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THOMAS P. TENAS
POLSON -- Thomas P. Tenas, 78, of Elmo, died on March 15, 2005, at St. Joseph Hospital here. Tom was born on Sept. 11, 1926, in Grasmere, B.C., Canada, to Samuel Pierre Tenas and Annie Pierre. He grew up in Canada until moving to Kalispell and Niarada at the age of 15. He married Anna Andrews and they lived in Hungry Horse. They moved to Elmo and Tom began working in timber industry as a logger and heavy equipment operator. Tom was member of the Salish-Kootenai Tribes. Tom enjoyed shooting pool, hunting, fishing, mechanics, stick games, playing chess, attending powwows and baseball games. He especially loved his dog "Buster." He is preceded in death by seven children: Doris, Tommy, Randy, Mary, Marcelene, Joseph and Nate. He is survived by his wife Anna (Elmo) and his children: Betty Nichols, Frankie Tenas, Annette Tenas and Vern Tenas (all of Elmo), Bernadine Tenas, Alvina Tenas and Ron Tenas (all of Dayton), Tim Tenas (Turtle Lake) and Janice Tenas (Polson). He is also survived by two sisters, Lucy Caye (Elmo) and Theresa Pierre (Grasmere, B.C.); 34 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Traditional wake services were conducted at the Elmo Hall. Rosary was recited on March 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Elmo Hall. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on March 18 at the Elmo Hall. Burial followed at the Dayton Cemetery.
JAMES JOSEPH VIOLETTE
ST. IGNATIUS -- James Joseph Violette, 91, died on March 10, 2005, of natural causes at Millpond Assisted Living here. Jim was born on July 23, 1913, in Deer Lodge, the son of Edmond and Mabel (Barnden) Violette. He grew up and attended school in Deer Lodge. After graduating high school, the family moved to St. Ignatius, where he worked on the family ranch. He married Gladys English on November of 1937. Jim's first job was on the Flathead Mine outside of Niarada. After the mine years, they returned to the ranch on Post Creek. During WW II, Jim worked in Oregon at the shipyards as a welder. In 1962 he began work for the University of Montana as a night watchman and moved to mechanic in the motor pool, and ran that until he retired in 1975. Jim and Gladys proudly maintained and shared the bounty of their renowned, perfect, weedless garden with family and friends. Jim was a mechanic who was seldom paid. When machine parts were unavailable, he would manufacture what was needed. Jim was on a competition sharpshooter team and an avid hunter. He belonged to a flying club and enjoyed flying a Piper Cub. Committed to his community, he helped organize a Civil Air Patrol and participated as a ham radio operator, taught hunter safety, and was a rural volunteer firefighter. Survivors include his wife Gladys; brother Edmond Violette and wife Gloria (Boulder, CO); two sons: Bill and wife, Jenny (Missoula); and Glenn and wife Patricia McLaughlin (Whitefish); and daughter, Betty (Bigfork); grandchildren, Mike and wife Cheryl and their two children, Max and Emily; Kris Violette (Missoula); Porter Dassenko and wife Anita (Belgrade); and two great-granddaughters, Bridget and Natasha Dassenko; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Cremation has taken place.
MARILYN WALKER
Marilyn Louise (Larson) Walker died of cancer on March 8, 2005, after a valiant battle with cancer. On Feb. 26, 1935, Marilyn was born in St. Ignatius, to Lee and Elizabeth Larson. Marilyn, a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, grew up on a farm near Polson, and graduated from Polson High School in 1953. Marilyn was recruited for employment with General Electric and moved to Richland, WA. In 1973, she made a career change and moved to Las Vegas, NV, where she worked for the Dept. of Energy in their accounting office. Eventually, she returned to the Tri-Cities and worked for the DOE in Richland until her retirement in 1994. Marilyn married Robert (Bob) Walker in 1972. He preceded her in death in 2001. Marilyn is survived by her son, David A. Walker (Spokane); a granddaughter, Brianna Walker (Trego, MT); two step-daughters, Sally Smith (Sedona, AZ) and Linda (Jon) Drake (Monmouth, OR). Also surviving are her three sisters and brothers-in-law: Judith and Donald Willard (Kennewick, WA), Loretta and Larry Juhnke (Steilacoom, WA), and Imelda and Jim Burton (Anchorage, AK); and a sister-in-law, Cleo and Charles Jensen (Richland, WA); plus numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. A celebration of life was held for Marilyn on March 18 at the Einans Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Cancer Society, Tri-Cities Chaplaincy Hospice, 2108 West Entiat, Kennewick, WA 99336, or a charity of the donor's choice. Express your thoughts and memories in the Guest Book.
