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Donald Otto Edward Schwennesen
Donald Otto Edward Schwennesen, 90, passed away early Friday, May 16, 2003, at his home in Colorado Springs after a long and rich life. He was born in Chicago on July 15, 1912, the first child of Otto and Grace Reynolds Schwennesen.
He was a gifted student and graduated from high school at age 16. He then worked his way through what is now Illinois Institute of Technology, earning an honors degree in electrical engineering. Upon graduation, he confronted the Great Depression. Eventually he found engineering work with the Chicago Transformer Company and advanced to an upper management position. He did not serve in the military in World War II because he was an essential employee in a vital industry producing communications equipment for the war effort. He moved to Magnetic Metals Company near Philadelphia after Essex Wire acquired Chicago Transformer. Later he became president of Arnold Engineering of Los Angeles and Chicago. His last position was as president of Plessey Precision Metals in Los Angeles.
He traveled widely in Europe, Japan, and the Americas. He wrote an extensive autobiography. He was an accomplished photographer who did his own color lab work, and a skilled wood artisan and furniture maker. He was a sportsman who enjoyed hunting and fishing, and a lover of America's national parks, particularly Glacier National Park in Montana. He enjoyed many summers in the Flathead Valley. He was also a member of the Elks.
He married the former Margaret Casey in Chicago in 1941. The couple had three children: Donald L. (spouse, Rose) of Bigfork; Jean C. Rothe (spouse, James T.) of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Joan M. Amideo (spouse, William F.) of Alpharetta, Ga. The couple divorced in 1967. Subsequently, he married Jean Malone in 1970. They divorced in 1980. Both preceded him in death. His parents and his brother, Norman, also preceded him in death.
He is survived by his three children and their spouses; grandchildren: Don, Dan and Heidi Schwennesen; Holly and Katie Rothe; Elizabeth Amideo Parham; Bret, Andrew and Nicholas Amideo; great-granddaughter, Caroline Parham; and his sister-in-law, Marianne Schwennesen of Buffalo Grove, Illinois. In addition, he is survived by his caregiver, Winnifred Grant, whose care allowed him to remain at home during his last two years.
Marie M. Powell
Sunrise: 1-22-25
Sunset: 5-06-03
Marie Powell, 78, passed away Tuesday, May 6, 2003, in her Woods Bay home surrounded by her loving husband, Roy, and family members. Marie was born in Tullulah, La., to Everet and Beatrice Patrick Terry. Her early years were spent in Louisiana and Arkansas. The family headed west in 1927 during the Dust Bowl years working in the fields and orchards of California. Marie was proud of these years. As family historian, she told countless stories of her family's experiences. Her family settled in the San Joaquin Valley where she met her husband.
Marie married Roy E. Powell in Carson City, Nev., on Aug. 11, 1952. They raised their young family in Selma, Calif. In 1977, Marie and Roy moved to Bigfork. Together she and her husband owned and operated the Tall Pines Lounge spreading cheer and friendship to many friends and patrons. Later, they started the Woods Bay Grill until retiring in 1996. Marie loved her home in Montana surrounded by mountains, water, and family.
Marie is preceded in death by her parents, sister Edith Fitzgerald, and brother Bill Terry. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Roy E. Powell, and her children: Tom and Sheila Powell, Kathy Nelson, Kari Powell, and Scott and Candace Powell. Marie so loved her grandchildren: Tommy, Brooke, Ryan, Jennifer, Ashley, and Drew. She was also thrilled and blessed to have a great-grandchild Jordan, and was looking forward to another great-grandchild to be born this year. Sisters
Bertha Kautz, Irene Cossey and Margie Magill, and brothers Elmer Terry, and Delmer Terry of Oregon and California also survive Marie.
At Marie's request, no service will be held. In lieu of flowers and in celebration of Marie's life, the family suggests donations to Hospice Options at 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
Claire Frances 'Fran' Kienas Thibert
Claire Frances Kienas Thibert, 75, passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2003 at the Immanual Lutheran Home in Kalispell. She was born on Sept. 29, 1927 in Kalispell to Ray and Dorothy (Sheldon) Dyer.
Fran was raised in the Flathead County and attended Flathead County High School. She married Arthur Kienas in 1948 at Trinity Lutheran Church and was married to him for 41 years.
Fran was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, and the Chandler Arizona Eagles, Moose Lodge, and Augusta Senior Citizens.
Fran is survived by her three children, Ronda Carnes of Federal Way, Wash., Melissa Kienas of Columbia Falls, and Martin Kienas of Kalispell; five grandchildren, Jami Helke of Spokane, Wash., Anissa Streb of Federal Way, Wash., Joe Javorsky of Kalispell, Alyson Gardner of Orting, Wash., and Sarah Javorsky-Strandberg of Kalispell; brothers and sisters, Roberta Arnold of Kalispell, John Dyer of Somers, Kenneth Dyer of Spokane, Wash., and Shirley McDaniel of Tricities, Wash.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, May 19, 2 p.m., at Fairview Cemetery with Pastor Darold Reiner officiating. The family suggests memorials be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, P.O. Box 30918, Billings, MT 59116, or to the Montana Heart Association, 623 2nd Ave. East, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
Margaret Jane (Dieterle) Pontious
Margaret Jane "Peg" (Dieterle) Pontious, 79, passed away April 13, 2003, due to a herniated small intestine.
