Search Archived Marriage Records
HELEN MAY COWIN
TACOMA, Wash. -- Helen May Cowin died here on Sept. 23, 2001. She was born April 30, 1917, in St. Ignatius to Thurman and Mary Sousley. Trauma to the left side of her brain at the age of 39 left her with a metal plate in her head and the loss of her independence. She spent a number of years in hospitals and nursing homes before taking up residence with her sister, Grace, for 22 years, and then her niece, Joyce, for almost 17 years. She was preceded in death by her brother, Henry Sousley, and her parents. She is survived by her son, Sid Cowin (Anacortes, WA); her daughter, Mary Webber (Klamath Falls, OR); a sister, Grace S. Kaflestad (Tacoma, WA); a brother, James Sousley (Kennewick, WA); five grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
BUCK CRISLER
POLSON -- Carey D. "Buck" Crisler, 61, Polson, died of cancer on Sept. 20, 2001, at the Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Thomas Crisler. Survivors include his wife, Gwendalyn (Polson); his father, Fredrick Crisler (Anaconda); two sons, Carey Crisler (Butte) and William Crisler (Anaconda); a stepdaughter, Teresa Williams (Whitefish); four brothers, Jim Crisler, Toby Crisler and Jeff Crisler (all of Anaconda) and Bob Crisler (Butte); two sisters, Alvina Fortner and Patsy Davis (both of Anaconda); and numerous grandchildren. A memorial service was held on Sept. 27 in Anaconda.
GLORIA DANIELS
HOT SPRINGS -- Gloria Dixon Underdal Daniels, 62, died here on Aug. 22, 2001. Memorial services were Sept. 29 at the Hot Springs Bible Church.
ESTES C. DEMPSEY
POLSON -- Estes C. Dempsey, 83, died on Dec. 12, 2001, of natural causes at St. Joseph Hospital.
He was born April 7, 1918, in Browning.
He was married to Mary Eva Dotson but they divorced in 1943. Estes joined the U.S. Army in June 1944 and served in Europe during World War II, receiving a Purple Heart and Bronze Star.
He was preceded in death by his parents and four siblings.
He is survived by a daughter, Barbara York (Marysville, MO); a brother, Kermit (Lower City, MO); and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were Dec. 21 at the Jocko Cemetery.
RUTH DeVOR
RONAN -- Ruth 'Blackie' E. DeVor died here on Dec. 22, 2001.
She was born May 9, 1931, to Frank and Edna Kirsch in Burnstad, ND. She moved to Ronan when she was six years old and attended school there, graduating from Ronan High School.
She had six children whom she raised in Ronan.
She had part ownership in the Valley Club Bar and Cafe until her divorce. She also worked in retail businesses.
Ruth was a very social person who loved to tell jokes. In her younger days she was an avid bowler and had some dandy stories about bowling trips. She loved to go fishing with her friends and had many memories of Brown's Lake. She smoked the best fish and everyone will really miss that.
She enjoyed her weekly card games with her friends, visiting at the Senior Citizens Center, working in her yard and garden, and reading. She also enjoyed her morning coffee at the Valley Club and Bakery.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Everett DeVor; her sister, Mabel; three brothers, Bud, Walt and Curt; and one grandchild and one great-grandchild.
She is survived by her six children, Kenny and Donnita Snyder, Kathy and Ted Coffman, Kim Snyder, and Kristine and Jim Paro (all of Ronan), Kay and Bill Langan (Spokane) and Kelly and Walt Bailey (Valley View); 17 grandkids, 17 great-grandkids; brother and sisters Adam and Bonnie Kirsch (Ronan), Mary Jane and Ken Erickson (Fort Bragg, CA), and Gayle Booher (Portland, OR); sisters-in-law May Kirsch (Weiser, ID) and Betty Kirsch (Antelope, CA); and numerous nieces and nephews.
JIM DUBAY
POLSON -- Jim Dubay, formerly of Montana, died at his home in Santa Fe, N.M., of lung cancer, on Aug. 31, 2001.
