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William A Brolin
ANACONDA - William A. Brolin, a native Anacondan, died Wednesday, Jan. 7, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula from complications associated with cancer. He was born Oct. 12, 1925, the son of Martin Emil and Margaret Brolin.
Bill graduated from Anaconda High School in 1943. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II. After his discharge, he returned to Anaconda where he worked for the Anaconda Co. and the Intermountain Transportation Co. Bill earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting from Montana State University at Bozeman and in 1958 a juris doctorate from the University of Montana School of Law in Missoula.
Bill and Carra Ebner were married Dec. 19, 1954, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Anaconda.
Bill's legal career spanned 40 years and included work as Anaconda city attorney, deputy county attorney for Deer Lodge County, assistant U.S. attorney for Montana, as well as private practice. He also provided legal counsel, as well as time and assistance, to numerous charitable and community organizations. Bill was a member of the Montana State Bar Association, Montana Trial Lawyers Association, Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the American Bar Association.
Bill was a lifelong member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church, having served on the Vestry, as senior and junior warden, and as a licensed lay eucharistic minister. He was also a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity in Bozeman; the American Legion, of which he was a past commander; the Republican Party; and the Exchange Club. He was a Shriner and a member of the Bagdad Temple, a Mason and member of Acacia Lodge 33 AF & AM, and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Eureka Chapter 16.
Throughout his life, Bill enjoyed summers at Georgetown Lake, skiing especially at Wraith Hill, attending the opera and traveling with Carra. Bill was a kind, gentle and caring man who gave happily of himself. He loved his family, friends, church, community and country. And he loved dogs.
Bill is survived by his wife, Carra of Anaconda; daughter Rebecca and her husband, Allen Archibald of Missoula; daughter Patricia Brolin-Ribi and her husband, Nils Ribi of Sun Valley, Idaho; grandchildren Jon, Todd, Ryan and Kaley, all of Missoula; brothers-in-law Donald Ebner and Keith Ebner; sisters-in-law Jane Ebner and Donna Brolin; nieces Marjory, Barbara and Amy; and nephews David, R. Thomas and D. Bruce. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Robert.
If desired, memorials may be made to St. Mark's Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, in care of Rachel Beall, 1918 Tammany Ave., Anaconda, Mont., 59711; Shriner's Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 2472, Spokane, Wash., 99210-2472; or the MSU Foundation, designated for the history department, in care of Alumni Center, Montana State University, Bozeman, Mont. 59717.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service is planned for 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 601 Main St., Anaconda. No vigil service or viewing will be held. Co-celebrants will be the Revs. Christine G. Greer and Harry Neeley.
KT Riddle Funeral Homes will be in charge of arrangements.
Esther Amelia Gray
MISSOULA - Esther Amelia Gray, 84, beloved wife, sister and aunt, passed away peacefully from this life to be with the Lord Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Village Health Care Center.
She was born April 28, 1913, to Henry and Mollie Ramer in Lincoln, Neb. She lived in Missoula most of her life and was married Sept. 17, 1949, to Otis F. Gray. She was employed at Missoula White Pine and Sash for 30 years. She was a member of the Lolo Community Church and Royal Neighbors of America. She enjoyed cooking, gardening and fellowship with others.
She is survived by her husband, Otis F. Gray; two sisters, Rachel Hayes and Lucille Ramer; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation is from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Malletta Family of Funeral Homes, Sunset Chapel. Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at the Lolo Community Church. Private family services will be held prior to the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Lolo Community Church or to a charity of your choice.
She was well-loved and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Philip G. Blank
WEST YELLOWSTONE - Philip G. Blank, 57, of West Yellowstone died Thursday, Jan. 8, following a yearlong battle with cancer.
He is survived by his best friend and wife, Linda Ellis Blank; his mother, Mae Blank of New Salem, N.D.; his daughter, Kris and Mike Opprecht of Seattle; his sons, Russ and Shelly Blank of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Jeff and special friend LeAnn of Portland; and grandchildren Austin, Kadie and Eric.
Cremation has taken place. Memorial services are at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church in West Yellowstone.
