Search Archived Marriage Records
John Akey
John R. Akey, 80, of Urbana, Ohio, passed away Sept. 28, 2003, in Wellington Nursing Home.
He was born on April 27, 1923, in Whitefish to the late Jack and Carrie L. (McLaughlin) Akey.
He retired from Ultra-Met Manufacturing Company in 1987, where he was president and C.E.O. He attended Montana State College and the University of Kentucky. He served in World War II in the 97th Infantry, serving in both the European and Japanese Theaters. He was a charter member of the First Christian Church in Urbana, where he was Elder Emeritus at the time of his death; taught the Crusaders class and was missionary chairman. He was also a member of the Wellington Memorial Fund board and a long-time member of the Urbana Rotary Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Jackie Schommer, of Florence, Ore., on Sept. 23, 2003.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, and they had celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary on July 5, 2003; one daughter, Donna and Douglas Maggart of Beavercreek; one son, John Lawrence, "Larry" Akey of Lexington, Ky.; one sister and brother-in-law, Leora and Robert Grinde; one brother and sister-in-law, Homer and Katherine Akey, all of Whitefish; five grandchildren, Melissa, Stacey and Kyle Maggart of Beavercreek and John Aaron and Jessica Akey of Lexington, Ky., and numerous nieces and nephews.
A gathering of family and friends was held Oct. 1 in the Littleton and Rue Funeral Home, Urbana, with Pastor Mike Stewart officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Christian Church, 119 Orange Street, Urbana, Ohio, 43078.
MARY KEATING
JOLIET – Mary Keating went peacefully to be with the Lord on June 13, 2003 surrounded by her family. Mary was born in Tampa Florida on April 8, 1928. She grew up in Orlando, Florida. She graduated from St. James Catholic school in 1946 and St. Vincent School of Nursing in 1949. Mary truly loved life and with her sense of humor, taught her children to enjoy life as well. After raising her children, she attended St. Leo University and graduated with a BA in Psychology in 1983. Mary continued her nursing career and retired to Joliet, Montana in 1991.
Mary is survived by her four children: Janet Lee Thompson of Joliet, Mary Kathleen Barratta of Hephzibah, Ga., Elizabeth Ann Earl of Joliet and Dr. Joseph Larry Pezzaniti of Harvest, Ala.
A memorial service was held at St. John’s Catholic Church in Joliet on June 17, 2003 at 3 p.m. followed by a private burial attended by her children.
Jean Elam
Jean Pearl Elam passed away Nov. 26, 2003.
She was a member of the VFW Hillyard Post1474 and the Eagles Lodge Aerie No. 2.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the love of her life, Richard Harvey Elam, in 1971; a grandson, Douglas Risk, and a sister, Gloria "Dot" Smith.
She is survived by three daughters, Pamela Brewer of Sammamish, Wash., Gail Hunt of Spokane, Wash., Karen Goerys of Elko, Nev.; six granddaughters; three great-grandchildren; four siblings, Ed Payne of Kalispell, Bob Payne of Townsend, Carol Diesen of Plains, Mary King of Whitefish and their spouses; three sisters-in-law, and two brothers-in-law.
Memorial services will be planned at a later date in Spokane, Wash., and Whitefish.
Hazen and Jaeger Funeral Home, 1306 North Monroe Street, is in charge of arrangements.
Nina Hinderman
Nina Hinderman, who built a thriving ski shop business on Big Mountain and later ran an upscale women's resort-wear shop in Whitefish, died Monday at Heritage Place in Kalispell. She was 84.
Nina came to Whitefish in the mid-1950s with her husband, Karl, who took over the Big Mountain Ski School after making a name for himself in the storied 10th Mountain Division during World War II. A home economics teacher at the time, she started her ski shop in a tiny building on the Ford used-car lot in downtown Whitefish. Within a couple of months, she moved it to the ski patrol hut.
She had purchased $1,500 in inventory from Toni Matt, the world-famous skier who had started the mountain's ski school and shop.
"It was all socks, and some skis without edges," she recalled.
But she had entered the business just as a new era in ski wear and equipment was dawning, and with an eye for what would sell and a willingness to accept risk, she built the shop into a going concern by the time it moved to its own quarters in the heart of the Big Mountain Village in 1960. Not long afterward, the nearby ski lodge, where all her inventory was stored, burned down on Halloween. Hearing of the disaster, suppliers offered merchandise, sample items, anything they had, and the shop reopened at Christmas that year.
