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DEBORAH LESTER
NORMAN, Okla. -- Deborah Ann Lester (McDonald) died here on Oct. 23, 2005. Debbie came into this world on January 23, 1951, in Honolulu, HI, to Betty Jean (McDonald) and Cecil Wesley Lester. She was a fifth-generation McDonald here in the Mission Valley, descended from Angus McDonald and his Nez Perce wife Catherine. She was a member of the Salish and Kootenai Tribes and as also proud of her Nez Perce heritage, which included the Eagle of the Light clan: Chiefs Looking Glass and White Bird. She was raised by her grandmother, Lydia McDonald and her uncle, "Boots" Donald McDonald, in St. Ignatius. She attended the Ursuline Convent School and St. Ignatius High School. Debbie was married to Ron Tonasket, but later divorced; she and Ron had two daughters. She was preceded in death by her grandparents; her parents; her younger sister, Dawn Marie "Dawnie" Adams; and an unborn son lost in an auto accident. She leaves behind her daughters, Michelle "Punkie" Tonasket (Joel), her grandsons, Randy, Brett and Bryce Heppler, all of Anaconda and her granddaughter; daughter, Trisha Datillo and two granddaughters, all of Littleton, Colo., her sister, Laurie Jean McDonald, Charlo; nieces and nephews, Chelsea Chavira and Michael Delducco of southern Calif.; Hayley Jean Chavira, Charlo; and Dawnie's son, Marcus Gray, of Missoula; her aunt, Gladys McDonald Disney, Polson; uncles, Thomas "Satch" McDonald, St. Ignatius and Wyman (Thelma) McDonald, Ronan; three half-sisters and a half-brother from Kentucky; as well as a large extended family. A memorial service was held in the Longhouse in St. Ignatius.
PHYLLIS MANGELS
POLSON -- Phyllis Jean Mangels, 85, died on Oct. 13, 2005, after a very brief illness. She was born to Walter H. and Esther J. Cooper in Keystone, NE, on Jan. 11, 1920. Shortly thereafter the family moved to Montana. The family then moved to the North Crow area of Ronan. Phyllis had a girlfriend working at the Hocker farm, and when she visited her, she met Walt Mangels, who also worked for Hockers as a cat skinner. A romance blossomed and they were married on Oct. 12, 1940, in the Pablo Lutheran Church. When World War II broke out, Phyllis and Walt went to Seattle to work for Boeing Aircraft. It was in Seattle that their first son, W. Gilbert, was born. Shortly after the war, the Mangels returned to Montana and built their home along Highway 93 about five miles south of Polson. Phyllis was a devoted mother, homemaker and a true helpmate to her husband. She worked right alongside him out in the fields or in the potato cellar. Phyllis bore two more sons, Arthur G. and Charles W. She taught Sunday school for years. She and Walt were active members of the Polson Senior Center and the Good Sam Club. Phyllis leaves Walt, her husband of 65 years and a day; sons and their wives, Gil and Joanne, and Charles (all of Polson), and Art and Nell (Dillon); sister and brother-in-law Marlyn and Tom Ronan (Ponca City, OK); brothers and their spouses, Don and Alice (Polson), Bill (Missoula), and Gary and Ramona (Las Vegas); numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Phyllis was preceded in death by her brothers, Gilbert, James and Walter Lee Cooper; sisters Maxine Dellwo, Marjorie Starkel, Julia, Juanita and Edna Mae Cooper; granddaughter Teresa Mangels; daughter-in-law Kayleena; and several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mount Calvary Lutheran Church or the Miracle of America Museum. The funeral was held on Oct. 20 at the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church; burial followed at the Lakeview Cemetery.
