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Laila H. Lewis
Date of Death: Aug 6, 2012
Location of Service: Whitesitt Funeral Home - Stevensville
SEELEY LAKE – Laila Lewis passed away Aug. 6, 2012, at the age of 72 surrounded by loved ones at her home in Seeley Lake after a courageous battle with cancer.
She once had a restaurant in Seeley Lake called Laila’s Little Norway, where open-faced sandwiches and a Norwegian smorgasbord-type menu were the fare. Let it be known with humor and a chuckle that she ran away with the local “garbage man” by the name of Charles “Chuck” Lewis, who was a regular customer. They were married
in 1977 on midsummer’s eve at the Sons of Norway Normanden Lodge in Lolo.
Laila leaves behind her devoted husband Chuck; sons Knut and Hans; and immediate Lewis family members Dick and Cindy, Gary and Cheryl, Rene and Barrie and Tammy. She will sadly be missed by her sisters Solveig and Aase and brother Kjell. She was a proud grandmother to Brandy, Wendy, Robyn, Samantha, Paul, Kenny, Christian, Makayla, Katelyn, Zachary and Skylar. There are currently five great-grandchildren who will grow up to hear stories about a wonderful woman.
Laila was predeceased by her parents Egil and Ingeborg Madsen and four brothers, Oyvind, Hans, Finn, and Jan.
Laila was the youngest of eight, born in Oslo on Jan. 11, 1940, and the only one who left Norway after she turned 18. She dedicated her life to taking care of others, and she loved to cook and bake. She believed laughter made you live longer, had many friends wherever she went, and was one of the strongest and kindest women we all knew. She had love for all and will be missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Laila’s memory to the “Bring Me Back to Norway Fund” to help honor her wish to escort her ashes back to Norway to be laid to rest with her family, which can be sent to First Valley Bank, P.O. Box 720, Seeley Lake, MT 59868, Attention: Laila Lewis Memorial Fund.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, at Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville. Sharing, caring and socializing with a lunch provided will follow at the First Baptist Church down the street.
Gerhart "Gary" Nelson
Date of Death: Jul 24, 2012
Location of Service: Stevensville United Methodist Church - Stevensville
STEVENSVILLE – Gerhart ‘Gary’ Nelson, age 86, of Stevensville went to be with Jesus Tuesday morning July 24, 2012. He passed peacefully in his sleep at his home in Stevensville.
Gary was born in 1926 to his mother Anna and his father Gay. His father, who fought and was injured in World War I, made a living working on the railroad. Gary was the oldest of four boys. Some of his fond childhood memories included his dog, swimming in the Yellowstone River with his pals and learning about Jesus. Among his not so fond memories were watching his parents struggle through the Depression, his violin lessons and his school work.
He turned out to be a “late bloomer” when it came to his academics. He went on to earn his B.S. of Forestry from Montana State University (now UM) in Missoula. At the age of 25 he was drafted into the Korean War and served two years as a cartographer in the Army.
He then returned to UM in Missoula to finish his masters degree in Forestry, and began his career in the U.S. Forest Service.
His illustrious career in the Forest Service including being a smokechaser and putting out a fire on an adjoining mountain during the infamous Mann Gulch fire in Helena, being one of the first Job Corp supervisors and being the supervisor of different forests. When he retired in 1983, he was the supervisor of range and watershed for Region 1.
He met the girl of his dreams at a dance club in Deer Lodge. Julia Schaefbauer. She was a local school teacher and in December 1957 they were married
.
At the age of 39 he became a father with his first son Gary J. and 17 months later his second son Terry.
In 1978 they finally settled in Stevensville where they have lived and served in the community until now.
He and Julie were also very involved in each community they lived in. They attended church, taught Sunday School, participated in small Bible studies, and did volunteer work with the local schools, charities and civic organizations. Gary also served on several boards including the Stevensville Methodist Church board, the Stevensville School Board and the Ravalli County Planning Board.
