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C. JUNE RAY
POLSON -- C. June Ray, 69, died on May 22, 2005, at St. Joseph Hospital here. She was born on Sept. 13, 1935, in Oklahoma to Roy and Clara Barnwell. June grew up in Selah, WA. June was great cook and loved to play keno. She moved to Polson in August 1995. She was preceded in death by her parents. She is survived by her husband of 18 years, Louis, and her three kids, Griz, Sara Lee and Pride (all of Polson); two sisters, Lucy Wailer (Lynnwood, WA) and Dot Huff (Yakima, WA); and three daughters, Cindy Lanphear (Puyallup, WA), Lori Lewis (Burlington, WA), and Valerie Evans (Yakima); seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives and friends. Cremation has taken place and at her request no services are planned.
NORMAN SAGMILLER
POLSON -- Norman John Sagmiller, 84, died on May 10, 2005, at St. Joseph Hospital here. Norman was born on June 22, 1920, in Beulah, N.D., to John and Mathilda (Karlin) Sagmiller. He grew up on the family farm and attended schools in Oliver County, N.D. Norman joined the Civil Conservation Corps in the late 1930s. He was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II and served in Africa and France. After his discharge from the military he returned to North Dakota and eventually moved with his parents to Finley Point near Polson in 1949 where he had continued to reside. Norman owned and operated the Junction Standard Station at the "Y" in Polson along with his brother Gerald. He later worked with his brother Kenneth at his mills, Westland Seed & Supply, in Ronan and Charlo until his retirement. Norman enjoyed gardening and working in his orchard. He always enjoyed his coffee group at the Finley Point Store. He enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was a member of the Finley Point Volunteer Fire Department before retiring. He is preceded in death by his parents and three brothers, Delmont, Kenneth and Gerald. He is survived by his two sisters and their husbands, Lucille and Otto Buchmann, and June and Herbert Sorenson (all of Polson); and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. A memorial service was held on May 26 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, with military honors following the service. Private inurnment took place at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Finley Point Fire Department, Relay for Life or to the donor's choice.
JUDY STEPHEN
POLSON -- Judy Stephen, 66, died here on May 25, 2005, of natural causes. Judy was born on Dec. 24, 1938, in Missoula. She was raised in Missoula and attended Hellgate High School there. In 1956, she married Richard Douglas Gavin in Missoula. They had two children, Kelly Ann and Michael. They were later divorced. On Oct. 25, 1958, she married Donald William Stephen in Missoula. They had one daughter, Janine Marie Stephen. In 1960, they moved to California, where Judy worked in the restaurant business. In 1972, the family moved back to Missoula, where Judy went to work for Bill Hainline, owner of the 4B's Restaurant on Broadway, and bartended for several years. In 1980, Judy joined Don who was working for Kiewit Co. and worked as a scale operator while they traveled through Oregon and California. The couple retired in 1994, and moved to Polson. Judy is survived by one daughter, Kelly Ann Iverson (Gresham, OR); a brother and his wife, John A. and Melody Bryan (Missoula); four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. No services are planned at this time.
ROBERT STEVENS
RONAN -- Robert Dale Stevens died on May 5, 2005. "Bob" was born on March 6, 1930, to Jack and Martha Stevens in Salmon, ID. The youngest of 10 siblings, Bob spent his early years growing up in Idaho, and then moved to Portland, OR, after serving in the Navy. Bob's career in transportation management brought him to the Seattle area. Bob was married to Sandra for 35 years. They raised their family in Snohomish, WA, and in 1997 Bob and Sandi moved to Ronan. In 2001 Bob provided loving and compassionate support for Sandi during her courageous battle with breast cancer. Bob enjoyed fishing, gardening, bowling, dancing, playing the harmonica, his horse Rascal, his dog Rocko, telling jokes and tall tales, going to Mission Bulldog boys basketball games, coaching youth sports, and spending time with family and friends. Bob is survived by his Sandra; seven children, Betty and Bob Jones (Seattle), Jan Lindsey (Seattle), Jody and Mike Bass (Snohomish), Kris and Nate Mostajo (Snohomish), Michelle and Joe Strickland (Monroe), Brad and Kristen Stevens (Stanwood), and Craig Stevens and Kristin Rohfleisch (Missoula); 12 grandchildren, and one great- grandchild; and his loving brother; Don; and Lucille Stevens (Pocatello, ID); and several nieces and nephews. Services celebrating Bob's life were held on May 9. A graveside service was held in Salmon, ID, on May 10.