HAZEL MORAN
ST. IGNATIUS -- Hazel Cote Moran was born here on June 25, 1915, the third child of Baptisite and Annie (Kroesing) Cote. She lived all of her 90 years in or near St. Ignatius. Hazel married Bernard F. "Barney" Moran at the St. Ignatius Mission Church on April 11, 1934, and they were blessed with eight children and 64 years together. On Oct. 22, 2005, Hazel died. In 1948, the couple bought a farm on Old U.S. Highway 93 South. One of her most memorable accomplishments outside of family life occurred in 1938, when she was honored by John R. Daly for naming its 'Mello Tender' Ham. In the early 1960s, Hazel took a bookkeeping class and began working in the office at the former Holy Family Hospital, where she worked for many years until her retirement. The couple enjoyed camping and traveling. Hazel was an avid bridge player, belonging for many years to several clubs. She also enjoyed her involvement in the Womenıs Club, Garden Club, Hospital Guild, and Catholic Ladies Guild, and especially with the March of Dimes. Survivors include children and spouses Gerald B. Moran (Falmouth, MA); Lois and Cecil Kent (Townsend, MT/Mesa, AZ.); Donald J. and Cathe Moran (Eaton, CO.); Kathleen Moran-Johnston and Bob Marsh (Boise, ID); Timothy M. and Hye Yong Moran (Las Vegas, NV); son-in-law Kenneth M. McGuire (White Sulphur Springs, MT); 16 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; sisters Edna Wheeler, Lyla Smyth and Jean Bosley (all of St. Ignatius); brothers William Cote (St. Ignatius) and Leonard and wife Evelyn Cote (Great Falls); as well as her Millpond "family" and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. Hazel was predeceased by her husband Barney in 1998; infant son Francis; daughter Patricia M. McGuire; son James S. Moran; grandson Luke S. Johnston; sisters Emily McNaughton and Dora Gritman; and brother Ben Cote Hazel asked that memorials be directed to St. Ignatius Catholic Church building restoration fund. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on Oct. 28 in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Interment followed in the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.
STACEY PRESCOTT
POLSON -- Stacey Lynn Prescott, 14-day-old daughter of Misty and Gary Prescott of Polson, died on Oct. 8, 2005, at Community Medical Center in Missoula. She was born on Sept. 24, 2005, at St. Joseph Hospital in Polson. Stacey was preceded in death by her grandfather, Robert Prescott. She is survived by her parents, Gary and Misty of Polson; siblings Allison Prescott (North Carolina) and Aubrey Prescott, Amanda James, Randy James, Tucker Prescott and Beth James (all of Polson); and grandparents Gary Pillette (Camas, WA), Pamela Hall (Vancouver, WA), and Luverna Prescott (Glendive). A memorial service was held on Oct. 12 at the Grogan Funeral Home in Polson.
CAROLE REUM
RONAN -- Carole Joyce Reum, 57, a longtime resident of Ronan, died on Oct. 13, 2005, of diabetes-related complications. She was born Carole Joyce Pfau in Minot, N.D., on Sept. 21, 1948. She married the love of her life, Carlie Elmer Reum, in Missoula on May 15, 1968. She was preceded in death by a son, Carlie Lynn Reum, and her parents, Harley and DeMaris Pfau of Minot. She is survived by her husband, Carlie (Ronan); her son and his wife, Chipp Michael and Julie (Tekoa, WA); two sisters and a brother (and their spouses), Charlotte and Tom Moran (Lyons, CO), Claudia and Rich Fruhling (Minot, ND), and Gary and Barbara Pfau (Minot); three stepchildren, Sandy Lou and her husband Dale Alford (Pablo), Clarence Reum (Kalispell) and Carlie Fred and Pam (Big Arm); nine grandchildren, Amanda, Jonathan and Camron of Tekoa, Kaetie (Francis) Brown of Arlee, Fred (Lisa) Howard of Baltimore, Kayla Alford (Jonathan) Morgan of Pablo, Brett and Kylie Reum of Pablo and Autumn Reum of London; and nine great-grandchildren. Carole owned and operated Funtime Daycare. She operated a small cafe called The Lunch Bucket. She also followed her husband for many years while he was on tour in a country western band. She really loved being an active dart player. She especially loved participating in the Carlie Lynn Memorial Dart Tournament which is held at Cheers Etc. in downtown Pablo once a year. Funeral services were held on Oct. 21 at the Ronan Alliance Church.
BESSIE L. SAMPSON
POLSON -- Bessie L. Sampson, 96, of Polson, died on Oct. 22, 2005, at the St. Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan. Bessie was born Sept. 28, 1909, in White Earth, ND, to Lewis and Bell (Weltha) Anderson. The family moved to Iowa for a short time before returning to North Dakota, where her father drove the White Earth-Powers Lake Stage. In 1919, Bessie, her parents, two sisters and two brothers arrived in Polson. She graduated from Polson High School and in 1931 received her degree in education from Dillon Normal School. From 1931 to 1932, she taught school at Swan Lake and went home to Polson on the weekends. In 1932, Bessie married Elmer Sampson in Polson, where they had five daughters. Beatrice, twin to Berniece, died in infancy in 1933. From 1945 to 1946, Bessie taught school in Ronan, and from 1946 to 1974, she was a second-grade teacher in Polson. After retirement, Bessie taught English to Vietnamese families and helped to make hundreds of quilts to send to Third World countries. Bessie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Elmer; sisters, Margaret Star and Mabel Roskie; brothers, Arnold Anderson and Kenneth Anderson; daughters, Beatrice Sampson and Berniece Espeland; and grandson, Kirk Edison. She is survived by her daughters, Eleanore Hasley and husband Ron (Rockford, IL), Gayleen Edison (Stockton, CA), and Carol Sherick and husband Dave (Polson); son-in-law, Richard Espeland (Huntley); 11 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; six step-great grandchildren; and two step-great-great-grandchildren. Bessie was the oldest living member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, having been a member for more than 85 years. A memorial service was held on Oct. 28 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church with the Rev. Paul Rowold officiating. Inurnment followed at Lakeview Cemetery.
