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Marlin C. (Sonny) Spicher
POLSON - A memorial service will be held in memory of Marlin C. (Sonny) Spicher on July 2, 2003, at 1:30 p.m. in the Polson Foursquare Church on US 93 north of the Polson Bridge.
Everyone is welcome. Bring a favorite memory of Sonny and write it down for his family.
If there are questions, call Karen at 883-3087 or Randy and Ann at (406) 292-3362.
Gary B. Orr
ST. IGNATIUS - Gary B. Orr, 51, died Sunday, June 1, of a pulmonary embolism at his home.
Services with military rites will be conducted at the Long House today (Thursday, June 5) at 3:30 p.m.
Gordon Craig Flint
POLSON - On June 16, l956, Gordon Craig Flint was born in Whitefish.
He was one day early from being born on Father"s Day, which pleased his father, Kedric, and mother, Dorothy.
Gordon was a true Montana outdoorsman who enjoyed countless childhood adventures hunting and fishing with his father.
In 1974, Gordon graduated from high school in Cut Bank.
After joining the Coast Guard in 1976, Gordon was stationed at Port Angeles, Wash.
He fulfilled his duty after four years and returned to Montana.
He married Patty Durocher in 1983.
Gordon worked as a commercial pilot in Great Falls. There his first son, Jason, was born.
Harold W. Ramsey
POLSON - Harold W. Ramsey, 69, of Big Arm died on Saturday, May 31, 2003, from cardiac arrest.
Harold was born Sept. 29, 1933, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Cleo Ramsey and Adeline (Rozek) Ramsey.
He attended school in the Cedar Rapids area, graduating from high school in Ainsworth.
Harold joined the U.S. Army in 1953 and served with the "Big Red 1" in Europe.
He married the "love of his life," Patricia Brock, on Jan. 22, 1956, in Washington, Iowa.
Together they had three children.
James W. Couture
MISSOULA - James W. "Jim" Couture, 75, died July 29, 2003, at St. Patrick Hospital after a short illness.
He was born May 7, 1928, at Holy Family Hospital in St. Ignatius to Jesse and Evelyn (Murray) Couture of Arlee.
He attended Arlee schools and graduated from high school in 1946.
Jim enlisted in the Army and served with the 1st Cavalry Division in Japan during the Occupation after WWII.
He married Catherine Rueschenberg on June 28, 1952, in Burien, Wash.
They had three children, LuAnne, David and Robert.
Sally Harball
KALISPELL - Polson resident Sally Mills Harball, 74, died Aug. 5, 2003, at Brendan House in Kalispell.
Sally was born and raised in Portland, Ore., the daughter of Abbot Low Mills and Katherine Ainsworth Mills.
She was schooled at Westover in Connecticut and Mills College in California.
Following WWII she met and married Chuck Harball, a Marine with whom she had been corresponding during the war.
In 1949 they acquired property in Irvine Flats and began ranching and raising three children.
An active partner in the ranching business, Sally also worked as a secretary for the Polson Public Schools for a number of years.
Beatrice Hart
POLSON - Beatrice Hart, 82, of Ronan (formerly of Muskogee, Okla.) died on Monday, July 28, 2003, of congestive heart failure at Westside Care Center, Ronan.
She was preceded in death by her husband Raymond Hart, daughter Sharon Hart Gibson and grandsons Darrin Armas and Erik Hart.
She is survived by her sons, Kenneth Hart of Ronan, Clayton Hart of Polson, , Curtis Hart of San Jose, Calif.; her daughter, Suzanne Hart Viegas of Silver Springs, Nev.; 14 grandchildren, and two sisters, Tessie Acrea of California and Helen Best of Arkansas.
Cremation and arrangements were by Grogan Funeral Home & Crematory, Polson.
Gordon "Gordy" Eugene Irish
KALISPELL - Former Ronan resident Gordon "Gordy" Eugene Irish, 80, beloved father of Teresa Miceli and Dann Irish, died peacefully in his Kalispell home, Sunday, July 27, 2003.
Gordon (Gordy, to acquaintances) was born in Morton, Idaho, on Feb. 3, 1923, to Archie Orel and Odell Christina (Elirtsen) Irish.
Gordon attended grammar school in Round Butte and high school in Ronan.
He entered the U.S. Navy at the age of 16 and was first stationed at Ford Island, Pearl Harbor.
After surviving the infamous attack on Dec. 7, 1941, he went on to serve in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters.
Gordon was awarded numerous ribbons and medals, including three Bronze Stars and was a "Plank Owner" of the USS Bon Homme Richard, the carrier he was on the duration of World War II.
James Oliver Knight
POLSON - James Oliver Knight, 83, of Polson, died on July 31, 2003, at Evergreen Health & Rehab. Center, Polson.
James was born on May 17, 1920, in Guthrie County, Iowa, to Oliver and Della Knight.
He grew up in Iowa and worked on the family farm. He worked in the CC Camps as a youth.
He joined the U.S. Army and served his country in World War II.
Jim married Betty Miller in 1943 at Ft. Bliss, Texas.
He and Betty had two daughters together and they later divorced.
Thelma Montana Koetitz Ries
PORTLAND, Ore. - Thelma Montana Koetitz Ries, a former Ronan resident, died July 23, 2003, at Providence Milwaukie Hospital in Portland.
She was born May 20, 1910, in Grass Range.