Born Oct. 11, 1936, to Herbert and Pearl Dubay, the family moved to Deer Lodge in 1949.
He graduated from Powell County High School in 1954 and from Carroll College. He also earned a law degree from the University of Montana. He retired in 1998, as CEO of EG&G Florida.
He is survived by his mother; wife; five children and their spouses; brother and sister-in-law, Don and Lesley (Polson); a sister, Chris (Deer Lodge); and sister-in-law Mary Ann (Great Falls).
Memorials may be made to Our Savior's School, Highway A1A, Coco Beach, FL 32931.
GORDON OSCAR ECKMAN
POLSON -- Gordon Oscar Eckman, 82, died at his home here on Sept. 14, 2001, from natural causes.
He was born Aug. 6, 1919, in Kerkhoven, Minn. After his parents died, he lived with his sister in Montana. He was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1941, serving during World War II.
On Nov. 4, 1950, he married Clara Bartlett in Polson. Gordon worked for the state of Montana as a surveyor for 40 years, living in many areas of western Montana. The couple lived in Dillon for 35 years before moving to Finley Point, where they built their home in 1992.
He was a member of the Methodist Church and the Elks Lodge for 35 years.
His sister also preceded him in death.
Surviving are his wife, Clara Eckman (Polson); two daughters, Erin Herman (Missoula) and Laurie Latimer (Kalispell); a son, Michael Eckman (Salem, Ore.); six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorial services were Sept. 21 at the First United Methodist Church in Polson.
Memorials may be made to a hospice of the donor's choice.
PABLO J. ESPINOZA
ARLEE -- Pablo J. "Sarge" Espinoza passed away in the early morning hours of Jan. 6, 2002, due to complications of infection after open-heart surgery.
Sarge was born on Nov.13, 1932, at St. Ignatius. He was raised at the family ranch in Arlee. He attended Arlee Schools until the 8th grade, when he began working as a logger. In 1951, he joined the Air Force and worked as a fireman. He was stationed in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1953, he met and married his wife, Nadine. He was in the Air Force until 1955. He then returned to Arlee and to logging. In 1957, he moved back to Lake Worth, Texas and received training as a barber. He worked as a barber until 1962, when he returned to Arlee to stay. He worked for the Tribal Forestry Division from 1964 until 1970. He then became a forestry instructor at the Kicking Horse Job Corps. In 1985, he left the Job Corps and began working as a Maintenance Supervisor at the Arlee School. In 1991, he retired and has been living a life of "leisure" ever since.
He was the type of person who was well-liked not just because he was funny but because of his genuine, kind-hearted, good nature. He was always busy doing something for someone. He was the epitome of community spirit. Any time there was a need at the school or anywhere in the Jocko Valley, he would be spearheading and implementing the solution.
For 48 years, he was the life partner of Nadine, who was by his side during his final days. He took great care of his mother, Annie. She will miss seeing him every morning. He was a good brother to his siblings and acted as head of the family for many years. He was a good father who always had words of encouragement and kindness for his children.
He was an avid outdoorsman who knew every inch of the Jocko as if it were as if it were his own backyard. Actually, he knew a little bit about everything. He was "Grandpa Sarge" to many children in the valley.
Sarge was preceded in death by his father, Pablo Espinoza, Sr.; his brother, Carl; and his sister, Anita Hanson. He is survived by his wife, Nadine; his son, Pablo Espinoza (Chib) and his wife, Deb; his daughters and their spouses, Paula (Prentis) Wofford, Loretta (Gregg) Willoughby, and Donnetta (Dave) Ricci; 11 grandchildren; his mother, Annie Espinoza; brothers Dib and Pat Espinoza; and a sister, Lolita Hendrickson.
Funeral services were held on Jan. 9. Cremation followed the services.
DONALD V. FROLIN
RONAN -- Donald V. Frolin, 74, died on Dec. 19, 2001, of natural causes at the St. Luke Extended Care Facility here.
Memorial services with military honors were held on Dec. 22 in Ronan.
