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Robert Cunningham
Robert Clark Cunningham, 74, of Libby, died Aug. 17, 2000, at the Libby Care Center.
He was born on Feb. 12, 1926, at Hysham, the first son of Jess and Faye Clark Cunningham.
He attended Hysham schools, where he participated in the band program and played basketball.
After graduating from high school in May 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served until September 1946.
He attended Montana State University in Bozeman, graduating in June 1951 with a degree in agricultural economics.
He married Marilyn Orcutt in Miles City in September 1950 and they were involved with the family farm and ranch properties at Hysham.
Bob was also an auctioneer and in 1957 he was named Outstanding Young Farmer of the Midland Empire.
Bob and Marilyn had four daughters, Laura, Robyn, Noelle and Alene.
In May 1970, Bob married Gay Lucas in Cody, Wyo., and acquired four sons, Brian, Tom, Greg and Kevin Lucas.
Bob and Gay owned the Town & Country Café and Lounge in Hysham and later established a crop adjusting and insurance business, which they managed at the time of Bob’s death.
They moved to Libby about four years ago.
Preceded in death by his parents, Bob is survived by his wife Gay, Libby; four daughters, four sons, eight grandsons, nine granddaughters and one great-granddaughter. He is also survived by his brother Bill.
A memorial service was conducted at 3 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, in the Hysham Park at Hysham.
Memorials may be made to the Libby Care Center of the Montana Athletic Club.
Helen Israelson
Longtime Lincoln County resident Helen Israelson, 85, of Breckenridge, Colo., died Aug. 23, 2000, at the Columbine Manor in Salida, Colo.
Helen grew up on the Fortine ranch of her parents, Oscar and Clara Winkley.
After she married Fred Israelson they farmed at Eureka and logged throughout Lincoln County, at Eureka, Ural, Warland and Libby.
They moved to Port Orchard, Wash., in 1970.
Helen was preceded in death by her son Pete Israelson in 1969 and her husband Fred Israelson in 1985.
She moved to Breckenridge in 1995 to be with her daughter.
She is survived by daughter Suzie and her husband Jerry Rawles, Breckenridge; five grandsons, Mark Israelson and his wife Helen, Kodiak, Alaska; Scott Rawles and his wife Jacque, Fairplay, Colo; Kirk Rawles, Durango, Colo., Chris Israelson, Kodiak, and Mike Rawles, Breckenridge; three great-grandchildren, Zach Rawles, Fairplay; Chris and Claire Israelson, Kodiak; sisters Allis Purdy, Eureka, and Harriet Paulsrud, Kirkland, Wash.; and brothers Phil Winkley, Spokane, and Frank Winkley, Kalispell.
A memorial service was conducted at the Father Dyer Methodist Church in Breckenridge on Aug. 26.
Interment followed a graveside service at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6, at the Tobacco Valley Cemetery.
Rev. William Kliber
The Rev. William John Kliber, 70, who began his long career as a Methodist pastor in Libby, died Aug. 30, 2000, at his home in Missoula, after a short illness.
He was born on Aug. 3, 1930, in Buffalo, N.Y., to William F. and Celia Kliber.
Bill grew up in Buffalo, graduating with honors from Bennett High School in 1948.
He also graduated with honors from Syracuse University with a double major in English and Bible and a double minor in history and philosophy. He earned a master’s of divinity from Yale University in 1955 and a master’s of theology in 1968.
He was ordained a deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1953 and an elder in 1955.
He was in the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1947-1952 and was a U.S. Air Force auxiliary chaplain from 1956-1957.
Bill came to Libby in 1955 and served as pastor of the Libby Methodist Church from 1955-1958.
He married Marynell Shafter on Dec. 30, 1959 in Missoula.
He founded, built and was pastor of the Christ United Methodist Church in Great Falls and was Methodist campus pastor and director of the Wesley Foundation’s Faith and Life Community at the University of Montana in Missoula.
