. Services were conducted at the Pablo Christian Church on Aug. 18.
TRYGVE KVANDE
POLSON -- Trygve "Trig" Merle Kvande died at his home here on Aug. 28, 2004, from natural causes. Trig was born on May 2, 1919, in Alamo, ND, to Gunnar and Mathilda (Sandaker) Kvande. He attended school and graduated in ND. He moved to Bremerton, WA, and worked as an instrument maker in the shipyard during World War II. He married Theresa "Tracy" Smith in Bremerton on Jan. 31, 1944. They lived in Washington, D.C., then moved to Havre, where he owned and operated Trig's Electric Supply for 40 years. He was also a master electrician. Trig and Tracy moved to Polson in 1988 where he was semi-retired. He served as governor of the Montana Electrical Contracting Assoc. and was a member of the Kiwanis Club, Toastmasters, Eagles, Elks and the First Lutheran Church in Havre. He was also an active member in the Girl Scout program and was the past president of the Havre and Polson Sons of Norway. He enjoyed pack trips in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, snow skiing, and flying airplanes. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughters Joyce Kvande and Nancy McCracken, brothers Gordon, Herman, Alvin and Earling, and sister Malinda Anderson. He is survived by his wife, Tracy (Polson); son Duane A. Kvande (Longview, WA. and currently serving in Kuwait with the Army National Guard); two daughters, Sally and her husband, David Chvilicek (Havre) and Paddy and husband Barry Damschen (Helena); six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; two brothers, Selmer (Grand Forks, ND) and Clarence (Great Falls); four sisters, Verna Nelson (Dalton, MN), Helen Smith (Port Orchard), Bernice Eid (Columbia Falls) and Florence Westerso (Great Falls). Funeral services were conducted on Sept. 2 at the First Lutheran Church in Havre. Burial followed at the Highland Cemetery.
JOSEPH E. MATT
BIG ARM -- Joseph E. Matt, 80, died of natural causes at his home here on Aug. 12, 2004. Joseph was born March 15, 1924, in St. Ignatius to Rose and Louis Matt. Joseph married Sophie 'Erma' Kallowat in Polson on July 22, 1946. He was a member of the Salish-Kootenai Tribes. He served with the Army in the South Pacific during World War II and was discharged as a staff sergeant. He was a member of the Northwest Ironworkers Assoc.; he received his 50-year pin this past April. He was also a member of the Polson VFW # 2986. Joseph worked on the Libby, Hungry Horse, Kerr, Noxon and Bridgeport (WA) dams. He also worked at the papermill in Missoula, the aluminum plant in Columbia Falls, and on underground missiles in Great Falls and Glasgow. His interests included powwows, playing stickgames, horse races, country music, powwow songs, sports on TV, boxing, golf, spending time in his yard and with his family and dog Axel, and watching his son, Rik, teach and play golf. In his younger days he loved being in the woods cutting Christmas trees. He was the last of seven brothers and three sisters. Joseph is survived by his wife and best friend of 58 years, Sophie; sons Rik Matt (Big Arm) and Robert McCrea (Pablo); a daughter, Barbara Clark and her son, Robert Joseph Clark (Kalispell); and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by two sons, Dean Matt and Randall Lee; and his parents. The wake started on Aug. 13 at the Elmo Hall. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Aug. 14 in Elmo. Burial with military honors followed in Dayton. A memorial will be set at a later date. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society.
MATHIAS MICHEL III
BUSBY -- Mathias Lee Michel III (also known as Kamnuqtunicnapku or "White Moose" and Robby Big Back) died on Aug. 4, 2004, of injuries sustained in a one-vehicle car crash west of Lame Deer. He was born on Jan. 3, 1979, in Crow Agency, to Mathias Michel Jr. and Christine Big Back. He grew up in the Busby area, attending schools there and in Kamiah, ID. Following his education, he worked as a laborer in Billings, Ronan and Tacoma. He was a member of the Conf. Salish-Kootenai and Northern Cheyenne tribes. Mathias traveled extensively throughout the northwest U.S. and was a member of the White River Cheyenne Mennonite Church and the Northern Cheyenne Kit Fox Society. His parents and grandparents -- Lucy Michel, and Robert and Gladys Big Back Sr. -- preceded him in death. Survivors include his son, Colton Two Moons (Billings); sister Bethany Redwoman; brothers Caleb Big Back and Clyde Redwoman Jr.; his grandfather, Mathias Michel Sr.; his grandmothers, Marie Little Wolf and Madeline Yellowrobe; aunts Marie Brady, Roberta, Gail and Jenny Big Back, Geneva Glenmore, Diane and Linda Michel; uncles, Larry Big Back Sr., Ronnie Big Back Sr., Robert Big Back Jr., Leslie Big Back Sr., Gordon and James Big Back, and Wilbert, Gilbert, Victor, Leonard, Lee Vi and Keith Michel; as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Wake and funeral services were held in Busby.