She was born Feb. 18, 1924, in Detroit, and raised in Toledo, Ohio.
She graduated from Scott High School in Toledo in 1941 and Toledo University in 1947. Peg continued her education in arts and languages at George Washington University in the mid-1950s, later pursuing French and German at the University of Maryland in the late '60s and early '70s. She also took art lessons at the Corcoran Art School and Gallery in Washington, D.C. Peg won numerous awards for her oil paintings. Her "Circus" painting was a favorite of her children, Megan and Greg.
She served with the WACs and was honorably discharged on Feb. 16, 1945. She was a member of the group staff of Toledo's Civil Air Patrol where she gained a basic knowledge of planes and flying. She requested secretarial work in the WAC but what she really wanted was to "sprout wings" and fly like her brother, Jack Dieterle. She trained at Fort Oglethorpe, Ga., and worked in Romulus, Mich. She then requested to join the European Theater in England.
In 1944, she worked at D'Arcy's Advertising Co. in St. Louis, which held the Coca-Cola account and others; the National Exchange Club in Toledo, Ohio in 1945; as a substitute teacher during the early 1960s in College Park, Md.; as an art teacher to homebound children who were either terminally ill or had long recuperation periods through the hospital education program; as a floral designer at Wood's Florist and Marche's Florist; and as a bus driver for the Prince George's County School District.
On May 7, 1949, she married Howard Moore Pontious at Washington Congregational Church in Toledo, Ohio. They were married for 44 years.
During the late '50s to early '70s, Peg and Howard took in boarders from the University of Maryland studying for their masters or doctorate degrees. Also during the '50s they raised a couple of German shepherd dogs, Vicki and Queen Ann, for the blind society.
In 1999, Peg moved to Bigfork, to co-own and manage the (Jorja Jane's) Candlewycke Inn bed and breakfast with her daughter, Megan. It was Megan's dream to retire to Bigfork and Peg helped make that dream come true. The name "Jorja Jane's" was Megan's name for a daughter, to keep the tradition of all the girls on Peg's side of the family having Jane as their middle name, i.e. (grandma) Ruby Jane, Margaret (Peggy) Jane and daughter, Megan Jane. Since Megan didn't have any children, the bed and breakfast was her baby girl, (probably costing the same as a child).
Community activities include Girls and Boys Club, Girl and Boy Scouts, and raising German shepherds for the blind society.
Hobbies and interests included painting, decorating, landscaping-all types of art and design. She became interested in photography since moving to Bigfork in 1999 in hopes of painting again. She sewed her daughter's childhood clothes and created award-winning costumes for school activities. Peg and Howard won the Home Beautification awards in 1985-1989 from the city of College Park.
She loved to work in the yard creating colorful landscapes that bloomed in every season. She enjoyed working with brick and stone to create a minimum maintenance yard. Her love of the ocean and seashore inspired her to use landscape materials and plants that reflected that feeling, seagrasses, pilings, seagulls, etc.
After moving to Bigfork and becoming acquainted with the deer population, she worked with Hooper's Nursery to use landscape shrubs and plants that had an extended life. She was looking forward to this season so she could plant some of her favorite trees, the lilac and plum.
She was a collector of folk art. She and Howard took classes in tole painting. She collected over 80 baskets that were displayed in her apartment on ceiling beams and featured in the Hobby Press book, "How do B&B collectors showcase their collections." She enjoyed seeing her collection of teddy bears that she, her friends and daughter purchased for her as gifts.
Margaret is survived by her daughter, Megan Jane Vandegrift of Bigfork.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, April 22, at 3 p.m., at Johnson Mortuary in Kalispell. Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
Gordon Dell and Delores Dell
Gordon Dell, 64, and Dolores Dell, 60, husband and wife, passed away Thursday, May 22, 2003 near Ely, Nevada.
Gordon was born in Flint, Michigan, on Oct. 5, 1938, to Cecil and Margaret Dell. Dolores was born Sept. 4, 1942 in Alpena, Mich., to John and Florence (Skaluba) Roy.
Gordon and Dolores were married in Alpena on Jan. 20, 1962, where Dolores grew up. They were married for 40 years.
Gordon worked for Burlington Northern Railroad as a boiler operator, then worked for Yuma Transporta-tion as a bus driver for the schools. Dolores worked at Lake View Care Center in Bigfork as a nurse and then at Ever Care Select as a case manager in Yuma.
They both enjoyed searching out rummage sales and boating. Gordon loved flying while Dolores created and sent care packages to her children and grandchildren and family. Together, they enjoyed traveling the United States to spend joyous times with their families.