He was active on numerous church boards throughout his life and was also active in community and civic affairs.
He is survived by his wife Marynell, Missoula; daughter Kristin Larsen and her husband Craig and their two children Erika and Kaitlin in Baudour, Belgium; sons Brad Kliber and his wife Linda, Whitefish, and Drew Kliber and his wife Heather, Salt Lake City, two brothers and a sister,
A celebration of the life of Bill Kliber will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the University of Montana Theater with the Rev. Peter Shober officiating.
Allene Roden
Local artist Allene Roden, 73, died on Aug. 25, at her home in Libby.
She was born in Yale, Okla., on Dec. 30, 1926, and lived through the Great Depression helping her father, an oil field mechanic, work on cars at an early age.
She used to sit on the steps of her grandmother’s home and listen to her uncles and great-uncles talk about the Civil War and the Oklahoma land rush.
Later she accompanied her father as he made his rounds at the veterans’ hospitals, visiting World War I veterans.
When Allene married Dave Roden in 1944, she found her lover, husband and best friend. Married 36 years, they raised two children and affected the lives of hundreds of people, including Bob and Barbara White and their children.
Allene learned to cut and polish rocks to make jewelry; she mined sapphires in Montana and Pecos diamonds in New Mexico. She loved to fish, especially fly fishing, and learned to tie her own flies
In 1960 she learned to paint, sharing her gift and inspiring many others. When she was in her 50’s she started college, earning a 4.0 average in advanced art classes.
In her 60’s she learned to operate a computer and in her 70’s she became involved in family genealogy.
Survivors include daughter Ellen Martin, Spokane; granddaughter Amy Smith and her husband Tony, Hawaii; sister Margie Roland in Florida, great-grandchildren Tabapha Grey, Trisha Smith and Connor Smith, all of Hawaii, and nephew James Alton Roland Jr., in Georgia.
Services were conducted Monday, followed by internment at the City of Libby Cemetery.
Arrangements were by Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
Irene Hutchison
Irene E. Hutchison, 58, died Friday, Nov. 20, 1958, at her home in Libby.
She was born on Oct. 7, 1940, at Libby, to Fred and Evaline Detjens Williams.
Irene grew up in Libby, attending Libby schools and graduating from Libby High School in 1958.
She lived in Plains for 12 years before returning to Libby.
Irene was preceded in death by her father.
Survivors include her husband Bob of Plains; children Kirk Jaynes, Libby, and Kelli Decker, Federal Way, Wash.; mother Evaline Williams, Libby; sister Viona Lamey, Libby, three grandchildren, Cody, Joseph and Luke, and nephew Don Thomson.
Services were conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, with interment following at the City of Libby Cemetery.
Arrangements were under direction of the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
Joan Lee
Joan Swisher Lee, 57, of Libby, died Sunday, Nov. 22, 1998.
She was born March 19, 1941, in Polson, to Emery and Myrtle Swisher.
Joan grew up on a homestead near Niarada and attended school in Lonepine and Hot Springs.
She married Aubrey Lee on Dec. 18, 1959.
Joan worked as a secretary for the State of Montana, ranched, owned and operated a freight company and with her husband drove a semi-truck in 48 states and Canada.
She enjoyed family gatherings, fly fishing, fly tying, hunting, gardening and canning. She will be remembered for her love of the outdoors and her strong spirit.
Joan was preceded in death by daughter Lori Lee.
Survivors include her husband Aubrey and son Wade, both of Libby; sisters Rosie King, Hot Springs; Murel Meland, Renton, Wash.; Ruth Jorgenson, Plains, and brother Lyle Swisher, Butte.
Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 28, at the Lonepine Community Hall with interment services at the Lonepine Cemetery.
Viewing will take place Friday evening at the Coffeldt Bunch Funeral Home in Plains.
Memorials may be made to the Lonepine Community Hall, Lonepine, MT 59848.