Nina opened The Village Shop in downtown Whitefish in the late 1960s, eventually focusing on that business. She became known as a shrewd businesswoman, but she simply explained her success this way: "I had an angel on my shoulder."
After selling The Village Shop, she and a friend opened Blue Sky Travel in Whitefish and operated it for several years. She was born Nina Claire Larsen, daughter of Art and Edna Larsen, in St. Cloud, Minn., Aug. 26, 1919. She graduated from high school in Iron Mountain, Mich., earned a bachelor's degree in home economics at University of Minnesota and later went on to graduate school at University of Montana. She married Karl Hinderman in December 1943 in Ishpeming, Mich., coincidentally the home of the National Ski Hall of Fame. They went to Sun Valley, where Karl taught skiing and Nina, not a skier, cared for the children of the glitzy crowd that frequented the resort. The couple's next stop was Missoula, where he attended college and she taught home economics. Then they came home to Whitefish, Karl's hometown. After Karl's death in the mid-1990s, Nina moved back to Michigan. Two years ago, she returned to the Flathead Valley.
She is survived by two sons, Tim, of Whitefish, and Jan, of Colorado. Her oldest son, Toni, died in Alaska in 2001. Survivors include six grandchildren and a brother, Dale Larsen, of Michigan. During her years in Whitefish, she was a member of Holy Nativity Episcopal Church.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at Holy Nativity Church in Whitefish, with a reception to follow at Grouse Mountain Lodge at 2 p.m. The family suggests memorials to the E.A. Hinderman Scholarship Fund, in care of Vivian Hull, treasurer, 233 W. Third St., Whitefish 59937. The fund is named in honor of Karl's father, a past Whitefish superintendent of schools from 1923 to 1953.
Ruth Marie Kao
Ruth Marie Kao died Dec. 3, 2003, in Puyallop, Wash.
She was born April 23, 1910, in Athelstan, Iowa, to Guy and Verga Sickels. She married William Kao on Dec. 28, 1928, in Wolf Point. In 1932 they moved to Whitefish, where she lived for over 50 years. She was a cook at the hospital for 25 years. She also was a secretary at the Church of the Nazarene for 40 years, and taught Sunday School there for many years.
In August 1986 she moved to Puyallup, Wash., to be near her son and his family. In November 1993 she was admitted into the Rainier Vista Care Center, where she stayed until she passed away.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Ralph Sickels; sisters, Mary Balke and Thelma Cooper; children, Barbara Brown and Dale Kao; and grandson, Robert "Butch" Brown.
She leaves behind her daughter, Betty (Frank) Schlinger; brothers, Homer and Everett "Slim" (Hildegard) Sickels; daughter-in-law, Irene Kao; 12 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; and 6 great-great-grandchildren
Funeral services were held at the Mountain View Valley Chapel on Dec. 10, 2003.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the local Church of the Nazarene. Arrangements were made by Mountain View Funeral Home of Tacoma.
ANNIE M. KALLEVIG
Annie M. Kallevig, 80, of Fromberg, passed away Tuesday, June 17, 2003 at Billings Health and Rehabilitation Center.
She was a daughter of Joseph and Bessie LaPica, born Feb. 21, 1923 at Ross, N.D.
She was educated in Ross, N.D. and was valedictorian of her high school class. She also graduated from a secretarial college in Minot, N.D.
She married “Chet” Kallevig Dec. 15, 1947. The couple lived in Sidney, where she was secretary for Kallevig Brothers Construction. The family moved to a ranch on Blue Water Creek near Fromberg in 1963. In 1968 Annie moved into Fromberg and was the town clerk until she retired. In her retirement years and before, she helped many older people do various things. Her favorite hobby was making quilts and afghans for all her children and grandchildren.
She was a former Fromberg Town Councilwoman, past president of the Fromberg Women’s Club, past president of the Fromberg Senior Citizens and was past president of the Labor Day Committee.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Chet, one brother, George, and one sister, Julia.
Survivors include children: Ron (Kathy) Kallevig, Doug (Carol) Kallevig, Steve (Gayle) Kallevig, Renee (Rick) Shanks, Marty (Steve) Pryor and Mike Kallevig.