VONNIE GREGG WEBSTER
Vonnie Gregg Webster died on March 30, 2005, after a courageous battle against pancreatic cancer. Vonnie was born on Feb. 2, 1946, to Ollie and Lenore Gregg, along with her two older brothers, Keith and Robin Gregg. On Aug. 7, 1965, she married the love of her life, Dennis Webster, and they had two children, Gregg and Lennie Webster. Vonnie attended the University of Montana and graduated with her teaching degree in 1970. She began her teaching career in Chicago at Lindbloom High School. After teaching six years on the Southside of Chicago, she returned to Montana and was devoted to her students for 25 years at Kicking Horse Job Corps. Vonnie enjoyed bowling and was proud of her induction to the Mission Valley Women's Bowling Hall of Fame. She loved reading and shared that love with her family, friends and students. She was a member of the Ronan Women's Club and also enjoyed traveling with her husband and to many golf courses in numerous states. Though she had many hobbies, being a Griz fan was #1. Vonnie and Dennis were both North End Zoners. She loved to scream and holler for the Griz and traveled to many places to root them on to victory. Vonnie's favorite places in the world were her Spring Creek home in Ronan and the family cabin on Flathead Lake. A summer memorial at Kamp Kil Kare (Flathead Lake) will be announced at a later date.
BERNARD KNABE
BUTTE -- Bernard Knabe, 62, who was known as Dick, died on on March 29, 2005, at his home here. A member of the Salish-Kootenai Tribes, he was born to Richard Knabe and Lurena Liberty Keski on Jan. 10, 1943, in St. Ignatius. Dick enjoyed entertaining by cooking flavorful dishes, singing karaoke and dancing. He also enjoyed playing cards and board games. Dick lived in California, Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana. He had worked as a miner and retired as a lumber grader in Frenchtown. Dick was preceded in death by his parents and brother. He is survived by his loved ones Rose, his sister Gloria, children: Jolyn, Jason, Becky, Don D., Shonna, Brad and Todd; stepchildren Lisa and Scot and their spouses; 15 grandchildren and two step-grandchildren as well many extended family members. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on April 1 in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Interment followed in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery. The family asks that memorials be made to Rose Marthaller, 1920 Garrison Butte, MT 59701 (medical donations).
GRACE G. LILLEY
POLSON -- Grace G. Lilley, 84, died on March 24, 2005, at Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center here from natural causes. She was born in Hourlford, Scotland, on May 17, 1920, near the township of Newmilns. Grace Goldy McMurtrie grew up in a war-torn era; the Third Reich had declared England an enemy by the time Grace had reached adulthood. An educated young Scottish lady, Grace wanted to contribute any way she could in the fight against Hitler's regime, so she joined the British army as a shorthand typist. In 1945, Grace met the love of her life, an American G.I., and signed Wedding Banns in Hourlford. One year later she would make the long sea journey aboard an American military vessel to New York City, where her husband greeted her to a new life. Grace followed her husband, Fred R. Lilley, to Montana in 1946. A woman of intelligence, knowing four languages, she became a court stenographer, working for many years under such prestigious names as C.B. McNeil, Gene Turnage and Gene Hammond, before retiring. Grace became an American citizen in the fall of 1996. Crossword puzzles, anagrams, and cooking for anyone who crossed her threshold were just some of the many things Grace enjoyed doing. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister-in-law. She is survived by her husband of nearly 60 years, Fred R.; her son Donald and daughter-in law Eva M. Lilley; her brother in Scotland, Hugh McMurtrie; three grandchildren; three great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Scotland. A memorial service was held on March 30 at the Grogan Funeral Home. Cremation followed services and inurnment of the cremains with military honors took place at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson.
MILDRED JOHNSON
MISSOULA -- Mildred Irene 'Millie' Johnson died at the Evergreen nursing home on March 12, 2005, at the age of 84. Millie was born on June 22, 1920, in Hot Springs, to Verne and Irene Dolson. The family lived on a ranch at Camas Prairie and she and her sister attended school in Hot Springs. After graduating from high school, she attended St. Patrick Hospital's School of Nursing in Missoula. In 1945 she married her husband, Cal, and they moved to Alaska. The family moved to Missoula in 1959. Millie worked at Community Medical Center for 25 years as a registered nurse. She retired in 1984. Millie worked at several volunteer jobs including Reach for Recovery as she was a breast cancer survivor. She also enjoyed traveling. She is survived by her three children, Sharon, Pam and Dave and his wife Carrie; a sister, Verna Mae (Coupeville, WA); one granddaughter and one great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her husband in 1973. Memorial services were held on March 15 at Garden City Funeral Home.
ESTHER LARGENT
PABLO -- Esther Loredia "Rita" Largent, 70, of Pablo, died on March 10, 2005, at St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan. She was born on Jan. 14, 1935, in Petros, TN, to James and Ella (Lilles) Langley. She married Louis Largent on June 22, 1950, in Watburg, TN. She and Louis moved to Cleveland, then back to the Mission Valley in 1957. Rita loved to read, garden, play cards and take drives in the mountains. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Jewell Juanita Henry. She is survived by her husband, Louis (Pablo); brother and sister-in-law J.B. and Mary Langly (Clinton, TN); sons and their wives, James and Connie (Charlo), John and Marianne (Ronan), Tony Largent (Polson), and Alan and Brenda (Ronan); daughter-in-law Jackie and sister-in-law Eva Bray (both of Polson); brothers-in-law Gene Largent (Tacoma, WA), and Bill Largent (Moiese); grandchildren Julie (Fred) Harris, Jesse (Jennifer), Wendy (Danell) Thingelstad, Tracy (Jonathan) Ayersman, Steve, Mike and John Largent, Brianna Largent and Jason Stevens; and eight great-grandchildren. A graveside service was held on March 14 at the Lakeview Cemetery in Polson.