SANDRA MOLZHON
RONAN -- Sandra I. Molzhon died on Aug. 8, 2004, at the Westside Care Center here from complications of muscular dystrophy. Sandy was born on May 15, 1944, in Aitkin, MN, the daughter of Jerry and Clara Larson. She moved to Ronan in 1959 with her grandmother Nell Larson. In 1962 Sandy graduated from Ronan High School. Sandy and her grandmother owned and operated the Park and Eat Cafe. She met George Molzhon in high school and they were married in 1963. Sandy loved to sew, quilt, do crafts, fish, play bingo and visit with older people. She was active in the Senior Center and had worked for Lindburg Drug, Norg's Laundry and had cooked for the Forest Service. She is survived by five children, Scott, Tracy, Lorrinda, Joshua and Jolene; four grandchildren, Bradley, Zon, Jesse and Tabin; along with two brothers and two sisters. Memorial services were conducted on Aug. 11 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ronan.
CLARE ROGERS
RONAN -- Clare Yvonne Courville Rogers, 55, died on Aug. 19, 2004, at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula. A member of the Salish Kootenai Tribes, she was born on Feb. 21, 1949, in St. Ignatius, to Alexander Courville and Elsie (Bisson) Courville. She was raised in the Pacific Northwest. Clare married Billie Carl Rogers in 1969. Upon Bill's retirement from the Navy, the family made its home in Ronan. Clare worked for Joe's Jiffy Stop Pablo for the past ten years until her health forced her into retirement. She was a well known practical joker who also enjoyed bingo and keno. When time permitted she crocheted. She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Delores and Marlene; and granddaughter Suzie Q. Survivors include her husband, Bill (Ronan); her children, Mary Adele Rogers and Jason Rogers (both of Ronan); her brothers and their spouses, Fred (Polson), Henry and Tammy (Ronan), Kenneth and Cindy (Pablo), and Alex and Judy (Missoula); sisters and their spouses, Leona (Ronan), Connie Carns (Yuma, AZ), Laura Villegas and Mike (Wapato, WA), and Donna Lee and Wade (Albuquerque); and a large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends she considered family. Traditional wake services were conducted at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius. Mass was celebrated on Aug. 23 in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Interment followed in the Ronan Cemetery.
EUGENE SCHMIDT
POLSON -- Eugene Johan (Gene) Schmidt died on Aug. 23, 2004. He was preceded in death by a son, Larry; brother Les; sister Lorraine; and four grandchildren. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patricia (Matt); children and their spouses Charles and Laurie, Cynthia and Fred, Lugene and Oscar Perry, John and Kathy, Daniel, Denise and Allan Benninger, Heidi and Carl Sotomish, Timothy, Terri and Larry Ertz, James and Bridgett, Gail and Larry James, and Dee-Andra; 42 grandchildren; 56 great grandchildren; brothers Donald and Duane Luther; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services were held at the First Christian Church in St. Ignatius.
JOSEPH C. SCHUMACHER
POLSON -- Joseph C. Schumacher died on Aug. 27, 2004, at Village Health Care in Missoula. He was born on Jan. 17, 1935, to Tony and Eula (Couture) Schumacher in Missoula. He was an enrolled member of the Conf. Salish and Kootenai Tribes. He attended schools in Polson and Kalispell. He graduated from Flathead County High School in Kalispell in 1953. He continued his education in Los Angeles at the Art Center School of Design. He served in the U.S. Army in the late 1950s. Joseph married Judie Stigers; they later divorced. During the early years of his art career he did commercial art for advertising agencies as well as private clients. After several years in this capacity he made the decision to devote all his time to his art and left the corporate world. His works were exhibited in many galleries throughout the western U.S., including President Nixon's Western White House in LaJolla, CA. Throughout his life he lived in a variety of locales including San Francisco, Los Angeles and Depoe Bay, OR. Joseph leaves behind a son, J. Spencer (Inglewood, CA); a daughter, Jasa (Denver); his brother and sister-in-law, Jon and Ione Schumacher (Missoula); as well as great-aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews and other family members. A graveside service was held on Aug. 31 at the Lakeview Cemetery in Polson. The family suggests memorials to Salish Kootenai College in Pablo. HELEN SEVIER
POLSON -- Helen Elizabeth Sevier, 89, died on Aug. 18, 2004, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center. She was born to Curtis and Verna Shoemaker on March 29, 1915, in Mitchville, IA. She joined two brothers and became part of a family of 10. The family later moved to Creston. Helen graduated from Flathead County High School and Modern Beauty School in Missoula. She worked for a short time before marrying Gene Sevier on Dec. 3, 1939. They were married for 64 years. Helen and Gene ranched and farmed at Dayton in the early years and at Round Butte for more than 40 years. Helen enjoyed cooking, sewing and gardening. Her favorite hobby was square-dancing; she also enjoyed bowling and liked to beat Gene at cards. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Carl and John; sister Marguerite; and a granddaughter. She is survived by her husband, Gene; daughters, Janet and her husband LeRoy Lafrinire (Polson) and Margaret McAllister (Ronan); three grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; one great-great grandson; and siblings Hugh and Virginia (both Kalispell), Grace Bell (WA), George and Bette (OR), Mary and Stan Preskitt (TX), Glen and Charlotte (KS), Doris Lockridge (WA) and Stan and Daisy (Kalispell). Services were conducted on Aug. 23 at the Pablo Christian Church.
