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CARL WELLS SCHWEND
Carl Wells Schwend was born March 2, 1911 in Bridger, Mont. and died in San Diego, Calif. May 10, 2003, at age 92. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Edward Schwend and Betty Mae Bennett, his sisters Beaulah Sneed, Beatrice Vi Buffington, Emily Schwend, and his brother, Arthur.
He came to San Diego in 1940 where he worked for Ryan Aeronautical Company during the war and then at North Island Naval Air Station for 30 years, where he was a master sheet metal smith.
A sixty-two year charter member of Linda Vista Presbyterian Church, he served as an ordained Deacon and Ruling Elder. He used his considerable carpentry and metal skills to build furnishings and fixtures for the church. He also served on the Montgomery Junior High reading improvement committee, was Treasurer of Kearney Kapers. He and his wife Winifred were honored as the longest residing residents of Linda Vista.
Carl is survived by his loving family: his wife of 72 years, Winifred Simon Schwend; his sons and their wives: Ted and Joanna, Fred and Janet, Robert and Lynn; nine grandchildren: David, Robert, Raymond, Kurt, Charles, Steven, Roderick, and Thomas Schwend, and Jill Schwend Martin; 14 great-grandchildren: Timothy, James, Kevin, Alec, Jessica, Hannah, Katlyn, William, Roderick, Robin, Bradley, and Sierra Schwend, and Ted and Jackson Schwend Martin.
Carl was greatly loved and will be missed by his many friends and family.
A memorial service will be held Friday, May 23, 2003 at 11 a.m. at Linda Vista Presbyterian Church. The family requests no flowers.
If desired, donations may be made to Linda Vista Presbyterian Scholarship Fund or to San Diego Hospice. Inurnment will be private.
JOE F. POLK
Joe F. Polk, 89, passed away May 10, 2003 at the Beartooth Hospital in Red Lodge, Mont. He was born March 2, 1914 in Kellogg, Idaho to Tony and Mary (Chegoji) Polk. The family moved to Red Lodge where he attended school.
On November 27, 1941 Joe was united in marriage to Helen Patana in Red Lodge. Joe worked as a pipefitter at many of the major construction projects throughout Montana as well as the refineries in Billings and Laurel. He was a member of the Elks, Eagles, American Legion and served as secretary of the Red Lodge Rotary Club for many years. Joe enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping in the Beartooth Mountains.
Joe was preceded in death by his wife Helen in 1979, his parents and an infant brother, Anthony.
Survivors include a stepson, Kenneth Dykman of Mexico; several stepchildren; a sister, Mary Marchello of Sun Lakes, Arizona; nephews, Randy Marchello of Phoenix, Ariz. and John Marchello of Tucson, Ariz.; and seven great nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Thursday, May 15 at the Dahl Funeral Chapel in Red Lodge. Burial was in the Red Lodge Cemetery.
LEO LORENZ, JR.
Leo Lorenz, Jr., 59, of Geraldine, loving husband, father, family man and superintendent of schools, died Sunday, May 11, 2003 at his home. His wife and two children were with him, and they saw him go peacefully after his six-year battle with cancer.
Leo “Junior” was born July 21, 1943 in Grant County, Elgin, N.D., to Leo and LaVonne Patricia (Engle) Lorenz. He was a native of Lemmon, S.D., and attended St. Mary’s Catholic School for eight years, graduating from Lemmon High School in 1961. He served in the U.S. Air Force for four years, two of those years at the former airforce base in Glasgow.
Following his military service, he attended the Helena Vo-Tech, where he received his airframe and power plant mechanic’s license. He moved to Billings and worked for Gillis Aviation at Logan Field and then Lynch Flying Service.
Leo married Leora Jorgene Varner in August of 1967 in Terry. He then entered Eastern Montana College at Billings, majoring in general science extended and biology. He graduated from EMC (now MSU-Billings) in March of 1975 with a Bachelor of Science degree. In Billings, he taught science and biology for four years at Will James Junior High School, and for one year at Castle Rock Junior High School. While teaching in Billings, his son, Drew Christopher, was born in 1977, and daughter Jillann Laura in 1978. After Leora became ill, he made the decision to move his family to Terry, where in 1980 he purchased the Conoco bulk fuel business. He owned and operated that for seven years, then, following Leora’s death in 1986, he resumed his teaching career.
