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JAMES H. SYMINGTON
RONAN -- The Ronan Fire and Ambulance Dept. made its farewell call for James H. Symington, 64, of Ronan, who died on Aug. 18, 2005, at St. Luke Community Hospital here from injuries sustained in an accident at his home. James "Jim" H. Symington was born in Ronan on July 26, 1941, to Robert and Alice Symington. Jim was raised in Ronan, where he attended school, graduating Ronan High School in 1959. After graduating, Jim joined the Army National Guard and served actively for four years. In 1961 he married Helen Colgrove. Jim and Helen were local business owners of Ronan Laundry. He will be remembered as a laborer for the city of Ronan and Lake County Road Dept. Jim was very active within his community where he volunteered for the Jaycees, Boy Scouts, Ronan Fire Department and Ronan Ambulance. Jim was also an active member with the Spark and Throttle Car Club and Mission Valley Senior Citizens Center. He was preceded in death by his parents Robert and Alice Symington, and nephews Rusty Symington and Ryan Payne. Jim is survived by his wife of 43 years, Helen; two daughters, Kathy and Judy (Ronan); two sons, Jim and wife Joy (Houston) and Henry (Salt Lake City); two brothers, Robert (Charlo) and Alva (Ronan); eight grandchildren, Tiffany, Justin, Heather, Cole, Natasha, Julia, Faith and Bailey; two great grandchildren, Levi and Miles; several nieces and nephews; a brother-in-law and two sisters-in-law; as well as many beloved friends. Funeral services were held on Aug. 23 at the Ronan High School gymnasium. Military graveside services followed at Ronan Cemetery. The family suggests that memorials be made to the Ronan Ambulance and/or Ronan Fire Department.
ILENE BAERTSCH
POLSON -- Ilene Baertsch, 86, died on Oct. 23, 2005, from natural causes at the Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center here. She was born on June 3, 1919, in Columbia Falls, to Chester and Angie Conn Barnes. Ilene attended school through the eighth grade at Half Moon School in Columbia Falls, and then she had to quit school and work on the family farm. In 1938, Ilene married Oscar G. Baertsch. She was a homemaker and worked during the spring and fall at the A&W Drive-in for Newt and Emma Roberts during the 1960s. Ilene was active in the South Shore Garden Club and the Rebekah Lodge. Her hobbies included cooking, gardening, sewing and spending time with her grandkids. Preceding her in death were her parents; brothers Gene Barnes, Lorin Barnes and Raymond Barnes; sisters Vivian Mero and Rita Fishel; granddaughter Debra Kay Baertsch; and great granddaughter Jessie Baertsch. Ilene is survived by her husband, Oscar; daughter and son-in-law Carla and John Hilton (Townsend); sons and their wives, Gary and Sandy Baertsch (Ronan), Clint and Karon (Missoula), and Lon Baertsch (Missoula); sister and brother-in-law Shirley and Don Lamb (Lake Havasu City, AZ); 12 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Oct. 28 at the Grogan Funeral Home Chapel in Polson. Interment followed at Lakeview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggest memorials be sent to the Melita Island Boy Scout Camp or to diabetes research.
RUBY BAILEY
RONAN -- Ruby Grace Bailey, 57, of Ronan, died at Community Medical Center in Missoula on Oct. 5, 2005, due to a brain tumor. She was born on June 16, 1948, in Missoula, to Elvin E. and Dorothy Bailey. At six months, she contracted meningitis. She was a member of the Ronan Alliance Church. She enjoyed going to Dickey Lake Bible Camp. Her hobbies included ceramics. She enjoyed eating at the Senior Citizens Center. Her favorite thing was sending cards to people and drawing pictures in them. Ruby worked at Pizza Hut for seven years. Ruby was preceded in death by her father, grandparents and her stepfather. She is survived by her mother, Dorothy Vasser; brothers Larry, Lonnie and Keith (Karen) Bailey; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial services were conducted on Oct. 23 at the Ronan Alliance Church. Cremation has taken place. The family suggests memorials to Mission Mountain Enterprises in Ronan or the Ronan Alliance Church, 519 Terrace Lake Road, Ronan, MT 59864.
