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KIM J. McCREA
ST. IGNATIUS -- Kim J. "Humphrey" McCrea, 48, of Mission Dam Homesites, died on March 14, 2002, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Humphrey was born in St. Ignatius on Dec. 7, 1953, to Robert A. and Dorthy (Couture) McCrea. Raised in Dixon, he graduated from Dixon High School before going to Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, where he completed his degree in carpentry.
He is best known for his casual way of taking walks all over the valley and his love of visiting. A favorite among kids, Humphrey was forever taking them to the Malt Shop and to play games. He was also an avid fisherman.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters and brothers: Linda, Laura, Brad, Monica, Vida and Kean.
He never married but leaves behind his many special friends including Zetra Wheeler; his daughter, Jennifer Shelby (Missoula); brothers and sisters Robert McCrea and Mike McCrea (Pablo), Doug McCrea and Tracy McCrea (Ronan), Kevin McCrea (Polson) and Edie McCrea Colman (Whitefish).
Traditional wake services began March 15 at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on March 18 at the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Interment followed at St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.
RONALD E. MCLEOD
ARLEE -- Ronald Eugene "Buzzy" McLeod, 57, died on Jan. 13, 2002, in Missoula.
Buzzy was born April 1, 1944, in Bremerton, WA, to Eugene and Lillian (Estes) McLeod. Raised in the Arlee area, he graduated from Arlee High School. He married Annette Whitworth in 1963 and they made their home in Missoula.
In 1991 he went to work for Salish Kootenai College in Pablo, where he always will lovingly be known as the "Buzzdriver." A member of the Salish-Kootenai Tribes, Buzzy had a love for cars, whether it was looking at clean, old cars and giving an honest appraisal of them or just plain driving.
He was preceded in death by his father, Eugene; grandfather, Bernard; and aunt, June.
Survivors include his grandmother, Regina McLeod (Arlee); his mother, Lillian Manthe (Spangle, WA); a sister, Sharlene Larance (Helena); his children and their spouses, Kay McLeod (Arlee), and Lyle and LeEllen (Arlee); nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Wake services began on Jan. 16 at the Longhouse. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Jan. 18 in St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Cremation followed.
LAURA JANE MANNERS
SAN LEANDRO, Calif. -- Laura Jane (Grenier) Manners died on April 5 at her home here.
Laura was the daughter of Joseph Grenier, a member of the Salish-Kootenai Nation who worked for the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
She was born in St. Ignatius on Nov. 19, 1922, and relocated from Montana to California with two children, Bruce Davies, now of Castro Valley, CA, and Suzie (Davies) Ferguson (deceased). She felt a strong tie to her heritage and enjoyed the Char-Koosta News.
Her aunt, Jeane Wrobel, still resides in Montana.
Laura is survived by her husband, Robert, daughters Gail and Alison, her niece and nephew, Nancy and Eric Feathers (whose sister, Julie Horton, died on Jan. 26, 2002); 11 grandchildren; and "2.5" great-grandchildren.
"She was the epitomy of grace and Christian forgiveness," her family notes. She was also an active, award-winning volunteer in her community and enjoyed teaching Sunday school at All Saints Episcopal Church.
Memorial services were held on April 13 in San Leandro.
REGINA ALEXANDER
ST. IGNATIUS -- Regina "Gina" Kay Barnaby Alexander died on April 19, 2005, in Arlee. She was born on July 19, 1963, to Tom and Sophie Barnaby. Regina was a member of the Conf. Salish-Kootenai Tribes. She attended primary school at the Villa Ursula Catholic School. She married Tony Barnaby in 1984; they were later divorced. She married Bill Weber in 1999; they were later divorced. Gina married Porky Alexander in 2000. Regina loved to pick mushrooms, pine cones, huckleberries; bead; put puzzles together; and visit her friends and relatives. She survived by her sisters Janine (Mike Assiniboine), Joe and Rhea Barnaby of St. Ignatius, Kathleen (John Hammer), Barbara and Buck Hammer, Debbie and Darrell Adams, Lydia and Ray Fisher all of Ronan, and Yvonne Barnaby of Stevensville. She was a special ya-ya to Trelan and Joe Joe. She never had any children of her own, so she loved and cared for all her nieces, nephews and their children as if they were her own. Wake services were condcuted at the Longhouse. Mass was celebrated at the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission, followed by burial in the Catholic Cemetery.
VERNON J. AZURE
MISSOULA -- Vernon J. Azure, 48, died on April 16, 2005, at St. Patrick Hospital here. Vernon had a passion for music drew him to various types of instruments. Vern had worked a lot throughout the U.S. and some time overseas. He was an engine conductor for Rail Link in Washington, then became a journeyman carpenter and worked in Fairbanks, AK. Camping and visiting with others in the outdoors was a favorite pastime. Vernon is survived by his partner, Lynette, and stepson Troy (both of Missoula); two sons, Elijah and Uriah (Oregon); daughter Ciera (Missoula); brother Paul and spouse Mary (Oroville, CA); sister Anne (Dixon); brother Marshall (Missoula); brother Lester and spouse Tina (Santa Cruz, CA); sister Carla and spouse Freddie (Blackfoot, ID); good friend and nephew, Robert Bigelow (Missoula); other nephews: Adrian, Freddie Jr., Levi, Che, Javier, Vernon and Cody; nieces LeAnn, Christina, Victoria, Rita, Cory and Ashley; great-nieces Savonnah, Tylea, Diamond and Mariah. A wake was held at the Foster & Durgeloh Funeral Home in St. Ignatius. Traditional Chippewa Cree services were conducted at the funeral home.
