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John A. Mihalic, 90
Chief Master Sgt. John Anthony Mihalic, USAF (retired), 90, died of natural causes Jan. 19, 2011, at his residence in Missoula. Chief Mihalic was a 25-year veteran of the armed forces.
He was born Aug. 17, 1920, at home in Livingston, Ill., the son of Nicholas and Sophia (Ruzovic) Mihalic. Throughout his school years he merited awards for academics and attendance, and worked at his uncle’s bakery each morning before school.
Upon graduation from high school, he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), worked on roads and bridges in the Works Project Administration, was a foreman for Hayes Freight Lines in St. Louis and was a member of the “Knothole Gang” favoring the Browns and the Cardinals.
With the outbreak of World War II, he volunteered for and was drafted Sept. 18, 1942, entering service at Jefferson Barracks. After basic training he was assigned to the Signal Corps, first at Drew Field in Tampa, Fla., then at Camp Pinedale near Fresno, Calif., where he was trained in signals intelligence and intercept. This began a long career in cryptographic and classified assignments.
He served first in 1943 in North Africa, at Bizerte, Tunisia, then Algiers, Algeria, in the 12th Air Force Service Command. There he met Pfc. Geraldine Mills, a teletype operator in the 6670th WAC HQ Company. In 1944, both of their units moved to Naples, Italy, with the Mediterranean Allied Air Forces (MAAF) Service Command. At war’s end they returned to the United States, where he and Gerry Mills were married
Jan. 4, 1946.
Following short stints back with Hayes and with the Indian Service in Mescalero, N.M., he returned to the Air Corps in October 1946 at Chanute Field. Later assignments were to Scott Air Force Base in Illinois, Sondrestrom Air Base (Bluie West 8) in Greenland, Lackland Air Force Base and Randolph Air Force Base in Texas, RAF Bruntingthorpe and South Ruislip Air Station in England, and a final assignment to HQ, Air Force Communications Service at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. He retired Dec. 1, 1967, and was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for his exemplary service in the Fixed Wire Communications and Cryptographic fields.
He spent several years with Western Union, retiring a second time in 1975 to Mascoutah, Ill., where he and Gerry made their home. He gave his time to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars post and enjoyed woodworking, especially intricate projects including classic, handmade wooden toys for his grandchildren.
He and Gerry moved to Missoula in 2007 to be near their children and grandchildren. He was a Life Member of the Mascoutah VFW Post 7682.
His sister, Mary Grega died before him.
He is survived by Geraldine, his wife of 65 years; son, David and Jeri Mihalic of Missoula; daughter, Jonna Mihalic-Hoag of Kalispell; granddaughters, Emily Mihalic and Katherine Hoag; and grandsons, Nicholas Mihalic and Peter Hoag.
Burial and memorial service with military honors will be held at a later date.
“TNX CUL.”
Jason Frank Lapp, 87
We are sorry to say that Jason Frank Lapp passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2011. He was home and comfortable and happy, and I think he is glad to be gone, but sad to leave. We will miss our father, our grandfather and our good friend.
He was born here in the valley on June 21, 1923, son of Frank and Lena Lapp. Jason was part of a large family of boys and girls growing up on a farm in Creston. He had wonderful tales of adventures and misadventures with his brothers and sisters and friends. His family included eleven brothers and sisters, and aunts, uncles and cousins galore.
His sisters, Mary Oesch, Anna Birky, and Ester Hogue preceded Jay in death. His brothers, Willard, John, Clarence, George, and Wayne have also passed on.
Jason grew to manhood in the Flathead valley. He completed his education here and attended Hesston College in Kansas for a period of time. He worked lumber camps in Oregon and had tales to tell about that. We will miss our father's stories!
