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Barbara "Bobbie" Arey
Date of Death: Sep 22, 2012
Location of Service: Frontier Cafe - Stevensville
STEVENSVILLE – Barbara “Bobbie” Arey was 66 years old when she passed away Saturday, Sept. 22, 2012, at her daughter’s home in Stevensville.
Bobbie was born July 1, 1946, in Tucson, Ariz., to Frank and Dorothy (Heinkel) Strahl. Bobbie was a member of the Women of the Moose Lodge No. 1628 for more than 30 years, of which she offered herself to volunteer service. She also volunteered for the past four years at St. Mary’s Mission Museum, where she fell in love with the Bitterroot Valley and its history. She was a loving, caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and mother-in-law.
Survivors include her two daughters, DeDe Portlock and Dawn Arey, both of Stevensville; one granddaughter, Kayla Portlock of Stevensville; two great-granddaughters, Hagen Portlock and Baylee Portlock-Moody; and one son-in-law, Junior Portlock of Stevensville. She was preceded in death by her parents.
A memorial gathering for family and friends will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at the Frontier Cafe. The family suggests memorial donations may be made in Bobbie’s name to St. Mary’s Mission Museum.
Byers M. Thompson
Date of Death: Sep 12, 2012
Location of Service: St. Mary's Catholic Church - Stevensville
STEVENSVILLE – Byers M. Thompson, 90, of Stevensville passed away Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.
He is survived by his son, Mike Thompson of Florence; daughters, Patricia McCormick of Selah, Wash., and Kelly Gieser of Superior; brothers, Neal Thompson of Turah and Don Thompson of Missoula; sister, Betty Zo Saulter of Missoula; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Ellsworth Thompson.
Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 23, at St. Mary’s Mission Catholic Church with a vigil service at 7 p.m. Sunday. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 24, at the church followed by a luncheon.
Mr. Thompson will be buried at sea.
Ray J. Smith
Date of Death: Sep 15, 2012
Location of Service: LDS Church - Stevensville
DARBY - Ray J. Smith, 85, peacefully joined his wife Saturday afternoon, September 15, 2012 at home surrounded by his family and loved ones.
Ray was born November 9th 1926 in Carey, Idaho. He was the oldest of four children born to Arvilla B. Park and Raymond Phillip Smith. Ray was raised and gained his values in life from his mother and his step father Murland W. Fish. On June 1, 1951, Ray married
his beloved wife Geraldine “Geri” Fife at the home of her parents on Marcus Street in Hamilton.
After extensive traveling throughout the state of Montana working for Mountain Bell Telephone and spending too many years away from the mountains Ray applied for a position with Blackfoot Telephone Company. He was told not to count on being hired because the board was not sure a third employee was needed. In 1957 he was hired on as a lineman doing installations, and over the course of his 32 years in the field of telecommunications he served on many national boards receiving awards for recognition and achievement. Ray helped Blackfoot Telephone grow and expand and retired as General Manager in 1989.
Ray enjoyed spending time with family and especially loved showing his grandchildren and great grandchildren his secret fishing holes. He always enjoyed a good card game or a round of golf. His heart was at his West Fork cabin home, where family and friends were welcomed and enjoyed a special drive up Lookout Mountain to the lookout tower.
Ray was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he had a great love for his Savior, the scriptures and missionary work. In 1995 Ray and Geri served a mission at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and ushered for the Tabernacle Choir. Ray was a wonderful example to everyone that crossed his path, always lending a helping hand to those in need.
He is survived by his Brother Larry ( JoMae) Smith, Sisters Connie ( Newell) McArthur and Becci Smith, two sons, Jerry Smith and Dan ( Alice) Smith, daughter Joyce ( Roger) Mikesell, 10 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren along with numerous nieces, nephews and other family.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife and brother Ken.
Funeral services are scheduled for Monday, September 24th, 11am at the LDS Church in Stevensville, MT. Viewing is from 9:30-10:30, also at the church, a luncheon to follow services. Grave side will be at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Mullan Road Missoula, MT.