JOHN P. BEASON
ARLEE -- John P. Beason, 85, died on April 4, 2005, at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula. Born on Feb. 12, 1920, in Cleveland Co., N.C., to Joseph P. and Dicie (Waters) Beason, he was raised and educated in North Carolina. He became a private trucker until 1960, when he moved to Arlee. In 1960, he married Emma "Millie" Pierre and they ranched on the family place south of Arlee. John was an avid outdoorsman and a horsetrader. The last of his generation he was preceded in death by his siblings, his parents and a wife, Evelyn (Smith) Beason. Survivors include his wife Millie (Arlee); his children Helen (Max) Burgess and Linda (Ralph) Norman (all of Henrietta, NC), Mike (Lynette) Beason (Butte), Kathy Jolly (Forest City, NC), and Pam Stacey (Atlanta, GA); as well as numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. A wake took place in the new Arlee Community Center. Mass was celebrated on April 8 at the Jocko Catholic Church. Interment followed in the Jocko Catholic Cemetery.
JERRY BURLAND
UNIONTOWN, Wash. -- Jerry Burland, 51, died on April 7, 2005. He was preceded in death by his mother, Betty Stinger-Smith; his father, Willard Burland; and his brother, Jim Burland. He is survived by his loving wife and caregiver, Elizabeth Ann Moon-Burland (Uniontown, WA); his son, Wayne White (S.C.); his step-father, Gary E. Smith (Pomeroy, WA); his brothers Richard Burland (Cheney, WA) and Elmer Burland (Spokane, WA); his sisters, Patsy Pulse (Polson,) and Yvette Smiley (Great Falls). No public services are planned.
JOSEPH CEIPLIS
HOT SPRINGS -- Joseph Anthony Ceiplis, 96, died at his home here on April 8, 2005, following a long illness. A funeral Mass was celebrated on April 13 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hot Springs.
BETTY COUCH
POLSON -- Betty Couch, born Betty Fanchon Southworth in St. Joe, AR, in 1914, died on April 8, 2005, at her home here. She was attended by her sons, Jeff (CA) and Charles (PA); her daughter, Nancy Teggeman (Polson); and other family members, notably her great-granddaughter, Bella Teggeman, 18 months (Whitefish). She is also survived by five grandchildren and Delilah. She was a whitewater rafter much of her life, her most recent trip being three years ago at the age of 88 on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. Horseback riding was a lifelong passion as well. As a Nevada Vaquero, she logged more than 300 20-mile rides in the desert and mountains. Betty was a master gardener, a gourmet cook, and an accomplished artist. She helped teach her children to ski and ride horses. A celebration of Betty's life took place on April 10 at her home.
MAYBELLE O. DENNIS
POLSON -- Maybelle O. Dennis, 91, died on April 28, 2005, at Community Medical Center in Missoula. Maybelle was born on Dec. 12, 1913, in Twin Falls, ID, to Frank and Emma Hine. She graduated from Kimberly (Idaho) High School in 1932. Maybelle married W. Leslie Dennis in Twin Falls in 1934. They later moved to Ronan, where they raised Angus cattle. They lived there for 34 years and then moved to the Post Creek area. Her husband of 57 years passed away in 1992. She later moved to Polson and resided at Lakeview Village. She was also preceded in death by her parents and six brothers. She is survived by a sister, Dorothy L. Dennis (Charlo) and numerous nieces and nephews. At Maybelle's request, there will be no services held. Cremation has taken place.
JOE C. DUFFIELD
LIBBY -- Joe C. Duffield, 89, died of natural causes on April 24, 2005, at the Libby Care Center. He was born on July 13, 1915, in Laurel, where he grew up and attended school. Joe later lived in Havre, Big Arm, Rollins, North Crow, Charlo and Rexford before moving to Libby in 1969. He was a sawyer for the J. Neils Lumber Co. until his retirement. Survivors include his wife, Juanita Duffield (Libby); children Brad Duffield and wife Judy (Thompson Falls), Gloria Duffield (Libby) and Beverly Ransdell (Mesquite, AZ); five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Private family services will be held.
VERN FAST
POLSON -- Vern Hubert Fast died on April 9, 2005, at St. Joseph Hospital here from natural causes. He was born in Derring, ND, to Fred and Francis (Grilley) Fast on Nov. 20, 1914. Vern married Juanita Davison on July 18, 1941, in Calif. In the spring of 1946, he moved his family back to Polson. He not only built a home for his family but was instrumental in the construction of Linderman Gym in 1950, construction of the forms for the last generator at Kerr Dam in 1954, remodeling of St. Joseph Hospital from 1958 through 1959, and he was site supervisor for the remodeling of the Lake County Courthouse in 1975. Vern enjoyed raising flowers, especially roses, begonias and raspberries, and spending many hours on Flathead Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Juanita and a grandson. He is survived by his daughters, Linda and husband Joe Mark and Judy Fast Carte (all of Polson), and Bette Jean and husband Dan Gull (Frenchtown); seven grandchildren; and 16 great grandchildren. In keeping with Vern's wishes there will be no public service. Help make a wish come true for a critically ill Montana child. Make a donation to the Montana Hope Project in the name of Grant Simpson and Vern Fast. Donations may be sent to Montana Hope Project, P.O. Box 5927, Helena, MT 59604.
