Search Archived Marriage Records
Helen Benzien
Helen D. Benzien, a former Columbia Falls resident, 63, died June 13, 2001, in Great Falls of pneumonia.
She was born Jan. 26, 1938, in Columbia Falls. She grew up and attended schools in Columbia Falls.
She married Merideth Benzien on Jan. 28, 1956 in Columbia Falls, and they were later divorced in 1972, and she married Richard Turpin on Jan. 26, 1976.
She worked as a bank clerk in San Francisco, managed apartments in Helena and Great Falls, and worked as a foster grandparent at Headstart in Great Falls.
She was a member of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
She enjoyed children, people, dogs and was an avid patriot.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Turpin, in 1998, and a daughter, Stadie, in 1962.
She is survived by her daughter, Teena Corwin of Helena; two sons, Jerry Benzien and Donald Benzien, both of Columbia Falls; a brother, Lloyd Ogden of Snohomish, Wash.
Memorial service was held June 16 at the Ulm Bridge.
Memorials may be sent to Headstart or the Great Falls Humane Society.
Bernice Eastman
Bernice Eastman, 83, died June 14, 2001, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.
She was born on Columbus Day, Oct. 12, 1917, in Bellevue, Mich., to Gerald and Josephine (Burton) Walkinshaw.
She grew up in Bellevue, Mich., attending school and graduated from high school there. On June 6, 1936, she married the love of her life, Milo Eastman. The couple lived in Michigan for several years before moving to Arizona in 1950. While in Arizona, Milo worked as a rancher, farmer, and on a large dairy. She not only maintained the home and mothered their large family, but also joined in all the daily chores on the farms and ranches.
In 1958, the family moved to the Flathead Valley, and began a sawmill operation. She continued to maintain the household as well as work as a great cook that fed all the logging crews as they came by.
She was a very avid music lover, with a collection of over 3,000 records and tapes of all types of music. She enjoyed reading, flowers, sewing and quilting. She was a wonderful mother and grandma, and enjoyed all of the family gatherings very much.
She was a member of the Rebekahs, the Ferndale Sewing Circle, and was an avid Bunco and Bingo player.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Milo, in 1977; her parents; one son, Ivan; three grandsons, Russell, Bobby, and Tim; four brothers, and one sister.
She is survived by three sons, Glen Eastman and his wife, LaVon of Kalispell, Leland Eastman and his wife, Wynona of Ferndale, and Paul Eastman of Tucson, Ariz.; three daughters, Arlene Eastman of Bigfork, Ilene Prengel and her husband, Jerry of Mesa, Ariz., and Gloria Redmond and her husband, Bill of Kalispell; 11 grandchildren; 11 step-great-grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two step-great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four sisters; one brother, and numerous nieces and nephews.
At her request, cremation has taken place. A private memorial service was held at the home of her son, Leland Eastman on June 17.
The family suggests memorials to the Parkinson's Foundation, Parkinson's INR Center, Benefits Health Care West, 500 15th Avenue South, Great Falls MT 59405.
Blaine Egle
Blaine L. Egle, 67, died June 13, 2001, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
He was born Aug. 11, 1933, in Sanborn, Minn., to Elmer and Betty Egle.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his living wife of 45 years, Mary; two daughters, Chris and Kathy; four sisters, and two brothers.
Memorial service was held June 18, at Johnson Mortuary Chapel with Father Vic Langhans of Saint Matthew's Catholic church officiating.
The family suggests memorials to the Kalispell Human Society, 43 Woodland Park, Kalispell MT 59901, or to W.I.N.G.S. (a program helping the families of cancer treatment patients with incidental expenses during treatment) c/o Kalispell Regional Medical Center, Department of Radiation Therapy, 310 Sunnyview Lane, Kalispell MT 59901.
