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ANN MCDONALD
RONAN -- Ann May McDonald, R.N., 78, of Niarada, died on Jan. 28, 2003, at St. Luke Extended Care Facility here. Ann was born to Joseph and Vera Christman on June 6, 1924, in Hartford, WI. She grew up and attended schools in West Bend, WI, and graduated from St. Maries School of Nursing in Milwaukee. Shortly after graduating from nursing school, Ann moved to Kalispell and started her nursing career. She married Thomas R. McDonald on Feb. 14, 1948, in Polson. Ann was well-known as a registered nurse throughout western Montana for 52 years. She worked as a nurse in Polson, Ronan, St. Ignatius, Kalispell, Hot Springs and Plains. She also ranched with her husband and was especially good at doctoring lambs and calves on the ranch. She also enjoyed gardening, cooking and canning. Ann always loved to harrow every spring. She was preceded in death by her husband and an infant son, Angus Patrick McDonald; her parents; and one brother, Joe Christman. She is survived by her children, Gail Graves and husband Jack (Polson), Marsha Rubino and husband Vince (Big Arm), Lorrie Meeks and husband Tom (Dixon), Malcolm McDonald and wife Dora (Niarada) and Ranald McDonald and wife Effie (Polson); 16 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Mass was celebrated on Feb. 1 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson. Burial took place at the McDonald family cemetery in Niarada. Memorials may be made to any obstetrics program at the hospital of your choice.
DIANE McNAIR
PORTLAND -- Diane Marie "Sis" McNair, 50, died here Jan. 21, 2003, after a lengthy illness. She was born on Feb. 14, 1952, in Klamath Valley Falls, OR, to Tommy McNair Jr. and Theresa Marie (Matt) Captain. She attended schools in Klamath Falls, Beaverton and Corvallis. She was a school and mental health counselor. She later moved to Ronan, where she worked as nutritionist for the local diabetes foundation. She also worked with youth in the Upward Bound and Head Start programs. Her most "fun" job was as lead singer in the Louie Louie Band with her brothers and uncle. Survivors include her siblings and their spouses: Ferol Jean "Cutie" and Sonny Porter (Chiloquin, OR), Electra and Dale Frey (Ronan), Randall Ray "Hunky" and Tracy McNair (Ronan), Tania "Peach" Ayers (Klamath Falls), Sonny and Marlene McNair (Polson), Eunice "Goonie" and Art Rojas (Klamath Falls), Doug "DoRight" and Jacque McNair and Casey Case (Lincoln City, OR), and Dea and Dan Williams (Klamath Falls); and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. At Diane's request, there were no funeral services.
LUELLA S. SMITH
POLSON -- Luella S. Smith, age 93, died on Jan. 29, 2003, at St. Joseph Hospital here from natural causes. She was born Nov. 5, 1909, in Watson, Saskatchewan, and moved to Polson in 1926 as a teen-ager. She married Everett Smith on June 24, 1935, in Polson. She and her husband owned the Grill Cafe in Polson for 33 years. Luella was very active in community and Methodist Church affairs. She was president of the Civic League, a member of the Garden Club and the Polson Kitchen Band. She worked for St. Joseph Hospital as a nurse's aide for five years and the Polson Country Store for more than 30 years. She was the pianist, organist and choir director for her church for 50 years and was also president of the church women. She was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star No. 53 and Noble Grand of Rebekah Lodge No. 94. She was preceded in death by her parents and a son, Arnold James Smith, in 1962. She is survived by her husband; a daughter, Marjorie Reid (Redding, CA); three grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Memorial services were conducted on Jan. 31 in Polson.
ERNIE TAPIA
DIXON -- Ernesto M. Tapia died at home on Jan. 12, 2003. Ernie came into this world as Geronimo Ernesto Martinez Tapia on Sept. 10, 1908, in Opodepe, Sonora, Mexico. He spent his youth in Mexico and Arizona prior to making his home of 72 years on the Flathead Indian Reservation, where he met his wife, Marian Matt. Ernie became a U.S. citizen on April 8, 1946, and served in World War II. He was a member of the American Legion. He retired from ranching in 1983 and moved to Spokane, where he devoted the next 15 years of his life to working with handicapped children. He was preceded in death by his wife and a son, Guy. He is survived by six children: Armida (Olympia, WA), Marie Stockstad (Chesapeake, VA), Connie Tapia (Las Vegas), Joyce May (Pahrump, NV) and Fred Tapia (Dixon); nine grandchildren; and 11 great grandchildren. Funeral services included a wake at the Longhouse, Mass in the Mission Church, and interment with military honors at the Catholic cemetery.
CHERYL WAGNER
MISSOULA -- Cheryl Ann Pomphrey Wagner, 49, died on Jan. 8, 2003, at St. Patrick Hospital here of cancer. Born Sept 19, 1953, she grew up in Leonardo, NJ. She joined the U.S. Navy in 1971. In 1994, she became the first female survival evasion resistance and escape instructor on the West Coast, Pacific Fleet. Cheryl retired from the Navy in 1996 as a senior chief air traffic controller and moved to Ronan. She graduated from Salish Kootenai College with an associate degree in computer science. She worked as CIO at Travel Learning Connections in Ronan. Prior to her illness, she was involved with the Mission Valley Back Country Horsemen and the Ronan VFW Post 5652. She is survived by her husband, Robert W. Wagner (Ronan); her parents, Arden Sellgren (Fredericksburg, VA), and Richard and Ellen Pomphrey (Neptune City, NJ); her sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Frank Martinelli (Stafford, VA); her brother, Jason Pomphrey (Neptune City); Robert's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Wagner (Metropolis, IL); and Robert's daughters, Shanna Nelson (Virginia Beach, VA), and Cheryl Collins (Murphysboro, IL). The family suggests memorial gifts be sent in Cheryl's name to Partners in Home Care Inc., 2687 Palmer St. - Suite B, Missoula, MT 59808.