Leo and Bonnie were married in Medford, N.J. in August of 1987, and the family then moved to Rudyard, where Leo taught science, biology and chemistry for a year. Leo earned his masters degree in education from Montana State University (Go Bobcats!) in 1990.
His first administrative assignment was with the Bridger Public Schools, where he stayed for two years. He became superintendent/ elementary principal at Joliet School in 1992, and was there for seven years. He became superintendent of Geraldine Public Schools in July of 1999, his final assignment.
Leo was a member of the American Association of School Administrators, the School Administrators of Montana, the Montana Association of School Superintendents, the Montana Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the American Legion and the Lions Club.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1968, his mother in 1977, and his first wife, Leora, in 1986.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie (Bonita Ditschman Roberts), his son, Drew Lorenz of Billings, his daughter, Jillann Lorenz of Billings, two brothers, Robert Lorenz of Pullayup, Wash., and Lloyd Lorenz of Coos Bay/ North Bend, Ore., and a sister, Carole (Tony) Donat of Sioux Falls, S.D.
One of Leo’s mottos was to leave everything better than you found it, and we, his wife, “Mrs. Bubba,” his son, “Drewski” and his daugther, “Jillannie,” as well as his many friends and family know he did that. Leo was known by all who loved him to be a kind and generous man, and was known for his bear hugs and contagious laughter. Leo loved his work with kids, hunting, fishing, and fireworks, and would have been proud of the display his son set up to celebrate his life.
Funeral Mass was celebrated May 15, 2003 in the Geraldine School Gymnasium. Graveside services and burial was May 19 at the Prairie County Cemetery in Terry, Mont.
Benton Funeral Home of Fort Benton and Stevenson Funeral of Terry were in charge of arrangements.
We’ll miss you, “Big Guy,” “Mr. L.” and “Jr.” Adios, we’ll see you later at the fishing hole in heaven.
Gregory Pierce
Gregory Allen Pierce, 54, died peacefully on Sunday, Aug. 24, 2003 at his home in Whitefish.
He was born April 30, 1949, to Kenneth and Bonnie Pierce in East Liverpool, Ohio. He graduated from East Liverpool High School in 1967. He served two years in the U.S. Army in Fort Devons, Mass. After serving in the armed forces, he attended college in Worchester, Mass., majoring in liberal arts. In 1972 he transferred to Ohio State University and pursued a career in law enforcement. While in Ohio, Greg served as head ranger for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Liverpool Chief of Police, headed the Felony Investigation Department 1976-1979 and was an independent private investigator.
In 1979 Greg moved his sons to Whitefish, where he worked several jobs, including security department supervisor at Big Mountain Ski Resort, and most recently as a ticket agent for Amtrak.
He was a hard-working man who took great pride in his law enforcement background. He made many friends whom he cherished and shared special memories of them often.
He was a very proud father who enjoyed spending time with his boys in the outdoors. Greg is survived by his sons, Gabriel Michael of Salem, Ohio, and Benjamin George (and wife Holly) of Boise, Idaho, and his beloved puppy Lugnut. He is also survived by his mother, Bonnie Pierce of East Liverpool, Ohio, brothers David (and wife Cheryl) and Kenneth, and sisters Leslie and Donna and numerous nieces and nephews.
Greg loved hunting, fishing, photography and especially his grandchildren, Hayden, Hannah and Samuel. He will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
A memorial service was held Tuesday, Sept. 2, at the Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish, with the Rev. Dr. David Kauffman officiating.
VERA LaFERN AHOLA
ROBERTS – Vera LaFern Ahola, 81, of Roberts, passed away early Thursday morning, May 22, 2003 at Beartooth Hospital Long Term Care Unit in Red Lodge.
Vera was born on September 17, 1921 in Arco, Idaho, a daughter of George A. and Lillian Ester (Graham) Black, and moved to Red Lodge as a young girl. She later moved to Joliet with her father and sister, graduating from high school there in 1939.
On July 29, 1939 Vera was married to Bruno Ahola. They settled on their ranch on Clear Creek, and following Bruno’s retirement they moved to Great Falls. Vera worked for the Selective Service Board in Red Lodge until the draft was discontinued, and later was employed in a Civil Service position at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Great Falls for twenty years before retiring.
Vera and Bruno raised their three children on their ranch on Clear Creek. After Vera retired they resided at the Beaver Springs development between Red Lodge and Roberts. Vera was a resident there for 23 years before recently entering the nursing home. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, gardening, and she never passed up a crossword puzzle.