He served in the military out of Geiger Field in Spokane, and married
Louise Redd in 1945. They built and raised a family in Kalispell that included Cindy, Joyce, Garry, and Richard. The family had good fun camping, swimming, fishing, and playing in the snow together. Many good memories come from our time spent in the Swan with grandparents Buster and Leta Redd. These times took us back to the woods, taught us much and served as the fabric for many good stories. Jay worked at Kelly Main Street Furniture for 30 or more years and made many good friends there in that store on Main Street; or was it over lunch or coffee at Norm's News?
Jay and Louise divorced in 1968 and he married
Angeline Woodard in 1970. Angel passed away in 1996. Jay and Angel enjoyed a happy home in Lakeside. We were blessed to share many, many fun and happy times there. Jason was a very good friend. He could fix most anything and was always glad to help his family, his friends and his neighbors. Jay believed strongly in the good Lord. He made friends easily and always had a joke to tell because he liked to laugh, and he loved to fish with his friends best of all.
Jay leaves behind a sad family here in Kalispell that includes his children, Gary, Joyce and Richard and Libby Lapp; granddaughter, Elleson; grandson, Hunter; brothers, Ed Lapp and wife, Helen, of Kalispell; Floyd and Claudia Lapp of Molalla, Ore.; sisters-in-law, Mary and Kathryn Lapp; and many nieces and nephews.
Jay's daughter, Cindy (Leta Rupp) and granddaughter, Leslie Rupp preceded him in death.
Please join us for a remembering and sending for Jason at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 26 at Mountain View Mennonite Church. There will be a service, story sharing and a meal. A graveside service for extended family will take place at 1 p.m. at C.E. Conrad Memorial cemetery. Viewing is scheduled at 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24 at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home.
Memorial donations may be made to the Somers/Lakeside Volunteer Fire Department. Please call Joyce at 755-0335 if you need any more information.
Michael Wesley Miller, 53
On Jan. 15, 2011, Michael Wesley Miller passed away, leaving behind his family and friends who loved him very much.
Michael was born on July 8, 1957, and raised in Compton, Calif. At 19 he moved to Sioux Narrows in Ontario, Canada, where his family bought and operated a resort on Lake of the Woods. Michael worked as a fishing guide, which he loved. Along with his family he moved to Kalispell, where after some time he became a deputy sheriff. He was proud to serve in the Flathead County Sheriff’s Department for over a decade and a half.
Michael lost his father in November of 1996, causing him much sadness and changing the course of his life.
Michael was preceded in death by his daughter, McKenzie Miller; his father, Robert Wesley Miller; maternal and paternal grandparents; and his nephew, Steve Gagnon.
He is survived by his son, Robert Wesley Miller, Robert's wife, Carrie, and their daughter, Holly; son, Sam Miller; mother, Joan Miller; sister, Cindy Booth, her son, Matthew Gagnon, Matthew's wife, Isabel, their daughter, Chrystal and son, Noah; Cindy's son, Lucas and his daughter, Katelin and Cindy's sons, Jordan and Wesley Booth; Michael's sister, Tamera Miller McLaurin and her husband, John McLaurin; the woman Michael came to know and love very much, and was planning a future with, Valerie Steiger; his cousin, Linda Seaward and her husband, Richard, mother of Robert, Sam and Carla Reed, and Erica Potts.
Memorial services for Michael will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 28, at the Little Brown Church.
Donations in memory of Michael would be appreciated, to the Sheriff’s Association, in care of Dave Kauffman at the Flathead County Sheriff's Department, 920 South Main, Kalispell MT 59901.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Michael's family.
Lenore ‘Nonie’ Simons, 100
Longtime Whitefish resident Lenore “Nonie” Simons died peacefully at home on Jan. 15, 2011, just a few months after turning 100 years old.
Nonie was born in Villard, Minn., May 18, 1910, on a lovely farm where her father had one of the mechanized farms of the day with gas engines running milking machines, cream separators, corn shuckers and even the washing machine. Nonie’s father also owned one of the first John Deere Implement businesses and sold the first Maytag washers.
