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John William Susen
STEVENSVILLE – John William Susen of Stevensville passed away Saturday, Dec. 1, 2012, after a long illness.
John was born in 1930 in Chicago to Laurette Deschamps and Theodore C. Susen. He grew up in Wilmette and Winnetka, Ill., graduating from Sts. Faith, Hope & Charity Catholic School in 1944. He attended Loyola Academy in Chicago for two years and then graduated from New Trier High School in 1948. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1952 and from the Amos Tuck School in 1953.
After two years in the U.S. Army, John returned to Winnetka and married
Mary Woleben in 1955. The two of them moved from Evanston, Ill., to Rocky River, Ohio, and then to Ridgewood, N.J., in 1960, where they settled down and raised their four children.
During their three decades in Ridgewood, he devoted himself to his family and community. He spent two years raising money to secure Citizens Park in Ridgewood and was a member of the Dartmouth Club of Bergen County. He was a long-term member of the New York Athletic Club and Scipio Society of Long Island, a military history club.
John’s career was in the textile industry. He was vice president of sales for Phoenix Dye Works, a company founded by his grandfather, Anton Susen, in 1896. His many hobbies included reading, hunting, cooking, wine making, model railroading, gun collecting, and furniture building and refinishing.
He retired in 1988 and built a home in Stevensville. His arrival in Montana realized a lifelong dream to return to the Missoula area, where he had spent many of his summers as a youth. John’s grandparents, Denise (Cyr) and Gaspard Deschamps, were among the early settlers of Grass Valley outside of Frenchtown. His great-grandfather, Eloi Cyr, worked the local gold mines prior to 1864, qualifying John as a member of Sons & Daughters of Montana Pioneers.
John Susen continued his work supporting his local community by raising money for both the Missoula Symphony and Mansfield Library at the University of Montana during the early 1990s. He then turned his focus to Stevensville and devoted 12 years as a board member of the Stevensville Community Foundation, where he was instrumental in raising money for the Stevensville Community Center and the Community Pool. The Stevensville Civic Club named him the 2008 Humanitarian of the Year, and he relished his ride in that year’s Creamery Picnic Parade.
He also was active on the Board of the Historic St. Mary Mission and Museum, North Valley Pachyderm Club, the Aero Nuts organization (an aviation history club) and the Bitterroot Model Railroad Club.
John’s wife of 57 years, Mary, died Oct. 13 of this year. They are survived by their four children, Anthony (Stephanie) Susen of Walpole, Mass., Mary Clare (Stephen) Kersten of Bainbridge Island, Wash., Paul Susen of Paris, and Eulalie Anne Susen of Stevensville. He also leaves behind four grandchildren, John Kersten, Sarah Kersten, Michael Susen and Emily Susen. His sister-in-law, Jamie Susen of Missoula, and many nieces and nephews, including Ted Susen of Missoula, also survive him. John’s three siblings passed before him, George Susen, Rod Susen and Mary Susen Huber.
The Susen family wishes to thank close family friend Pam Omdahl; the wonderful caregivers from Home Instead – Linda Chilsholm, Stacy Frison, Heidi Lodahl and Jennifer Blauchura; Errol Rupp, R.N., and Marcus Daly Hospice; Colleen and John Schmiedeke and the Three Mile Volunteer Fire Department and EMS for their selfless assistance to the Susen family; and Johanna Dreiling, M.D., of Florence Family Practice for her many house calls.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at St. Mary Mission Parish with a reception immediately afterward at the Catered Table on Main Street.
In lieu of flowers, donations in John Susen’s honor may be made to the Historic St. Mary Mission and Museum, P.O. Box 211, Stevensvile, MT 59870.
Billy Mills Hoblitt
FLORENCE – Billy Mills Hoblitt, 96, passed away of natural causes, Dec. 16, 2012 at his home in Florence. Billy was born Sept. 13, 1916 at the family home where he lived his entire life.