LEONARD BAIRD JR
POLSON -- Leonard N. Baird Jr., 77, was born on May 14, 1928, in Oklahoma, the only child of the late Leonard N. Baird Sr. and Johnnie Baird. His death on Oct. 20, 2005, after a long battle with cancer, was preceded by Lucille Erma Marchi Baird, his wife of 38 years, who in 1989 also succumbed to cancer. Leonard moved to California at an early age. He joked that he tried his hand at every job there was in a thirst for knowledge and experience. He became the "Captain of Port" for the Junior Coast Guard at age 16 and went on to create and preside over the Torquers Club, a hot rod enthusiasts group, at age 21. He was a veteran of the Korean War and served as a tank commander and sergeant first class on the front lines where he earned two Purple Hearts. He retired from General Motors in 1987 and moved to Polson in 1999. He leaves behind his wife of 10 years, Connie Blanchard Baird; his children, Mike Baird and his wife Pattie, Karen Vierra and her husband Steve, and Susan Botz. He also leaves to mourn his passing his five grandchildren. Len was blessed to have an extended family, Ronald Blanchard and his wife Leslie, Randy Blanchard and his wife Debbie and Catie and Ryan. Graveside services with military honors were held on Oct. 29 at the Plains Cemetery with Terrie Woods officiating. Donations in memory of Leonard Baird may be made to the Mission Valley Animal Shelter, 239 N. Reservoir Road, Polson, MT 59860.
MILTON BEGGS
POLSON -- Milton Beggs, 81, of Polson, died on Oct. 18, 2005, in Sheridan, WY, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson's disease. Born Milton Leonard Beggs on July 4, 1924, in Pittsburgh, Mel was the youngest of 11 children. During the Great Depression, his family moved to Glendale, CA. Mel attended local schools, but when the war in the Pacific began, he enlisted in the Navy and the Seabees. Assigned to the 91st Construction Battalion he served in New Guinea and the Philippine Islands from 1943 to 1945. Returning to California and civilian life, he started a family with his wife of 22 years, Mateel Wayne. They raised two daughters, Jackie and Chris, and a son, Vince. The couple later dissolved the union. His mechanical ability and skill in construction were utilized in increasingly more responsible positions with the city of Los Angeles. He supervised the construction or renovation of city parks, tennis courts, the Los Angeles Zoo and a variety of recreation facilities. While working on the convention center there, Mel met and married Bea Erickson, and his family expanded to include her two children from a previous marriage, Karen and Greg. After becoming acquainted with the Flathead Lake area, the couple eventually purchased 12 acres on the lake and built a custom two-story home that became their full-time residence for almost 25 years. Bea preceded him in death by several years. Mel was an active member of the Mormon Church in Polson and for a period held the position of treasurer. Sharing the wonders of Montana with his children and 14 grandchildren was among Mel's favorite pastimes. The funeral service was held on Oct. 29, followed by interment at Lakeview Cemetery.
ROSANNA FINLEY
POLSON -- Former longtime Fairfield, CA, resident, Rosanna Mae Finley, 76, died on Oct. 1, 2005. She was born to Bernard and Susan (Moore) Keesis, in Mayetta, KS, on Nov. 26, 1928. A member of the Prairie Band of Pottawatomie, she attended school in Marty, SD. She graduated from high school and nurses training with her R.N. degree. She met and married James Bernard Finley in 1952. She traveled the Air Force military life, while working in the nursing field. They reared nine children: Bernard Jr., Susan, Sandra, Beverly, John, William, James, Joyce and Charles. She worked in the nursing field for 37 years, with 27 years of it in OB/gyn management. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years; her son, James Finley; her parents; and numerous brothers and sisters. She is survived by Bernard (Fairfield), Susan (Polson), Sandra and Beverly (both of Fairfield), John (Minnesota), William (Polson), Joyce and Charles (both of Fairfield); and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Cremation has taken place in accordance with Rosanna's wishes and no local services are planned.
GUY GEBHARDT
HOT SPRINGS -- Longtime Plains resident Guy A. Gebhardt died on Oct. 13, 2005, at Evergreen Nursing Home here. He was born on Feb. 16, 1919, in Balta, N.D., the son of Christian and Katherine (Byrne) Gebhardt. As a young man, he enlisted in the U.S. Army on April 10, 1941. and served during the World War II campaign. Guy was honorably discharged on Jan. 18, 1946, at Fort Lewis, WA. During retirement, Guy became a loyal, generous and dedicated supporter of the String Orchestra of the Rockies. Also, in later years, Guy focused on supporting orphaned children. His sponsorship of Indian, Central and South American and U.S. children would see their needs filled for the duration of that child's commitment. Guy did not spend lavishly on himself. His ability to bring fresh life from his storehouse of leftover, castoff and discarded parts not only filled a need, but also enabled him to put his resources to work helping others. Guy is survived by his four brothers, Jim (Richland), Leo and wife Betty and Martin (all of Plains), and LeRoy (Seattle, WA); two sisters, Helen Williams and husband Glenn (Helena) and Ruth M. Beam (Portland, OR); and several nieces and nephews. Services took place on Oct. 18 at St. James Catholic Church, Plains. Military rites were conducted by the Wild Horse Plains VFW Post No. 3596.