Nonie remembers riding to school with her brother, Jack, in a two-seat carriage pulled by her white pony, Maud. Nonie finished school at St. Ben’s Academy in St. Cloud, Minn. She was the valedictorian of her class.
After graduation, Nonie and three friends went to New York City. Nonie worked for the Irving Trust Company until 1931, when she was hired by the Girl Scouts of America to work as secretary to Tess Carter, head of the organization.
While at the Girl Scouts, she had wonderful adventures and loved the experiences of meeting many famous people of the day, including President Hoover’s wife, Lou, who is one of the people credited with starting the Girl Scouts of America. She also met and worked with the wife of President Harding and met Eleanor Roosevelt.
On a summer vacation in Minnesota, Nonie met and married
Richard “Dick” Simons. Dick taught and coached in several towns in Minnesota before they relocated to Whitefish.
After having four children, Nonie returned to the working world in 1958. She worked at the John B. Simons Hospital, eventually handling insurance, billing and then Medicare when it started in 1964. Nonie began typing medical records when doctors began using a Dictaphone to record their medical records in the mid-1960s. When she retired from the hospital, renamed North Valley Hospital, she began working for the Whitefish Clinic. Dr. Ricker has been quoted saying, “Nonie never had a misspelled word, and that was before ‘spell check.’” Nonie finally retired from this job, which she loved, in 1985.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dick Simons; her mother and father; two brothers, and one sister.
She is succeeded by Molly Young and Mert, Joanie Sorensen and Scott, Henry and Jackie Simons, and Barbara Simons; eight grandchildren, Scottie and Kaori Sorensen, Shawn and Donna Sorensen, Chris and Todd Anderson, Michael and Kristen Simons, Josh Young and Dallas, Ian Young and Chrissann, Alexandra Appleton and Abraham, and Carl Appleton; and six great-grandchildren, Teresa and Kyle Sorensen, Alliya and Kassydee Anderson, Evelyn and Connor Young, Sam Simons and Naomi Appleton.
She was loved and admired by all, especially her children, Joanie and Scott Sorensen, Molly Young and Mert Little, Henry and Jackie Simons, and Barbara Simons, who invite all friends to the funeral services at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 20, at St. Charles Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the mission at Los Amigos in Chimbote, Peru, or Soroptimist International of Whitefish.
In her last years, Nonie appreciated the many visits from family and friends, her little dog Mitzi, a Thursday visit from Cy Appel who brought Communion and prayer, and her beloved Connie Kenfield, her joyful friend and helper.
Keith David ‘Diz’ Graham, 79
This is farewell to our kind and gentle giant, our “Honest Abe, ” a man of few words but many examples of what a good man should be. That was Keith David “Diz” Graham.
He was born May 22, 1931, in Great Falls, the son of Lloyd Lavern and Louella Marie (Heathco) Graham.
After many moves and many towns in Montana, Keith grew up in Kalispell, graduated from Flathead County High School, played football and married
Lucille “PeeWee” Burnell.
While raising a family of six, he worked for Coca Cola and then Anaconda Aluminum, where he became an electrician. Family vacations were always in the woods, camping, hiking, huckleberry picking, hunting and fishing.
After retirement at 62, he and PeeWee lived at Lake Blaine and traveled many states, including Alaska, in their motor home. He was a longtime active member of the Evergreen Lions and earned a private pilot’s license.
Keith passed away Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, at age 79.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister; his wife of 58 years, and his son, David.This is farewell to our kind and gentle giant, our “Honest Abe, ” a man of few words but many examples of what a good man should be. That was Keith David “Diz” Graham.
He was born May 22, 1931, in Great Falls, the son of Lloyd Lavern and Louella Marie (Heathco) Graham.
After many moves and many towns in Montana, Keith grew up in Kalispell, graduated from Flathead County High School, played football and married
Lucille “PeeWee” Burnell.
While raising a family of six, he worked for Coca Cola and then Anaconda Aluminum, where he became an electrician. Family vacations were always in the woods, camping, hiking, huckleberry picking, hunting and fishing.