Billy attended grade school at the Holden School and graduated from Florence High School. He graduated from Montana State University in 1939 with a bachelor of science degree in animal husbandry.
Billy served in the Army during World War II from 1942 to 1945. He served in Rhineland at the Bridge of Remagen, Central Europe and the Aleutian Islands. He was awarded the American Theater Service Medal, European African Middle Eastern Theater Service Medal, Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Medal and served five overseas tours.
He married
Blanche McVey of Victor on Sept. 14, 1947. They were together for 49 years until her passing in 1996.
Billy worked for Misco Mills as a seed salesman and later manager for 22 years and then joined his father in operating and owning the Lone Star Ranch until his retirement in 1988.
Billy was a lifetime member of the Bitterroot Draft Horse and Mule Club and took part in many area parades, shows and competitions with several teams of mules during his retirement years. He was an avid fisherman and big game hunter.
Billy will be remembered for his knowledge of horses and mules. He was a proper cowboy and an avid storyteller with a big sense of humor. His kindness and gentlemanly manners will stand out among his many friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Blanche McVey Hoblitt, brother, A. Tevis Hoblitt and parents, Allen T. and Namoi Tevis Hoblitt.
Survivors include his daughters, Stephanie Hoblitt of Mill Creek, Wash., Cheri (Alan) Grove of Ridgefield, Wash.; grandchildren, Dr. Heather (Daric) Ronngren of Wenatchee, Wash., Ryan (Leah) Grove of Vancouver, Wash., Holly (Nathan) Royle of Vancouver, Wash.; nephew, Ritt (Roxanne) Hoblitt of Bozeman; five great-grandchildren and numerous cousins.
No services are planned at his time. Cremation has taken place. The family suggests memorial donations may be made in Billy’s name to the Bitterroot Draft Horse and Mule Club, c/o Mary Lou Connor, 1170 Summerdale Road, Corvallis, MT 59828.
Gary Robert Knapp
Gary Robert Knapp, business executive, adventurer, artist, family man, died Dec. 15 of heart complications at Saint Joseph hospital in Denver, Colorado.
He was 69 years old.
Mr. Knapp was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin before moving to Denver, Colorado with his parents Shirley and Robert Knapp. He earned an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Colorado State University and a Master¹s degree from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. He lived in Maryland, Colorado, and London while building a successful career as an IBM executive before retiring in 1999.
Retirement was good to Mr. Knapp. He traveled the world over with his wife, Loey, beginning by teaching physics and woodworking at an International School in India. His passion for travel was contagious and he convinced his children to join him for years of adventures all around Southeast Asia. He then returned to Colorado to spend time with his daughter and grandchildren before moving to Montana for Loey¹s new job.
Mr. Knapp¹s other passion was woodworking. He started by making and selling ³Woodshadows² at craft shows as a hobby. This hobby turned into a full time profession while living in Montana. He built elegant craftsman style clocks, first for family and friends, and eventually for sale at prestigious galleries and art shows. He had just completed his 900th clock in November.
Mr. Knapp was an active member of his community of Stevensville, Montana, where he was involved in civic affairs, serving as president of the Stevensville Art & Sculpture Society and a board member of the Stevensville Main Street Association. He may best be remembered for initiating the popular Scarecrow Festival in Stevensville which just completed its seventh year.
His vibrant, energetic personality will be missed by all.
Mr. Knapp is survived by his wife Loey, his four children Chelsea, Kirby, Nikhil, Priya and the six grandchildren who adored their Grandpa Gary.
A celebration of his life will be held Thursday, December 20 at 11 a.m. at the Whitesitt Funeral Home, 314 Church Street, Stevensville. A potluck reception for friends and family will follow at the Knapp home.
Deborah Sue Manthey
STEVENSVILLE – Deborah Sue Manthey, 58, passed away Monday, Dec. 10, 2012 at her home in Stevensville of cancer.