EVELYN HERRIES
CHARLO -- Evelyn Frances Margaret Rodwold Herries, 97, died on Oct. 4, 2005. She and her husband, John, spent the last two weeks side by side in St. Luke Hospital in Ronan, following surgery for breaking their hips on the same weekend. Togetherness was the hallmark of their 75-year marriage. Ev was born in 1908 in Minneapolis, oldest child to Ole and Matilda (Olsen) Rodwold. She spoke fluent Norwegian and enjoyed translating letters and other documents. Upon completion of business college, Ev worked for the main accounting office of Sears, Roebuck & Co. before moving to Montana as a young bride. Ev was famous for her baking and her beautiful yard. A member of Big Timber Lutheran Church, the sewing circle and garden club, Ev was also a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star. She played the piano for Sunday school and Eastern Star, and loved to sing. Ev was preceded in death by her parents; brother, Bob Rodwold; and sister, Frances Layton. Those left are her son, David and daughter-in-law Tish; granddaughter Stacey and husband Matthew Herman; grandson John Scot and wife Deborah Lissfelt; and three great-grandchildren. Memorials for Evelyn and John may be made to a charity of the donor's choice or to the building fund for Mission Valley United Methodist Church, Box 297, St. Ignatius, MT 59865.
ESTHER HUTCHISON
POLSON -- Esther L. Hutchison, 83, died here on Oct. 12, 2005. She was born to Emiel and Bertha Carlson on April 1, 1922, at Two Dot. She married Blaine Hutchison on Sept. 4, 1940, at Townsend, MT. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her daughters, Helen Utsond (Missoula), Barbara Proud (Dayton), Shirley Jensen (Whitefish) and Lorraine Boyer (Ronan); seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Elsie Orcutt. She was cremated and laid to rest next to her husband, Blaine.
JUNE JOHNSON
POLSON -- June Edwards Johnson, 88, a lifelong Montana resident, died on Oct. 14, 2005, at her Flathead Lake home. She was born on June 29, 1917, to Rosabelle and Lee Clark Edwards of Malta. She was the youngest of six daughters; all her sisters preceded her in death. She was a gifted musician, particularly on piano. She was well-educated, attending the universities of Montana and the Washington. She received a degree in music education, but her real talent was for teaching private music lessons. For 32 years, she taught piano, organ and accordion lessons to music students of all ages. She married Charles O. "Brub" Johnson of Fairview in 1940. They lived in Fairview, where the family business, the Blue Rock Bottling Co. was located. Mr. Johnson later moved his business and his family to Sidney. During these years, two sons were born, Charles Brent and Richard Lee. The family moved to the Missoula-Flathead Lake area in 1966. Charley Brent had a handicap and was unable to walk. It was a beautiful inspiration to see the way June, Brub and Dick cared for him. June encouraged Charlie to sing and enjoy music and to write poetry. Her loving care for Charlie was one of June's finest legacies. He preceded her in death in 1995. She is survived by Charles, her husband of 65 years, and her son, Richard. She is also survived by two nephews and three nieces. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service for family and friends will be held at a later date. The family's address is 604 Melita Island Road, Polson, MT 59860, for those wishing to send cards of condolence.
DALE GERRY LAHR
ARLEE -- Dale Gerry Lahr, 62, died at his home here on Oct. 16, 2005. He was born in Rice Lake, WI, on May 16, 1943, to Jack and Violet (Johns) Lahr. He was raised in the upper Midwest and had lived many places before moving to the area 20 years ago. He was very fond of his grandchildren and was an avid hunter and fisherman; he enjoyed woodworking and cutting firewood. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Larry Lahr; and a sister, Leona Bradow. Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Loretta Lahr (of the family home in Arlee); son Jack and his wife Helen Lahr (Eureka); daughter Cindy and her husband Larry Henry (Arlee) and Annette and her husband Lowell Norton (Newport, WA); son, Robert Lahr (Missoula); daughter Loretta and her husband Randy Clark (Kalispell); as well many grandchildren and friends. Memorial services were held on Oct. 22 at the Foster & Durgeloh Funeral Home at 216 Project Drive, St. Ignatius.