After retirement at 62, he and PeeWee lived at Lake Blaine and traveled many states, including Alaska, in their motor home. He was a longtime active member of the Evergreen Lions and earned a private pilot’s license.
Keith passed away Monday, Jan. 17, 2011, at age 79.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister; his wife of 58 years, and his son, David.
He is survived by his children, Maurcena Watkins, Nora and Charles Thorne, Marcie and Louie Krutch, Steve and Barb Graham, and Margie and Richard Strack. Keith was known as “Papa” to 24 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services for Keith will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Keith’s family.
He is survived by his children, Maurcena Watkins, Nora and Charles Thorne, Marcie and Louie Krutch, Steve and Barb Graham, and Margie and Richard Strack. Keith was known as “Papa” to 24 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Services for Keith will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22, at Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Keith’s family.
Stephen Paul Edquist, 52
Stephen Paul Edquist passed away on Jan. 13, 2011.
Stevie was born May 24, 1958, in Oak Park, Ill. His family moved to Pullman, Wash., when he was 3, and then lived in the beautiful Northwest. He attended junior high and high school in Boise, Idaho, graduating from Boise High. Here is where his love of skiing and fishing began.
He took a double major in philosophy and sociology with honors at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Ore.
After a job with Fish and Game in Idaho, he moved to Seattle where he worked for REI for 18 years. There he acquired tons of gear and even more friends. He climbed Mount Rainier and all the volcanos so many times, fished, kayaked, telemarked, backcountry skied and boated. He became an excellent fisherman, climber and guide.
His love of the mountains brought him to Whitefish where he went back to college to become a radiology technician. He mastered rafting, caught numerous cutthroat, skinned up Big Mountain many times and lived with a wonderful woman who stayed with him until the end.
Steve is survived by his father and stepmother, Ted and Nancy Edquist; brother, David; sister and brother-in-law, Joan and Frank Reberger; niece and nephew, Anna Edquist and Justin Reberger; cousins everywhere; and his love, Cheryl Schankin, and her children, Kylie and Spencer Jugan, and Graham, Amanda, James and Adam Beardsley. Don’t forget, Tulley his dog.
He will be greatly missed.
A celebration of life will take place beginning at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 30, at the Great Northern Bar.
Ruth Esther Kiser, 90
Ruth Esther Kiser, 90, peacefully passed away on Jan. 18, 2011.
She was born in Cascade on July 24, 1920, to George Theodore Overose and Flossie Etta (Bower) Overose. There were five children, Don, Ruth and her twin brother Robert, Theodore “Ted, ” and Marjorie “Marjie.” The family lived south of Great Falls, in the Sullivan Valley. Their two-story home was built by her father, George, and grandfather, Ole Overose. It was constructed from timber cut and milled on their property. In 1926 the family moved to Great Falls so the children could begin school. Summers were spent reading books from the library, roller skating and playing hop scotch.
When Ruth was 10 years old, during the Great Depression, she was walking through the wheat fields one day when a piece of wheat stubble pierced her foot through the hole in her shoe. She was soon diagnosed with a bone disease (osteomylitis) which required five trips to the hospital and as many surgeries. The disease returned five years later, but this time Ruth didn’t tell anyone. The effects of ether and the thought of more surgery made going to the hospital seem unbearable. She recited the Lord’s Prayer over and over, praying for a miracle. Her faith was rewarded and the disease left. This strengthened her faith in God at an early age.
Ruth and Ervin met while they both worked at the Deaconess Hospital in Great Falls. They married
on Aug. 8, 1942, and had been together only six weeks when Ervin was drafted into the Army and sent overseas for two and a half years to England and France during World War II. When he returned, he worked at the Anaconda Copper Smelter where he became a journeyman carpenter.
In 1952 they moved to Columbia Falls with their growing family of three children, Grant, Crystal and Ken. In 1953 Russ was born.