Gary was also a “late bloomer” when it came to his study of music. He took up violin again after retirement and began taking lessons from Dr. Dody, a professor at UM.
He loved classical music and opera and he improved his abilities with the violin and began to do small and various performances. He also loved children and eventually, after many requests, he began to teach violin to local students.
Gary’s life has been one of love and compassion to his fellow man, a devoted husband of 55 years, a loving father to more than his own, and model citizen to the communities where he lived, a beloved violin teacher, a constant and faithful friend.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gay and Anna; his brothers, Burton and Sylvan; and his son Gary J. He is survived by his brother, Marvin, of Bozeman; wife, Julie, and son, Terry (Darlene) of Hamilton; his four grandchildren, Seth, Mark, Jessica and Devin; other extended family and many others he touched throughout his life that considered him a father figure.
Gary touched so many with his love of people that there are many stories out there. Gary’s memorial service celebrating his life will be on Aug. 2. Come with your memory story of Gary, if you are shy write it out and it can be read.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012 at the United Methodist Church in Stevensville. A graveside service will follow and then a reception back at the church.
Jacqueline I. "Jackie" Anderson
Date of Death: Oct 4, 2012
Location of Service: St. Mary's Catholic Church - Stevensville
STEVENSVILLE – Jacqueline I. “Jackie” Anderson, 80, passed away Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, at her home in Stevensville. She was born Oct. 28, 1931, in Indianapolis to James and Marie (Benges) Gray.
Jackie met Bill Anderson in the summer of 1958 and this union resulted in 53 wonderful years of marriage.
Jackie had two great loves, her family and her faith. She was especially proud of her six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She loved her animals as they loved her. She also loved horses, especially the ones her granddaughter rode in barrel racing competitions.
She was the parish secretary for 13 years at St. Mary’s Mission Catholic Church, working for three different priests. She had a very strong faith. She loved the rosary and recited it daily. It was her quiet time that she enjoyed so very much.
In the 1980s she was an EMT on the local ambulance. In her younger years she loved to square dance and crochet. She was an avid reader, reading at least one book a week and sometimes two.
She raised her family in Indianapolis and San Diego. While raising three children, she was active in all their activities, youth groups, kickball at Holy Cross Catholic Church and Boy Scouts of America.
While in San Diego during her husband’s Navy career, she was the Captain’s Ombudsman coordinating events for the enlisted wives and worked closely with the Captain’s wife for six years. In 1977 the Navy relocated Bill and Jackie to Montana, where they retired.
Jackie disliked traveling, however she thoroughly enjoyed what was at the destination, which most of the time was her children and their families.
Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, at St. Mary’s Mission Catholic Church. A vigil service will begin at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, Oct. 10, at 11 a.m. also at the church. Interment will follow in St. Mary’s cemetery. A reception will follow in the family center at the church. The family suggests memorial donations may be made in Jackie’s name to the Seminarian Formation Appeal, P.O. Box 1729, Helena, MT 59624-1729.
John "JJ" "Jay" Hall, Jr.
Date of Death: Jun 7, 2012
Location of Service: Whitesitt Funeral Home - Stevensville
STEVENSVILLE – John R. “JJ” “Jay” Hall Jr., 14, of Stevensville, passed away Thursday, June 7, 2012, from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident. Jay was born on Oct. 28, 1997, in Shreveport, La., to Janet Lee Martain and John Raymond Hall Sr. Jay had just graduated from the eighth grade. He enjoyed hanging out with his friends and family. He also enjoyed reading the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” listening to music, drawing all kinds of pictures and playing video games.
Survivors include his mother, Janet Martain; his father, John R. Hall Sr.; two brothers, Christianlee and Austin; his uncle, Greg; grandmother, Cheryl Hartwig; grandfather, Gregory Martain; three stepbrothers; one stepsister and stepdad, Walter Krosinski.
A private family service will be held.