Vera was preceded in death by her husband Bruno; her daughter Joyce Neary; brothers George, Harold, Joe and Allen Black; and sister Irma Hazzard.
Survivors include her daughter Maneta (Ed) Edick of Red Lodge; her son Dennis (Nancy) Ahola of Red Lodge; brother Earl (Louise) Black of Belfry; half-brother Jack (Beth) Wipplinger of Belfry; half-sister Bonnie (Jack) Birdwell of Arcata, Calif.; 8 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place, and a private memorial service will be held at a later date. Smith-Olcott Funeral Chapel of Red Lodge was in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be given to the charity of one’s choice.
Monty M. Taylor Baker
Monty M. Taylor Baker, 87, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2003, at Brendan House in Kalispell.
She was born Sept. 3, 1915, in Redstone, to Frank W. and Hattie V. (Knight) Bucklin. Monty graduated from Redstone High School in 1933. She left for beauty school in Aberdeen, S.D., and after completing her schooling there, went to work for a beauty parlor in Miles City.
Monty met and married W. Ray Taylor on May 2, 1936, in Miles City. The young couple moved to Billings, in 1936. It was in 1946 that Ray and Monty moved to Whitefish. They were in a partnership in the Snappy Service Grocery Store until 1949. At that time they opened the Glacier Food Bank. In 1952 they became sales representatives for Wiesfield Jewelers.
In 1958, they moved to Kalispell, and Monty pursued her career with the Daily Inter Lake as a motor route 3 carrier. She was known for her Christmas poems that she delivered with her papers to her special customers during the month of December, as well as having some of those poems published in the Daily Inter Lake. Monty stayed involved in the carrier business up to 1993 when she retired, turning over her route to her daughter, Linda Bristow.
Monty was preceded in death by W. Ray Taylor on Aug. 10, 1974, at Kalispell.
Monty married George W. Baker in May of 1984 in Kalispell. They enjoyed retirement by traveling internationally to Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and cruising to several different ports. They also enjoyed family travels to Alaska and throughout Montana and Idaho. Many friendships were made during the wintering months that were spent in Apache Junction, Ariz. George W. Baker died on Feb. 19, 2002, in Kalispell.
Monty was a member of the Rebekah Lodge, Women of the Moose Lodge Chapter 1710 and has been a charter member of that chapter since 1974. She also enjoyed bowling and had a great love for playing bridge. Dancing with both of her husbands was a treasured love as well. Monty was also a member of the Methodist church.Monty was preceded in death by two sisters, Myra Bucklin and Mildred Hill; and one brother, Frank W. Bucklin Jr.
She is survived by two daughters, Monte Rae Ingraham of Whitefish, and Linda K. Bristow and her companion, Ralph, of Kalispell; one son, Gordon R. Taylor and his wife, Barbara, of Kalispell; four grandchildren, Jerry Ingraham of Whitefish, DesiRae Carrothers and Alan M. Taylor, both of the Portland area, Richard Joseph Bristow of Bozeman; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services for Monty M. Taylor Baker were held 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 30, at Johnson Mortuary Chapel with Dr. David Kauffman officiating. A private family urn burial took place at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
The family suggests that memorials be given to Hospice Home Health Options, 175 Commons Loop, Ste. 100, Kalispell, MT 59901; or Women of the Moose Lodge, Chapter No. 1710, P.O. Box 5269, Kalispell, MT 59903.
Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
MARILYN ‘FAE’ (RODGERS) MORRIS
Fae was born Nov. 14, 1927 to Charles and Margaret (Abel) Rodgers. She lived her life in Billings and Red Lodge. Fae passed away Saturday, May 24, 2003 at Deaconess Billings Clinic with her family at her side.
Fae married Robert “Bob” Morris, and to this union they had four children: Rocky of Butte, Roxie (Jace) of Fromberg, Chuck (Sandy) of Park City, and Bob (Lezetta) of Park City.
Fae was preceded in death by her husband, Bob, her mother and father, a sister and a granddaughter.
Fae is survived by her children, six grandchildren, three great-grandsons, two sisters, Polly (Rod) Kirkness, and Berty Reichenberg, two brothers, Peck Rodgers and Bill and Pat Rivers of Fromberg, nieces, nephews and many great friends.
There will be a memorial service at 11 a.m. on Thursday, May 29 at the Red Lodge Alliance Church.
Please make memorials to Beartooth Nature Center, P.O. Box 675, Red Lodge, MT 59068.