Grandchildren: Dustin (Jessica) Kallevig, Shawn (Lena) Kallevig, Ryan Kallevig, Kris Kallevig, Jeremy Kallevig, Nate Sticka, Sam and John Kallevig, Travis (Lindsey) Shanks, Brandon (Angie) Shanks, Kyle and Cole Pryor, Randi Taylor, Stephanie and Ryan Taylor, Stacy and Cody Kallevig, Cassie Wolfe. Great grandchildren: Skyler Kallevig, Jacob Kallevig, Colton Bauwens, Katie, Mason and Tyler Shanks, Mariah and Desirae Shanks, Lake, Savanna and Crissy Taylor, Ethan Taylor, Ashley Wolfe, several nieces and nephews, and a sister, Helen (Arnie) Fladeland.
Mom, you were the best; we will miss you.
Services were held Monday, June 23 at the United Methodist Church in Fromberg. Interment was in Rockvale Cemetery. Memorials are suggested to the Fromberg Senior Citizens or Big Sky Hospice, Box 35033; Billings, MT 50107.
Smith Funeral Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Roger A. Hofacker
Roger A. Hofacker passed away Oct. 24, 2003.
He was born on July 27, 1916, in Bismarck, N.D., the son of Herman and Ovidia Hofacker. He grew up in Billings where he was active in scouting, attaining the rank of Eagle.
He graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1933. He then attended Montana State College, graduating in 1939 with a degree in electrical engineering.
After briefly working for the Corps of Engineers at Fort Peck, he began his career with Montana Power Co. in 1939.
Roger was called to active duty in the Army Signal Corps in 1941. He served during World War II in Iceland, England, and took part in the Normandy invasion. After the invasion, he saw duty in France and Germany.
He met his wife, Myrtle Clinesmith, an Army nurse, in Iceland. They were engaged in England on New Year's Day of 1944 and were married in Paris on June 15, 1945.
After the war, he and Myrtle moved to Montana where he continued his career with Montana Power in Helena, Lewistown, Livingston, Butte and Colstrip. Roger retired as a senior vice president in October of 1980.
He and Myrtle moved to Whitefish where they enjoyed their home on the lake until they moved to Billings in September of this year.
He was active in the First Presbyterian Church, Kiwanis, Rotary, SCORE, Masonic orders, Boy Scouting and was a member of the American Legion. He was awarded an honorary degree from Montana Tech in 1971.
He enjoyed fishing, traveling, playing bridge and especially entertaining family at their lake home.
Roger is survived by his wife, Myrtle of Billings; sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Margaret Hofacker of Billings, Richard and Amy Hofacker of Colstrip; and daughter and son-in-law, Susan and John Leland of Butte.
He is also survived by a sister, Ina Anderson, and a brother-in-law, Willard Baker, both of Billings. He had eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Rog was greatly loved by his family and friends; he will be missed.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 1, at the First Presbyterian Church, 2420 13th St. West, Billings. Interment with military honors will follow at Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to the cause of the one's choice.
Sofia Gee
Sofia Clark (Augustine) Gee passed away Monday, Oct. 20, 2003 at the Life Care Center in Sandpoint, Idaho, at the age of 102. Funeral services were held Oct. 25, with private family inurnment at Holy Cross Cemetery.She was born to Joseph and Mary (Hutterer) Augustine in Springfield, Minn., on January 15, 1901. Clare married Lyle Gee of Flaxton, N.D., in 1921. They moved to Russell, Minn., where they started a car dealership. They later moved to Minneapolis and started an auto body paint shop. Clare and Lyle went back to Flaxton to start a cafe, then moved back to Minneapolis where Lyle began work as a signal maintainer on the Great Northern Railroad.
Clare and Lyle moved to Spokane in 1960. After 64 wonderful years of marriage, Lyle passed away in 1984. Clare remained in Spokane until February 1999, when she moved to the Alpine Vista Apartments in Sandpoint, Idaho.
Clare often told stories about working and living in Montana during the Great Depression. The family resided in many small railroad towns between Shelby and Whitefish during those years.
Their primary residence, however, was in Essex. Wherever they lived, however, Clare always made sure that the family purchased extra food and supplies. She would use the extra things to prepare sack lunches that were given to the many out-of-work men who traveled the rails during that time.
Clare is survived by her daughter, Ginger (Richard) Peterson of Carlsbad, Calif.; daughter-in-law, Lois Gee of Sandpoint, Idaho; granddaughter, Pete (Emmit) Dennison of Cheney, Wash.; grandsons, Bruce (Paula) Peterson of Lakeport, Calif.; Bill (Peggy) Gee and Ken Gee of Newport, Wash.; and Russell (Brenda) Gee of Lewiston, Idaho. Survivors also include seven great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lyle, and her son, Bill.