JAMES ZACKUSE
ST. IGNATIUS -- James Gordon "Jimmy" "Papa - Big Z" Zackuse, 49, died on Jan. 20, 2003, in Missoula. Jimmy was born June 5, 1953, in Everett, WA. He moved to St. Ignatius in 1979. He married Lorene Dupuis on May 17, 1986. Jimmy loved playing pool, dominoes and loud music. He enjoyed laughing and hanging out with friends. At home, he watched movies and football games on his "big screen TV." Jim also enjoyed going to his son's basketball and football games. He is survived by his wife; a son, Jimmy Zackuse Jr.; a daughter and son-in-law, Dee Ann and Quincy Weatherwax; and eight grandchildren -- all of St. Ignatius. Other survivors are his brothers, Billy Zackuse Jr. and Gene Zackuse; sisters Fay and Linda Zackuse; an numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Jimmy was preceded in death by his parents, William Sr. and Ruth Spencer Zackuse; and a brother, Richard Williams. A wake was held at the Salish Longhouse in St. Ignatius. Services and burial were in Marysville, WA.
SONNY BISSON
PABLO -- Sonny Bisson died of cancer on Feb. 4, 2003, at his home here. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and four brothers. He is survived by a daughter, Becky Smith (Arlee); two sisters, Dorothy Kroshus and her husband, Ole (Pablo) and Vivian Cahoon and her husband, Earl (Pinehurst, ID); seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Graveside services were conducted on Feb. 8 at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson.
JESSE BROWN
PABLO -- Jesse James Brown was born on July 30, 1981, to Andrea Faye Blixt Brown and Thomas Lee Brown in Kalispell. He died on Feb. 10, 2003, from hypothermia related to an automobile accident. Jesse, a Salish-Kootenai tribal member, was married to Tina Diaz. He loved his family and fixing cars. His other interests included motorcycles, racing cars, playing video games, hiking, camping and horseback riding. He was preceded in death by his mother; his paternal grandfather, Harvey Brown; his maternal great-grandmother Mary Glover; and his maternal grandfather, Porky McClure. He is survived by his wife and their children, Destiny and Dakota; his father; brothers Justin Brown (Pablo), Kyle Brown and Tony Brown (Browning), his paternal grandmother Alpha Brown; his maternal grandmother, Marjorie Blixt; maternal grandfathers Jimmy Blixt (Niarada) and Jerry Nicholai (Hot Springs); and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Wake services and Mass were conducted in Elmo. Burial followed on the Brown property at Pablo.
DIXIE LEE CRONE
KALISPELL -- Dixie Lee Crone, 90, longtime Hot Springs resident, died on Feb. 10, 2003, at Brendan House here. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Kenneth and Judy Crone (Kalispell); her daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Clayton White (Hot Springs); nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Marland Crone, in 1984, and by two brothers, Cecil and Lloyd Woods. Funeral services were conducted on Feb. 12 at the Lonepine Community Hall. Burial followed at the Murray Memorial Cemetery in Lonepine. Memorials may be made to the Hot Springs Senior Citizens or to the Lonepine Community Hall.
LINDA LEE DIXON
POLSON -- Linda Lee Dixon died of cancer on Jan. 25, 2003, at her home on the west shore of Flathead Lake. She was born to Dr. and Mrs. Lee W. Smith on Oct. 13, 1926, in Butte, where she attended school. She graduated from high school in Faribault, MN. She also attended Montana State College and Stanford University at Palo Alto, CA, where she graduated in 1948 with a degree in nursing. She returned to Montana and worked for Drs. Teel and Tanglin in Polson and for the state of Montana and Lake County in public health. She was involved with the Polson Library, Public Health and Community Concert boards. She was also a volunteer hospice worker and volunteer nurse in the public school system. She was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church Linda met her husband, Charles Dixon, while skiing; they were married Nov. 16, 1952. Linda enjoyed the outdoors and participated in downhill and cross country skiing, fishing, hiking, camping, swimming, hunting and huckleberry picking. She also enjoyed duplicate bridge. Linda is survived by her husband at the family home; son Charles L. Dixon, M.D., his wife Eve (Kalispell); daughter Rebecca G. Lewis and her husband Greg; daughter Christine Dixon (Oak Harbor, WA); and daughter Melinda G. Dixon and husband Chris Clouart (Bend, OR); two grandchildren; her sister Shirley Weditt and husband Jim (Butte); her brother Lee W. Smith and wife Joan (Columbia Falls); and numerous nieces and nephews. Private family services have been held. Memorial donations may be sent to St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, Box 1112, Polson, MT 59860; or to the donor's church or charity of choice.