ANNA TENAS
ELMO -- Anna Rita Tenas, 78, of Elmo, died on May 13, 2005, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. Anna was preceded in death by her husband Tom; seven children, Doris, Tommy, Randy, Mary, Marcelene, Joseph and Nate; numerous sisters; and two brothers, Eneas and Gabe. Survivors include her children, Betty Nichols, Frankie Tenas, Annette Tenas and Vern Tenas (all of Elmo), Bernadine Tenas, Alvina Tenas and Ron Tenas (all of Dayton), and Tim Tenas (Turtle Lake). She is also survived by four sisters, Louise Andrew (Niarada) and Catherine Andrew, Marie Stasso and Diane Auld (all of Elmo); 34 grandchildren; and numerous great grandchildren. Traditional wake services were conducted at the Elmo Hall. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated May 16 at the Elmo Hall with burial following at the Dayton Cemetery.
MICAH WHEELER-VAN NESS
ST. IGNATIUS -- Micah Dustin Wheeler-Van Ness was stillborn on May 2, 2005, at Community Medical Center in Missoula. He is survived by his parents Andrea Wheeler and Tracy Van Ness, grandparents Dennis and Gaye Wheeler of St. Ignatius, and Robin and Judy Van Ness of Polson. Great-grandparents are OA and Lilly Jones of Missoula, Edna Wheeler of St. Ignatius and Mary Collins of Ronan. Aunts and uncles are Marcell Wheeler-Kuchan (Kurt) of Galesville, WI; Brent and Shelly Wheeler-Burland of Polson; Hayley Wheeler of Cheney, WA; Richard Bingham of Idaho Falls, ID; Shane Van Ness of Missoula; and Wade and Jen Van Ness of Eureka. Special cousins are Andrew Wheeler, Lane Wheeler-Kuchan, Marina Wheeler, Rhett Burland, Autumn and Austin Burland and Matthew Van Ness. Mass of the Angels was celebrated on May 7 in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Interment followed at the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery in St. Ignatius.
URSULA VINCENT-THOMAS
MISSOULA -- Ursula Marie Vincent-Thomas, 67, of Missoula, died at home on May 17, 2005, at 4:30 p.m. Ursula was born on March 23, 1938. She dedicated her life to taking care of others. She worked as a nurse at St. Patrick Hospital for 32 years. She enjoyed traveling to powwows and visiting with family and friends. Ursula was preceded in death by her father, John Vincent; her stepfather, Tony Joscum; mother, Adeline Squeque; great grandmother, Mary Koltome Finley "Sackwoman"; and sisters Mary, Christine, Tina, Mary Rose, Mary Louise, Virginia and Mable. Survivors include brothers Alex, Joe and Jim; sisters Judy and Melanie; children Mark, Deano, Monte and Terry; grandchildren, Michael, Ryan, Nichole, Hope, Sheldon "Beaver," Shanay, Isaiah, LaToya, Tiffany, Kayceshea, Dakota and Charlo; and great grandchildren, Kameron, Trinity, Kaleigh and Mike. Our mother also accepted the following children as her own: Charley Bird, Tim Harris, Nick Kammerer and ReaAnna Bear. Wake-funeral services began on May 19 at the St. Ignatius Longhouse. Mass was celebrated on May 21 at the St. Ignatius Catholic Church. Burial followed at the Jocko Cemetery.