Ervin and Ruth decided to try the restaurant business with no experience at all in that area. Their willingness to work hard made the venture successful. Ervin did the carpentry work on the cafe which was located on Nucleus Avenue. The top floor was Moody’s clothing store and the cafe was in the basement. Every noon hour for 14 years, Ruth worked in the cafe, and also was “on call” when things got busy. Later they moved the cafe, pool table and juke box upstairs and named it Hobby Nobby, selling model cars and magazines as well. The basement was then used for teen dances, the Fireman’s Ball, and reunions. The menu broadened and the name was changed to Erv’s Lunch. The family agrees they were the best burgers and shakes in the Valley!
All the Kiser children were taught how to work at an early age, helping with chores at the shop and working side by side with their dad building houses. Ervin built and remodeled many homes in the Columbia Falls area. When Ervin built the Stop N’ Shop grocery on Railroad Street in 1967 they sold the cafe. Again Ruth helped in the store.
Ruth was an excellent wife, homemaker and mother. Home was her favorite place to be. She showed her love for her family everyday by cooking excellent meals and desserts, and keeping a tidy home. She enjoyed being with her family most of all.
She appreciated the beauties of Northwest Montana, especially Glacier Park. Also, she enjoyed her flower garden, reading good books, camping and picnics with family, and going out to lunch with her sister, Marjie.
In 1989 Ervin was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and became a resident of the Montana Veterans Home. Every day for 10 years Ruth went to visit him. He passed away in 1999.
Ruth was also preceded in death by her brothers, Don, Ted and Robert. Ruth is survived by her children, Grant and Nancy Kiser, Crystal and Kelly Ferguson, Ken and Lorraine Kiser, and Russ Robin Kiser. She has 16 grandchildren and 25 great- grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, M. Marjorie Mac Donald.
Ruth had a clever sense of humor. Her funny one-liners kept us laughing. Ruth was soft spoken and possessed great patience. We can honestly say she never raised her voice or spoke rudely to us. We were very blessed by her kind and gentle manner.
“Mom (Grandma), we love you and we’ll miss you. We’re happy for you and Dad — you’re together in a better place. We will see you again one day.”
The family sincerely wishes to thank the Montana Veterans Home for the great care they gave to their mother.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Columbia Falls.Graveside services will follow at Woodlawn cemetery.
Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls is assisting the family.
Arlene M. (Tracy) Walker, 73
On Jan. 18, 2011, Arlene M. (Tracy) Walker of Whitefish passed away at her home after a brief fight with cancer. Robert Walker, her husband of 37 years, was at her side, along with her sons.
Arlene was born on Sept. 24, 1937, in Livingston.
She graduated from Park County High School in Livingston in 1955 and married
Bozeman native Rudolf W. Nelson on Nov. 16, 1956.
Arlene was a telephone operator for Mountain States Telephone from 1955 to 1960. While raising three sons, she also worked for Miller’s Jewelers and Singer Company in Bozeman.
On April 26, 1974, she married
Robert B. Walker of Columbia Falls. They moved to Whitefish, where they resided for the duration of her life.
Arlene will be remembered for her devotion to God, family and friends. She was an active member of the Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish. Those that know Arlene will know that her sons, grandchildren and great-grandchild were the joy of her life.
She was preceded in death by her father, Elza Willis Tracy, and mother, Nadean Mardell Caldwell Stipp. She is survived by her husband, Robert; sons, Gregory Nelson of Las Vegas, Robert Nelson and family of Olney, Md., and John Nelson of Livingston; two sisters, Pamela A. Putnam and Laura M. Nicholson, both of Livingston; a brother, James L. Stipp, of Bonny Lake, Wash.; five grandchildren; one great- grandson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 22, at Christ Lutheran Church, 5150 River Lakes Parkway in Whitefish.
In lieu of flowers, please make charitable donations to Christ Lutheran Church, your local hospice care, or to the charity of your choice.