Linda Hutchins
Linda Louise Marie Hutchins, 53, died June 15, 2001, at the University of Seattle Medical Center in Seattle, Wash., after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born on Aug. 12, 1947, in New Ulm, Minn., to Gilbert and Phyllis (Krohn) Schwartz.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Gilbert Schwartz, Sr., and Phyllis McCowan.
She is survived by her husband and best friend, LeeRoy at the family home; her brothers, John Schwarts of Auburn, Wash., Steven Schwartz and Gilbert Schwartz both of Kalispell; her sisters, Judy Schwartz of Spokane, Wash., and Pat Kaulitzke of Reno, Nev., and several nieces and nephews. She was a very special person to many and will be missed by all.
Funeral service will be held June 22 at 10 a.m., at Johnson Mortuary with Father Vic Langhans of Saint Matthew's Catholic Church officiating. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday (today), June 21 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Johnson Mortuary Chapel.
The family suggest memorials to the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, P.O. Box 19023, Seattle WA 98109-1023.
Nordis Jacobson
Nordis Josephine Jacobson, 89, died June 17, 2001, at her home in Kalispell, with family members at her bedside.
She was born Feb. 3, 1912, the oldest daughter of the seven children of Harry B. and Amanda (Johnson) Henricksen, early pioneer residents of Kalispell.
She was preceded in death by her brother, Gordon "Pink" Henricksen, and sister, Phyllis (Bolton) Felix.
She is survived by her daughter, Jane Powell and husband, Terry, grandson Thor, all of Kalispell, Erik and wife, Karen of Slidell, La.; son, Arne Schuster and wife, Cindy of Colusa, Calif., with granddaughter, Heather Kiplinger and husband, Scott of Sacramento, Calif., grandson, Eric Schuster and step grandson, Mark Schuster both of Colusa, Calif.; brothers Harry, Howard and Homer of Kalispell; sister, Leona Lenschow and husband, Hans and family of Bellevue, Wash., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial service will be held June 22, at 11 a.m., at Bethlehem Lutheran Church with Pastor Len Erickson officiating. A private family urn burial will be at Conrad Memorial Cemetery at a later time. The family suggests memorials, in her name, to the Salvation Army, the ELCA World Hunger through Bethlehem Lutheran Church or charity of your choice.
Glen Lake
Glen W. Lake, 79, died June 12, 2001, at the Brendan House.
He was born March 31, 1922, in Loring to Herman E. and Carrie (Gunvalson) Lake.
He grew up and attended high school in Loring. He married Fay Natalie Powell on Dec. 31, 1948, in Malta.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1942. He was the flight engineer and top gunner on a B-24 bomber during World War II. He flew 50 combat missions during five battle campaigns. He received the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the EAME Ribbon with five bronze stars and a Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1945 and served as an instructor in the National Guard, where he achieved the rank of second lieutenant.
In 1948, he worked for the Ford garage in Malta, and in 1952 he began work for J. Neils Lumber Co. which was bought out by St. Regis Lumber, and later bought out by Champion. He retired in 1984. During his career with the lumber companies, he attained the top rank in certification as a lumber grader.
He was preceded in death by brothers, Joseph and Lutheran Arnie Lake; sister, Clarice Drydahl, and parents, Herman and Carrie Lake.
He is survived by his wife, Fay at the family home in Libby; son, Ron and wife, Debbie Lake of Astoria, Ore.; daughter, Darlene and husband, Arne Bowker of Kalispell; brothers, Norman and wife, Esther Lake of Port Ludlow, Wash., Gordon and wife, Mary Lake of Moses Lake, Wash.; granddaughters, Carey and husband, Berrett Francis of Las Cruces, N.M.; great-grandchildren, Nicole and husband, Zak of Las Cruces, N.M., Spencer Brinton of Rio Rancho, N.M., and numerous nieces and nephews.
At his request, no services will be held. Memorials, in his name, may be sent to the Muscular Dystrophy Foundation, c/o First Interstate Bank, P.O. Box 30918, Billings MT 59116.