Helene Wellhouser
MISSOULA - Helene Wellhouser, 79, died peacefully at home Wednesday, Jan. 7.
She was born Feb. 8, 1918, at Star Mine to George and Anastasia Korenko. She was one of 13 children.
After retiring from Buttrey Foods as a meat wrapper, Helene had a Missoulian paper route for 12 years. Helene loved gardening, cooking, sewing, crafts and fishing.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard, in November 1992, and by eight brothers and sisters.
She is survived by her daughters, Pat Conkling of Spokane, Carol Welling of Missoula and Janet Wellhouser of Honolulu; her brother, Bill Korenko of Bandon, Ore.; and sister, Susan Widitz of Roundup. Also surviving are her grandchildren, Terri Niska, Chuck Conkling, Arliss Conkling, Donnie Welling, Mike Welling and Kenny Welling; six great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation is from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Malletta Family of Funeral Homes, Sunset Chapel, 7405 Mullan Road. Funeral services are 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at the funeral home, with interment following at Sunset Memorial Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Chuck Conkling, Donnie, Mike and Kenny Welling, Steve Niska, and great-grandson Steven Niska.
Patrick W. Free
BIGFORK - Patrick W. Free, 74, died Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Lakeview Care Center in Bigfork.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Free of Ferndale; sons Patrick Free of Ferndale, and Ron and Valerie Free of Billings; daughter Kathy and Jack Ellis of Ferndale; brother Roy Free of Berkeley, Calif.; grandchildren Shannon Ellis, Kande Ellis, Jeremy and Josh Francom and Jordan White.
Visitation is 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Bigfork Funeral Home. Military graveside rites will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at the Montana Veterans Cemetery at Fort Harrison.
George F.W. Siedentopf
POLSON - George F.W. Siedentopf, 84, of Polson died Thursday, Jan. 8, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula from natural causes.
Survivors include his sons, George F.W. Siedentopf Jr. of Polson and Kurt Siedentopf of Snohomish, Wash.; daughter Heide L. Thurston of Polson; and three grandchildren.
A graveside funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson.
Arrangements are by the Grogan Funeral Home in Polson.
Clara Mae Hill
MISSOULA - Clara Mae Hill, 82, of Missoula died Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Community Medical Center of natural causes.
She has departed the earth of eternal happiness with her Lord Savior, Jesus Christ in Heaven.
Clara was born on June 5, 1915, in Cut Bank to Clifford and Anna Moe.
Following her father's death in 1918, the family moved to West Riverside, and she attended schools in Bonner and Missoula.
Survivors include two sons, Dennis M. Hill of Missoula and Darrel W. Hill of Hamilton; daughter Sharon L. Millhouse of Portland, Ore.; grandchildren Michael, David, Marcia, Star, Spring, Cody, Dela, Ted, Brenda and Tammy; seven great-grandchildren; and two brothers, John Moe of Lolo and Andrew Moe of Vail, Colo.
The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Malletta Family of Funeral Homes, Livingston Chapel, 224 W. Spruce St. Mass of the Resurrection is 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church, with the Rev. Kevin Clarke S.J. as celebrant.
The family suggests memorials to the Poverello Center, 535 Ryman Ave., Missoula, Mont., 59802.
Gladys S. Phillips
RONAN - Gladys S. Phillips, 87, of Ronan passed away on Thursday, Jan. 8, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula following a short illness.
Gladys was born on April 7, 1910, in Minneota, Minn., the daughter of Bernard and Mable Shennum. She moved to Pablo as a young girl and graduated from Ronan High School, then attended Inter-Mountain College in Helena and the Kinman Business College in Spokane.
On June 10, 1937, she married William A. Phillips in Ronan. Gladys owned and operated with her husband the Phillips Standard Service Station in Ronan for 18 years.
She was a member of the Sapphire Temple 79 Daughters of the Nile and Mission Valley Chapter 93 Order of the Eastern Star, serving as worthy matron in 1941.