She was born Nov. 22, 1954 in El Cajon, Calif. to George and Bea Mock.
She graduated from El Cajon High School. She was married
to Charles Manthey for 41 wonderful years. Deborah work as a retail clerk for many years and retired from that position.
She worked with stained glass, water colors and loved gardening and playing bingo.
Deborah was a beloved and caring person who was always there for her family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Bea Mock.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Manthey of Stevensville; a sister, Melody Williams of San Diego, Calif.; brothers, Jim Palmer of Sweet Water, Texas, Ken Mock and Tom Mock both of Yucca Valley, Calif.; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service to celebrate Deborah’s life is pending and will be announced.
Bill Benton Strange
STEVENSVILLE – Bill Benton Strange, 76, of Stevensville passed into the presence of his Lord Thursday, Dec. 6, 2012 of complications from Guillain-Barre Syndrome at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.
He was born Aug. 5, 1936 in Missoula at St. Patrick Hospital to Morris A. and Helen (Swanson) Strange. He was educated at Stevensville, graduating in 1953 and earning honors as a FFA State Farmer as well as being in 4-H. He continued two years at MSU in Bozeman in an agriculture major. He married
Marilyn Kay Noland on November 30, 1957 in Hamilton.
Bill was the last living son of a pioneer family that came to the Bitterroot Valley to forge a new life in 1866. His life has always been tied to his land. He farmed his land with a passion and love for the soil. He had a deep respect for the history of this place and knew it well. He knew the work his families’ fathers had done to get here and the work they had done to make this place what it is today. He loved farming and he was good at it, serving on the MT Agriculture Experimental Station Advisory Council for some years. His wife of 55 years often remembers him being out at 5 a.m. and working until midnight. Likewise, he was devoted to raising the best cattle. He was instrumental in bringing the Maine Anjou breed into the state and to this day, you can see the quality in his calves. He spent many years serving as co-superintendent at the 4-H beef barn. He wanted to share his love of fine cattle with the youth.
They are going to miss him at Casey’s Store and Valley Drug drinking coffee with his friends and talking about farming. He knew more about the history of this valley than most and he always had a story.
Bill loved the Bitterroot – he loved farming and ranching here and fishing the creek behind his cabin for red-bellies. He loved the schools and was often seen at sporting events, cheering them on. He loved raising sweet corn and giving it away by the bagful.
He has left an amazing legacy; a legacy of hard work and a love of the land. A legacy of giving and loyalty and love of family. But his greatest legacy was his faith.
Bill loved Jesus.
He came to a personal relationship with Jesus 42 years ago and his faith became his life. He was a faithful member of Community Baptist Church in Stevensville and he served for many years with the Gideons. He so wanted to get God’s word into peoples’ hands.
What the family remembers most about “Baba” is this big, sometimes gruff farmer praying at our many family gatherings and every time he prayed, he wept. He wept for joy completely undone by the knowledge that all of his kids and all of his grandkids were serving his Savior. He wasn’t wealthy but he was a rich man and he knew it.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Morris A. and Helen E. (Swanson) Strange and a granddaughter, Kecia L. Jolley. He is survived by his wife Marilyn of Stevensville; his sister, Georgiann (Strange) (Dayton) Clark of Salt Lake City, Utah; children, Laurie (Ted) Jolley of Victor, Julie (Ken) VonEschen of Missoula, Susan Strange of Stevensville; grandchildren, April (Dan) Berk, Ryan (Amanda) Jolley, Danielle (Kyle) Smith, Katie (Mike) Wemple and Christopher Jolley; 10 great-grandchildren; numerous nieces, a nephew and cousins.
The family is grateful for the compassionate and professional care by the staff at St. Patrick Hospital ICU. They extended care into caring in so many ways and helped our whole family. Thank you! The family suggests memorials to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 876, Hamilton, MT 59840.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. at the Cornerstone Bible Church, 280 Fairgrounds Road in Hamilton.