Lorene McFadgen
Date of Death: Sep 12, 2012
Location of Service: Whitesitt Funeral Home - Stevensville
STEVENSVILLE — Lorene McFadgen, 95, passed away surrounded by her loving family on Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2012.
She was Born on June 30, 1917, to William A. Campbell and Lillian Jensen in Mizpah, Mont., right on the beautiful Powder River. Lorene’s family moved to the Bitterroot Valley when she was a young girl and has since spent her life here in the Bitterroot Valley. She finished her junior year of high school, and on April 11, 1935, married
the love of her life Donald McFadgen. Together they made a life with their four children – Deborah McFadgen Thompson, Donald Wilmer McFadgen, William Benjamin McFadgen and Robert Dean McFadgen – in Stevensville.
Grandma was a strong woman who dedicated her life to being a housewife, nurse’s aide and cook, a carpenter’s helper to Donald and most importantly a loving Mom and Grandma.
She enjoyed dancing, fishing and traveling with Donald. Her favorite places to visit were the Pacific Ocean and the Arizona desert in her motor home. She also belonged to Stevensville Grange No. 17 and the Methodist Church. In her later years she spent a lot of time volunteering at Stevensville Pantry Partners.
Lorene was preceded in death by her husband, Donald, and their four children, Deborah, Donald, William (Ben), and Robert (Bobby), as well as four sisters and two brothers.
She is survived by two sisters, Mabel and Billie; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and five great-great-granddaughters; numerous nieces, nephews, family and friends.
We will miss you Grandma and we know you are now at home in Donald’s loving arms.
Funeral services will be held at Whitesitt’s Funeral Home in Stevensville at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19, with burial to follow at Riverside cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Stevensville Pantry Partners. A special thanks to Aspen Hospice.
Mary Lou Haley
Date of Death: Aug 25, 2012
Location of Service: Florence Fire Department - Florence
STEVENSVILLE – Mary Lou “Sis” Haley, 81, of Stevensville, died Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, at Community Medical Center in Missoula. Sis was born Oct. 23, 1930, in Stevensville to Ed and Mary Mikesell on the family ranch on the west side of the Bitterroot Valley.
Sis attended grade school in Kalispell and then moved back to the Bitterroot Valley and finished her education at the Florence-Carlton School, graduating as valedictorian of her class and accomplishing this while finishing high school one year early. Upon graduation, Sis married
her high school sweetheart, Robert D. Haley, on her 18th birthday and settled in Florence, where she resided for 57 years.
Sis was a wonderful host and cook. She took care of her family and enjoyed cooking fabulous holiday dinners and gatherings and always had something to send home for you to munch on. She was an avid angler and hunter and enjoyed the great outdoors and sharing her knowledge with the grandchildren, teaching them how to tie a hook and catch a fish. She loved sharing vacation fishing trips and outings to the lakes, streams and East Fork with them.
Her family was her life, and she worried about everyone and always tried to help whenever help was need. Her home was her haven and she was happiest when it was full with family and friends.
She was a caregiver, friend, daughter, sister, wife, mother and grandmother. She adored her grandchildren and enjoyed teaching them how to play poker, which she felt helped them with the math capabilities!
She moved to the Bitterroot Valley Living Center in 2005 after the loss of her husband and some health problems. She enjoyed her apartment there and the kindness of the staff.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert D. Haley; and parents, Ed and Mary Mikesell. She is survived by her brother, Glen Mikesell and wife Joan; daughters, Terry Smith and husband Richard, Joan Prather and husband Michael, and Lori Onsum and husband Leif; grandchildren, Cory Tryon and great-grandson Wyatt Tryon, Kris Prather, Kimberly Culver and husband Craig, Brian Lubinski and wife Callie, and Evan Lubinski; special family, Tad and Margie Lubinski, Dean and Sandy Drake, Barb and Chad Nicholson, Zane Nicholson and Luke Nicholson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation is under the care of Whitesitt Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at the Florence Fire Hall.
We will miss you so very much, our mom, grandmother and friend.
The family suggests memorials to the Florence Fire Department.
