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Anna Taft
Former Libby resident Anna Taft, 85, of Mukilteo, Wash., died on March 11, 2001.
She was born in Deer Park, Wash., on July 21, 1915, to Robert and Anna Davis.
After Anna married Elmer Taft, they lived at Coulee Dam, where Elmer was an engineer on the Coulee Dam project and Hungry Horse, where he engineered the powerhouse.
They also lived at Palmer, Alaska, and Ketchican, Alaska, Bonners Ferry, Sandpoint and Kalispell before moving to Libby in 1960.
Elmer was chief engineer for the Kootenai National Forest, working out of the supervisor’s office.
Anna’s nursing skills were put to use as she cared for her parents and her sisters Nora and Marge until their deaths. She was a born nurse, and her hope was that when she died, she would be put in charge of the babies.
At Libby she was involved with Christ Lutheran Church, a sewing circle and bridge club. She was known for her Norwegian Christmas cookies and wonderful fruit cakes.
She knitted beautifully, and made Norwegian afghans for members of her family.
Her husband Elmer, son Larry, two sisters and five brothers preceded Anna in death.
Survivors include daughter Beverly Browne and her husband Sam, Mukilteo; granddaughter Michelle Browne, Portland; and grandson Craig Browne and granddaughter Carrie Browne, both of Mukilteo, and many nieces, nephews and friends.
After a memorial service, she will be buried with her husband Elmer at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, March 24, at Coeur d’Alene Memorial Funeral Home Cemetery in Coeur d’Alene.
Memorials may be made to the International Assistance Program Box 18702, Spokane WA 98228, or the Union Gospel Mission in Everett, Wash.
Sherrie Ward
Former Libby resident Sherrie Joyce (Belangie) Ward, 64, died March 18, 2001, at her home in Cameron Park, Calif.
She was born on May 16, 1936, in Butte, to Ray and Kathleen Belangie.
Sherrie grew up in Libby, attending Libby schools and graduating from Libby High School with the Class of 1954.
Sherrie’s social, outgoing personality was recognized early when she was chosen high school Hi-Jinx Queen.
She was a loving, compassionate woman who worked in the nursing field for more than 30 years, retiring from Folsom Mercy Hospital as director of nursing.
Her giving nature carried over into after-work hours, when she visited friends in convalescent homes and went out of her way to help them get to church.
Blessed with a green thumb, Sherrie nourished everything that was capable of growing, even weeds.
Family was the center of her life and she was an active parent, serving as den mother, swim team mom and No. 1 admirer of her daughter’s baton twirling.
Her grandchildren were a source of great joy and happiness and they called her the best grandma in the world.
Active in her faith, Sherrie was a past member of the Legion of Mary and current member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church.
Survivors include her husband of 44 years, Gene H. Ward; Cameron Park, mother Kathleen Belangie, Libby; son James and daughter-in-law Korrie Ward, Somerset, Calif.; son John Ward, Placerville, Calif.; daughter Patricia Ward, Placerville, and grandchildren Rainy, Moriah, Dakota, Jessica and Summer.
A 9:30 a.m. Mass will be offered by Monsignor James Kidder on Thursday, March 22, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 3111 Tirra DeDios Drive, El Dorado Hills.
Interment will be at Westwood Hills Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Donna Burkett
Donna J. Burkett, 40, of Libby, died Monday, March 12, 2001, at her home.
She was born on Jan. 15, 1961, at Yaleville, Ark., to Frank and Linda White Melton.
Donna grew up in Mansfield, Wash., where she attended school.
She married John Burkett in September 1977 at Mansfield.
They moved to Libby in 1979
Donna enjoyed crafts, walking and gardening.
Survivors include her husband John, Libby; sons Chris and Frankie Burkett, both of Libby; daughters Pam Winter and her husband Steve, Libby; Laura Burkett and her fiancee Aaron Hayes, Kalispell; and Kimberly Burkett, Libby; parents Frank Melton, Libby and Linda Dubler, Libby, and step-mother Liz Melton, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; brothers Jimmy Melton, Kalispell; Mark Melton, Fort Collins, Colo.; Shawn Melton, Riverside, Calif., and Joe Dubler, Libby; sisters Annette Reeves and her husband Niles, Syracuse, N.Y., and Sandi Hendricks and her husband Nick, Spokane; and three grandchildren, David and Amber, both of Libby, and Andrew, Kalispell.
Visitation was from 1-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
Graveside services were conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at the City of Libby Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the care of the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
Edna Kinney
Edna N Kinney, 85, of Eureka, died Monday, March 12, 2001, at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.
She was born on March 27, 1915, at Eureka, to Ed and Nora O’Brien Smith.
Edna married Olin DeShazer on Jan. 7, 1933, at Libby.
In 1968 the longtime county residents bought a home in Eureka.
Olin preceded his wife in death in June 1978 and in February 1979, Edna married Ervin Kinney.
She enjoyed playing cards and bingo, gardening and camping.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Freda.
Survivors include her husband Ervin, Eureka; sons William DeShazer and his wife Betty, Libby; Dan DeShazer and his wife Iva, also of Libby; Robert DeShazer and his wife Pat, Eureka; Raymond DeShazer and his wife Mary Ann, Eureka, and Gerald DeShazer and his wife Sandi, Polson; daughter Shirley Straley and her husband Russell, Grand Coulee, Wash.; step-daughter Sharon Peterson and her husband Ken, Eureka and step-son Gary Kinney, Libby; brother Lester Smith and his wife Mary, Ukiah, Calif.; sister Audrey Anderson, Salt Lake City; 20 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Services will be conducted at a later date.
Local arrangements are by the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
Ruth Taylor
Lincoln County native Ruth L. Taylor, 62, of Kalispell, died March 10, 2001, in Missoula.
She was born on Jan. 17, 1939, at Eureka.
Her hobbies were gardening, jigsaw puzzles and photography.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister.
Survivors include her husband, Jim Taylor, Kalispell; five children, Sheila Waughtal, San Francisco; Shirley Broden, Hayden Lake, Idaho; Joe Gilder, Libby; Kenneth O’Grady, Kalispell, and Jerry O’Grady, Colorado Springs, Colo.; brother Kenneth Cook, Rexford and sisters Patricia Gilder, Kalispell, and Virginia Canida, Winston, Ore.
At her request, there will be no services.
Rose Bitterman
Longtime Libby resident Rose E. Bitterman, 92, died Thursday, March 8, 2001, in Superior.
She was born on June 3, 1908, at Bonners Ferry, Idaho, to Ernest and Matilda Mayer.
Rose was raised and educated in Bonners Ferry.
She married Edwin Bitterman on April 24, 1926, at Libby.
The Bittermans raised their family in Libby. Ed Bitterman preceded his wife in death in 1982.
Rose lived in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, for a time before moving to the Mineral County Nursing Home in Superior last year.
She enjoyed doing handwork, crocheting numerous tablecloths doilies and other items.
She was also preceded in death by daughter Audrey Weistaner in 1995.
Survivors include son Claire Bitterman and his wife Nancy, Alberton; sister Corean Pehan and brother Art Mayer, both of Spokane; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the City of Libby Cemetery with the Rev. Linda Weistaner officiating.
Friends may call at Nelson & Vial Funeral Home from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday and until 1 p.m. Wednesday.