GLORIA SMITH
RONAN -- Gloria Gail Dumontier Smith, 67, died on Oct. 14, 2005, in Missoula. An enrolled member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Gail was born on Oct. 6, 1938, in St. Ignatius, to Harold and Louise (McDonald) Dumontier. Raised and educated in St. Ignatius, she attended St. Ignatius public schools before going to Flandreau Indian School. In fact, her life was dedicated to helping children, whether it was her own family or kids just needing a mentor. Gail went on to receive her AA in Early Childhood Development from Weber State and worked with kids for more than 25 years for Headstart (15 years), at Kicking Horse Job Corps and Second Circle. She enjoyed dancing, gossiping and stock cars races in her earlier years. Later she enjoyed collecting knickknacks, bears and wind chimes and photography. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, grandson Micah Hoskinson, niece Paullette O'Neill-Courville, and nephew Joey Dumontier, as well as many other family members from both the Dumontier and McDonald families. Survivors include her children and their spouses, Bret Lynn and Sissy Roske (El Paso, TX), Chazz and Kristy Smith (Missoula), and Lou Anne and Jon Hoskinson (Evaro); foster son Ronnie Davis (Cut Bank, MT); grandchildren Launita Lynn "Nita" Dumont (Dublin Gulch), Brittney, Sierra and Dakota Roske (El Paso), Daron Leigh Whitedirt, James and Joshua Hoskinson (all of Evaro), and Christian Smith (Missoula); great-grandchildren Shonko and Jedi; brothers Reg "Speed" (Mert) Dumontier (Lake Havasue, AZ), Bud Dumontier (Ronan), and Jim Dumontier (St. Ignatius;) sisters Sally Mitchell and Deedo Dumontier (both of St. Ignatius), and Debby (Wayne Colman) Courville (Pablo); and a large extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. A wake began on Oct. 14 in the Longhouse in St. Ignatius with a prayer service being held on Oct. 16. Funeral services were held on Oct. 17 the Longhouse. Interment followed in Snyelmn Sntmtmne.
GENEVA WHITE
RONAN -- Geneva M. "Tootsie" White died on Oct. 10, 2005, at her home near here. A member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, Tootsie was born in St. Ignatius on June 6, 1952, to Alex and Doris (Stinger) White and spent her early years on the reservation. As with many things in life, her parents' marriage didn't work out and her mother remarried to Art Brueggeman, an iron worker. After her graduation from high school, Tootsie met and married Ernie Beavers. They returned to the Ronan area and started a family. Tootsie worked as a housekeeper professionally. Eventually, Tootsie and Ernie parted ways and she attended SKC. Tootsie had many interests in life but watching pro football and "Days of Our Lives" had to be the most fondly remembered. She was preceded in death by a sister, Judy Ann, who died in infancy; her father, Alex White, in 1989; her mother, Doris, in 1994; her father, Art Brueggeman, in 2005; and two brothers, Leo and Danny Brueggeman, who died in 2004. Survivors include her companion, Tim Diers; her kids, Jason Beavers (Missoula), Ernie A. Beavers (Shelby), Luanna Beavers (Hot Springs), Danny Beavers (Ronan), Tony Beavers (Shelby) and Josephine Coffey (Pablo); 11 grandchildren; brothers and sisters, Jule Kenmille (Pablo), Debby (Tony) Adams (Pablo), Mary (Ray) Goudette (Spokane), Margaret Arneson (Polson), Melanie (Bill) Buckless (Polson), Anna Turney (Spokane), Art Brueggeman Jr. (Ronan), Doug (Jean) White (Texas), Leonard White (Monroe, WA), Mike (Jackie) Brueggeman (Spokane), and Paul (Sue) Brueggeman (Polson); an uncle, Mickey Stinger (WA); and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins and people who called her mom. A traditional wake was held at the Ronan Indian Senior Citizens Center. Mass was celebrated on Oct. 13 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ronan. Interment followed at the Ronan Cemetery.