Survivors include sons Alvin Koetitz, Jr., Arvid Koetitz and Gene Koetitz; daughter Carolyn Beavers; brothers Kenneth Lindstrand and Russell Lindstrand; sister Joyce Coyle; 15 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren
She was preceded in death by her husband, Al Ries, in 1987.
Mark Alan Stinger
MISSOULA - Mark Alan Stinger, 41, of Missoula died Monday, July 28, 2003, at St. Patrick Hospital.
He was born Nov. 4, 1961, in Polson.
Mark was raised and educated in Pablo and Ronan.
As a boy, he was active in Little League baseball and was an awesome pitcher.
Mark loved his Little League experience and went on to coach his son's team when he played Little League.
In 1979, Mark moved to Missoula to be with the woman he loved. In 1982, he married his love, Patty Zeiler.
While in Missoula, Mark had different delivery jobs.
He was wonderful with kids and spent the better part of 21 years as a child care provider with his wife.
His many interests included woodworking, racing of any kind, wildlife, current events and the weather.
Mark loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and camping with his family and friends. He also loved laughter.
Many of his friends considered Mark's laugh contagious.
He often greeted his friends with "How we doin'?"
Mark was preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Victoria Stinger, his brother Cory and grandma Frances Horton.
He is survived by his wife Patty; son Justin; daughter Alison; brothers David, Guy and Bruce; sisters Kathy and Misty.
A memorial gathering was held on Saturday at Mark's home. The family suggests that memorials be made in Mark's name to Patty Stinger, 1004 Toole Ave., Missoula 59802.
Arrangements were under the care and direction of Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.
Sophie (Sue) M. Vandersande
ELKO, Nev. - Sophie (Sue) M. Vandersande, 81, died of cancer July 23, 2003, at Highland Manor of Elko.
She was the mother of Wayne W. Vandersande of Polson.
She was born Oct. 20, 1921, in Chelsea, Mass., to Peter and Sadie Provonicko and she had worked as a housekeeper.
She once lived in Helena and enjoyed traveling and attending the Terrace Senior Center to be with her friends.
Surviving are her son Wayne and his wife Valeda of Polson; a granddaughter, Amy Fugate of Fairview; grandson, Travis Haugen of Sidney; two great-grandchildren, cousins and nephews.
A memorial service was held July 25 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, Father Juan Arosario and Deacon Craig LaGier officiating.
Cremation of Sunset Crematory was under the direction of Burns Funeral Home.
Paul H. Christiansen
CHARLO - Paul Christiansen, 70, died at his home in Charlo on Friday, Aug. 1, 2003.
Paul was born in Fort Benton on Feb. 28, 1933, to Henry and Anna (Matteson) Christiansen.
They moved from Geraldine to the Mission Valley in 1941 and then bought a farm south of Charlo, one mile north of D'Aste.
Paul graduated from Charlo High School in 1952 and then joined the U.S. Army; he was discharged in 1962.
After his tour of duty, he returned to the Mission Valley and drove the dairy route, worked at Polson Plywood and eventually took over the family farm.
All the while he helped take care of his ailing mother and father until their deaths.
He married Shirley Broderick on July 23, 1960. Family came first for Paul.
He loved telling stories about his grandkids.
He loved his wife, Shirley, his kids and grandkids.
Paul drove a school bus for Charlo and later Ronan.
He retired in 1990 after 25 years of transporting students.
During his many of driving school bus he was there for many children who needed a caring, listening adult in their lives.
He had a passion for cars, he enjoyed looking for old cars and anything mechanical and had restored a '55 Buick Supra.
Paul also loved to travel and see new places.
He also enjoyed meeting for morning coffee at the local cafe and visiting with the surrounding ranchers, he always had a joke to share and loved hearing new ones.
His friendship touched many lives and he will be missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sisters Mary Ann Herbert and Nancy Kosanke and one child, Shawn.
He is survived by his wife Shirley at the family home; four children, Scott of Charlo, Shannon of Columbia Falls, Shane and wife Jamie of Havre and Steve of Federal Way, Wash. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Jordan, Josh, Avery, Austin and Bryce.
Funeral services were Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Charlo, with military honors.
Donations in Paul's name may be made to the Diabetes Foundation or the Institute of the Blind.
Foster and Durgeloh Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
June W. Kluge
RONAN - June W. Kluge, 74, died Tuesday, July 15, 2003, at Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center in Florida.
She had been visiting her daughter's family in Jupiter, Fla., when she became ill.
She was a lifelong resident of Montana.
She graduated from Malta High School in 1947 and married Erwin Earl Kluge.
They farmed in the Malta area and later moved to a farm in Ronan.
She worked for several years as a teacher's aide in the Ronan elementary school, where she enjoyed working with children.
She also participated in various volunteer activities.
She enjoyed horseback riding, fishing, gardening and sewing and in her later years she square danced, bowled and played cards.
She was preceded in death by her son, Calvin Earl Kluge in 1957, and by her husband Erwin Earl Kluge in 1984.
Survivors include a daughter, Jean Marie Kluge and husband Peter Stuttaford; a granddaughter, Sarah Elise Stuttaford; a grandson, Erik Justin-Earl Stuttaford; a brother, George Powell; and two sisters, Fay Lake and Vivian Tisdale.
Memorial donations can be made to the Humane Society in Polson (Mission Valley Animal Shelter).