Gladys was preceded in death by her husband and by a daughter, Judy Rae Phillips. She is survived by her son, James and his wife, Illa Phillips of Helena; two grandchildren, William A. Phillips of Missoula and Jennifer J. Phillips of Helena; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at the United Methodist Church in Ronan. Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. A reception will follow at the church.
Pallbearers will be Kermit Anderson, Gordon Hendrickson, Peder Jensen, Loren Clary, Dan Madsen and Kent Duckworth. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Olson Sr., Gerald Leighton and Glenn Frame.
The family requests memorials be made to the Ronan Senior Citizens Center.
Arrangements are by Shrider's Mortuary in Ronan.
Betty C. Thotus
MISSOULA - Betty C. Thotus, 69, of Missoula died Wednesday, Jan. 7, at Hillside Manor Nursing Home.
She was born on March 24, 1928, in Gilford to Peter and Serena Bakke, and was raised and educated there.
Betty worked in nursing homes as a cook in Spokane before marrying Russell Thotus there on May 5, 1967. The couple moved to Missoula in 1985.
She is survived by her husband, Russell of Missoula, and two brothers, James Bakke of Whitefish and Alf Bakke of Kelso, Wash.
Orthodox Christian services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 12, at the Malletta Family of Funeral Homes, Livingston Chapel, 224 W. Spruce St., with the Rev. Gregory Wingenbach presiding. Burial will be at St. Mary's Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Church of the Annunciation, 301 S. Sixth St. W., Missoula, Mont., 59801.
Ruth Elizabeth Bennett
MISSOULA - Ruth Elizabeth Bennett, 77, of Missoula passed away at home on Sunday, Jan. 11, 1998.
She was born on her mother's homestead in Dutton on May 18, 1920. In 1924 the family moved to Clinton, where she received her education.
In 1937 Ruth married Thomas A. Bennett, and he survives her as well as two sons and daughters-in-law, Paul and Marlene of Spokane, and Bruce and June of Whitefish; grandchildren Debra Ann McConnell of Virginia, John Bennett of Colorado, and Matthew and Olivia Bennett of Whitefish; great-grandchildren Patrick and Sean McConnell of Virginia; sisters Margaret Edington of Seattle, Grace Tyson of Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, Virginia Hackman of Nine Mile and Lou Shanafelt of Dale, Ore.; brother Don Hesselgesser of Coeur d'Alene; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her son John, parents Thomas and Lydia Hesselgesser and brothers Roy and Robert.
Ruth was a longtime member of Holy Spirit Parish Episcopal Church and its Altar Guild. She loved her nursing career and worked at Community Hospital for many years. Previous to that, Ruth worked for the Singer Co. as a sewing instructor. After retiring, she volunteered in the Health Department.
Ruth and her husband were also longtime volunteers for Meals on Wheels. Her favorite hobby was sewing and she was a very talented seamstress. Ruth and Thomas had many happy years enjoying the mountains, fishing and hiking often with family. Ruth will be missed by her loving family as well as numerous relatives and friends.
Viewing will be noon-8 p.m. Wednesday at Garden City Funeral Home.
A private family service will be 10 a.m. Thursday, with interment to follow at Missoula City Cemetery.
A public memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, 130 S. Sixth St. E., Missoula, with a reception following at the church.
The family suggests that memorials be made in Ruth's name to the Altar Guild at Holy Spirit Episcopal Church; 130 S. Sixth St. E., Missoula, Mont. 59801; or to Hospice of Missoula.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.
Arthur E. Ableman
TROY - Arthur E. Ableman, 63, of Troy died Tuesday, Jan. 6, at his home of heart failure.
Survivors include his son, Steve Ableman of Eveleth, Minn.; daughter Sue Warren of Hibbing, Minn.; brothers Lawrence Ableman of Hovland, Minn., Lloyd Ableman of Gheen, Minn., and William Douglas Ableman of Ham Lake, Minn.; and three grandchildren.
Services and interment will be held in Silverdale, Minn., under the direction of Bauman Funeral Home in Virginia, Minn.
Nelson & Vial Funeral Home in Libby is in charge of local arrangements.