JOSEPH WEASELHEAD
ST. IGNATIUS -- Joseph David "Smokin' Joe" Weaselhead, died on May 5, 2005. Joe was born on April 20, 1980, in Spokane, WA. He spent his early years in Wellpinit, WA, and for the last several years traveled between the Ronan area and Wellpinit. At the time of his death he was living with his brother Loren Hernandez in St. Ignatius. On March 23, 2005, Shilo McDonald gave birth to Joseph Arlee Harry Weaselhead IV, Joe's son and the light of his life. He is survived by his father, Joseph Leo "Dusty" (Linda) Weaselhead (Ronan), his mother Deb Andrews (Wellpinit, WA), a sister Lisa (Wellpinit), brother Loren Hernandez (St. Ignatius), many cousins, aunts, uncles and all his "brothers and sisters" on both reservations and a large extended family. A traditional wake began at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius and concluded at the Spokane Longhouse in Wellpinit. Mass was celebrated in Wellpinit, as well, and burial was in the Sacred Heart Cemetery there.
STEVEN SMITH
ST. IGNATIUS -- Steven Michael Tellier Smith was stillborn on April 18, 2005, in Missoula. He is survived by his parents, Morey Tellier and Ryan Smith; his grandparents Kathy Smith, Matthew Howlett, Linda and Kenny Ebner, and Sophie and Leo Tellier; his brothers Arlen, Jarred and Mason; and a sister, Jalyn; his aunties Charmel and Rose; and Uncle Mike; as well as numerous other aunts, uncles and cousins. Graveside services were held on April 19 in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.
VITAL STEVENS
ARLEE -- Vital Pierre Stevens, 71, died on April 18, 2005, at his home here. Born in Arlee on Dec. 2, 1933, to Peter and Cecile Vanderburg Stevens, he was raised and educated in the Jocko Valley along with his 13 siblings. Vital worked as a woodsman until an ankle injury in 1967 caused him to change jobs and he went to work for the Conf. Salish-Kootenai Tribes where he served in food distribution until his retirement in 1987. Vital never married. He enjoyed his godchildren and the joys that they brought and being around his family. Vital had been a fancy dancer and had danced at the many powwows but he mostly enjoyed going to Sheridan, WY; Cardston, Alberta; those in Idaho and Washington, as well as the local areas. He danced until he was 37. The last of his generation, he was preceded in death by his parents and 12 brothers and sisters. He leaves behind a son, Vic Stevens; and granddaughter, Aaliyah Jade Stevens McElderry; as well as a large family of nieces, nephews, godchildren, and friends. Wake closing began on April 22 in the Community Center in Arlee with Mass following. He was laid to rest at the Jocko Cemetery.
JEREMY D. STIFFARM
SPOKANE -- Jeremy Douglas Stiffarm, 29, died on April 27, 2005, at his residence here of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Jeremy was born to Karen Friedlander McCuistion and Steve Stiffarm in Missoula on May 7, 1975. Jeremy was employed for the past five years at the Northern Quest Casino in Spokane. He enjoyed hunting, hiking and camping. He abided by many Kootenai traditions which led him to become a Crazy Dog (Indian Warrior). He served with the U.S. Navy during Desert Strike after graduating from Ronan High School in 1993. Jeremy leaves behind his mother, Karen (Dee-Dee) Friedlander, and her husband, Mike McCuistion (Otis Orchards, WA); his father, Steven Daniel Stiffarm (Poplar); sisters Rhonda Rae Dee Stiffarm (Jimmy) and Michelle McCuistion (Spokane); brothers, Daniel Allen (Rachel) Stiffarm (Porter Corners, NY), and Jesse James McCuistion (Otis Orchards); grandparents, Kenneth and Margaret Friedlander (Bonners Ferry, ID), Esther Hannon (Spokane); great-grandmother, Adeline Mathias (Dayton); nieces Justyne Patrick, Phoebe Stiffarm and Laniya Milus; nephews Evan and Marcus Stiffarm (the light of his life); aunts and uncles, Debbie (Darrell) Arp, and Cindie (Dennis) Wells; as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins from throughout the Kootenai and Gros Ventre Cree Nations. He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents Pete and Ruby Stiffarm, great grandfather Alec Lefthand, uncle Duane Edward Albert, best friend Duane Boy Chief, and his cockatiel, Bob. Funeral services were conducted at the Kootenai Community Center in Elmo. Funeral Mass was celebrated on April 30 with full military honors. Interment took place at Dayton Cemetery.