Gordon's parents preceded him in death. Dolores' brother, Jim Roy, preceded her in death. They are survived by their children, Jim and wife Sherri Jo Dell of Kalispell, and Jennifer and husband Jake Simler of Kamiah, Idaho; grandchildren: Zaniel, Devon, and Trenton Dell, Ashley Clarke, and Justina and Joelle Simler. Gordon is additionally survived by his brother Paul and wife Beatrice Dell of Alpena, Mich. Dolores is additionally survived by sisters: Sally Roy of Alpena, Mich., and Kay and husband John Pitcher of Kalispell; brothers: Kim and wife Cathy Roy of Salinas, Calif., Jerry Roy of Alpena, Mich., Richard and wife Carol Roy of Pontiac, Mich., Tim Roy of Salinas, Calif.; and both leave many nieces and nephews behind.
Funeral services for Gordon and Dolores Dell are tentatively set for Thursday, May 29, at 2 p.m., at Johnson Mortuary in Kalispell. The family will deeply miss the way they brought us all together for many occasions and grounded our relationships. In lieu of flowers, the family requests floral tributes be live plants, trees, or flowers.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
Dorothy A. Lyngard
Dorothy A. Lyngard, 77, passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2003, at her home in Enumclaw, Wash. She was welcomed into Heaven by her husband of 56 years, Daryl, who had preceded her in death a year earlier.
"Dottie" was born in Eastern Montana to Lloyd and Audrey Hale on Jan. 11, 1926. She graduated from Culbertson High School, and married her high school sweetheart, Daryl Lyngard, on Oct. 16, 1945. The couple made their home in Kalispell, and together raised three daughters. When Dottie retired from the Kalispell City Library, she loved traveling south with Daryl in their RV in the winter, and entertaining family and friends at their cabin home on Echo Lake in the summer. In 1999, they decided to escape Montana winters and moved to Enumclaw where their youngest daughter and family live.
Dottie was an example of kindness, family devotion, strong morals, and inner strength to her family. She will be greatly missed by her daughters, Diane McLaughlin of Kalispell, Jan Weidner of Bozeman, and Joanne Young of Enumclaw; her best friend and sister, Leone Larsen of Aurora, Colo.; her sons-in-law, Scott Weidner and Roger Young; eight grandchildren, Bryan McLaughlin, Jennifer Friar, Elizabeth Rambo, Kim Mitchell, Chad McManus, Allison Gray, Mindy Lobdell, and Dusty Lobdell; 10 great-grandchildren, Gabrielle McLaughlin, Breanna and Zayne Friar, Donovan and Madison Mitchell, Colton and Christian McManus, Jeremiah and Hannah Gray, and Alex Weidner; and many nieces and nephews. She will also be missed by her many friends in Montana and Washington.
A graveside memorial was held at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell on Saturday, May 3, at 2 p.m.
Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
John Lars Britton
John Lars Britton, 84, passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2003, in North Bend, Ore., after a long illness. He was born Oct. 18, 1918, in Phillip, S.D., to George and Helma Britton.
John received his Bachelors degree in 1955 from the University of Montana. He was a teacher at Alberton, Mont., until 1958. He received his Masters degree from the University of Montana in 1960. He was the Superintendent of Schools in Corvallis from 1960-1966. He also worked for the Forest Service-Job Corps for 17 years. He retired in 1984 and moved to Ridgecrest, Calif., in 1996. John enjoyed hunting and fishing.
John is survived by his wife, Mary Eslick Britton of Ridgecrest, Calif.; one brother Michael and wife Catherine of Kalispell; daughter Maureena Mueller of Ridgecrest, Calif., and daughter Marla Britton of Gold Beach, Ore.; grandson Sean Mueller and wife Shawntelle and great-grandchildren Anthony, Courtney, Jesse, Bailey, and Madison of North Bend, Ore.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society. A memorial service will be held in Montana at a date to be determined.
Arthur Joseph David
Arthur Joseph David, 86, of Bigfork, formerly Bismarck, N.D., died Saturday, April 12, 2003, at the North Valley Hospital in Whitefish. David was born January 26, 1917 in Dickinson, N.D., the son of Henry and Lena (Burke) David. He grew up on a farm 10 miles east of Dickinson. He attended and graduated from Versippi School in the rural Dickinson area.
He married Nell Barbion June 23, 1939 at Aberdeen, S.D. They lived in Jamestown, N.D., where he worked doing road construction. Later, he and his brother-in-law owned and operated David and Rix Construction in Bismarck. In 1970, they moved to Columbia Falls and operated the Mountain Shadows Motel. They retired and moved to Kalispell. Nell, his wife of 57 years, passed away in March 1996. He then moved back to Bigfork. In March 2003, he entered Colonial Manor in Whitefish.
He was preceded in death by his wife Nell; his parents; and two brothers and one sister. He is survived by a sister, Katheryn Rix of Bismarck; a special niece, Jo Hallock of Jamestown, N.D.; special nephews Dwight and Evelyn Faiman of Dickinson, N.D., Ronnie and Rosemary David of Hazen, N.D., and Melvey "Punk" and Margaret Barbion of Bigfork; brother-in-law Prosper Barbion of Oregon; and many more nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 11 a.m., at Johnson Mortuary Chapel. Urn burial will take place at Glacier Memorial Gardens where he will be laid to rest with his loving wife and faithful dog Lawless.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & crematory.
