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MITCHELL L. JAMES
POLSON -- Mitchell L. James died on Sept. 9, 2003, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls from natural causes. Mitchell was born on Jan. 11, 1923, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, to George and Alta James. He attended schools in Polson and joined the U.S. Army during World War II. Mitchell served in the Pacific Theater and returned to Polson after his discharge. He was an ironworker, a millwright, a rancher, and helped build a number of dams in the region. He enjoyed many activities in his younger days including football, boxing and riding rough stock in rodeos. He was most recently breeding miniature mules and teaching them to drive. He was also the longest and oldest member of the Polson VFW. He was preceded in death by his son, Cody; his parents; one infant brother, Leroy; a sister, Virginia Douglas; and a grandson, Drake Schaefer. He is survived by a sister, Eileen Reed (Polson); his children and their spouses, Carole and Keith Fredrickson (Spirit Lake, ID), Robyn Davis (Eugene, OR), Michelle and Fred Schaefer (Missoula), Mitchell S. James (Polson) and Thurston Tonya James (Hot Springs); 19 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and numerous other relatives. A memorial service was held on Sept. 15 in Polson. Graveside military rites followed in Lakeview Cemetery in Polson. Memorials may be made to the Polson VFW.
WILLIAM JOHN RODGERS
DIXON -- William "Bill" John Rodgers died in Horn Lake, Miss., on Sept. 9, 2003, from complications of cancer. Bill was born in Butte on April 3, 1933, and was raised as an orphan in Helena. On Jan. 19, 1957, he married Doris Mickelson of Dixon and they had five children - Theresa "Terri," Maureen, Keith, and twins William and Michael -- all of whom survive him along with his wife, 12 grandchildren and one great-grandson. Bill was skilled in many fields, including carpentry, plumbing, electrical, cooking, canning and telling jokes. Bill drew close to his creator, Jehovah God, in his final years and is now awaiting the resurrection into the coming paradise earth. As Jesus stated in John 11:25-26: "I am the resurrection and the life. He that exercises faith in me, even though he dies, will come to life; and everyone that is living and exercises faith in me will never die at all. Do you believe this " Bill was planning on returning to his beloved birthplace to finish out his remaining days in Dixon. His last wishes will be carried out by having his ashes scattered in the beautiful mountains of Montana. Memorial services were held on Sept. 19 in Nesbit, Miss.
LILLIAN WIPPLINGER
MISSOULA -- Lillian Dee "Peg" Burgess Wipplinger of Ronan, died on Sept. 4, 2003, at Community Medical Center here. She was born on Oct. 13, 1931, in Perma, the youngest of nine children of Harry and Lorena Markle Burgess. She was a member of the Conf. Salish and Kootenai Tribes. She graduated from Plains High School in 1948 where she was the Montana State Typing and Shorthand Champion. On Sept. 17, 1950, she married Herman Wipplinger in Plains. The couple lived in Everett, WA, for 16 years. In 1974 they returned to Montana, and in 1978 they purchased and operated the Pair-A-Dice Bar in Paradise. In 1980, Peg and Herman started Rainbow Construction, a highway construction firm. Following Herman's death in 1988, Peg continued to run Rainbow Construction; in 1991, she was awarded the Regional Small Business Person of the Year honors. She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Doug and Chari Wipplinger (Plains); two daughters and sons-in-law, Loretta and Charlie Hammond (Columbia, SC) and Leanne and Dennis Talbott (Dixon); one sister, Sal Petitclerc (Charlo); 10 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Besides her husband, Herman, she was preceded in death by five sisters and two brothers. Funeral services and burial took place on Sept. 8 in Plains.
JOAN ARLEE
ARLEE -- Joan Arlee died here on Oct. 30, 2003. Born in Seattle in 1951, Joan's ancestry was from the Stó:lo territory in British Columbia. She is survived by her husband, Johnny Arlee (Arlee); three children: Terry Parker (Arlee); Janine Parker (Forks, WA) and her children, Ashley Akin, Jennifer Lawrence, Amanda Lawrence, A.C. and Linda; and Gordon Johnson (Neah Bay, WA); stepchildren JaBleau Arlee, Travis Arlee and Troy Arlee; and four step-grandchildren. She is also survived by her paternal aunt, Nellie Joe, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Joan was predeceased by her mother, Dorothy Joe; her father, Oliver Peters; her stepfather, Gib Haver Camp; baby boy Arlee; uncles Donald Andrew, Art Andrew, William Andrew, George Andrew, James Andrew and Paul Tabafunda; aunts MaryLou Andrew, Virginia Tabafunda and Deliah Andrew; and grandparents August and Annie Andrew. While she was talented in many activities from art to music and participation in various tribal community functions, she is best remembered by most for making everything she was involved in more enjoyable for everyone. Her favorite activities included shopping, gift giving, beading, powwows, fancy and traditional dancing, preparing and eating salmon, meeting new people, horse racing, stick games, scary movies and performing her comical renditions of "Fifi," "Drunken Bertha," "The Elegant Lady" and "Lola." The absolute loves of her life were Johnny and raising her three grandchildren. She loved the Jocko Valley and for it surrendered her citizenship in Canada to live out her life here as an active member of the tribal community. Traditional wake services began Nov. 1 at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius. Funeral services were conducted on Nov. 3.
WAYNE BACHMAN
POLSON -- Wayne Frederick Bachman died from natural causes on Oct. 2, 2003 at St. Joseph Hospital here. Wayne was born on June, 5, 1917, in Ronan. He attended schools in St. Ignatius. He joined the U.S. army and served during WWII. After the military, he moved back to the Mission Valley. Wayne married Theola Devereaux in 1958 and they had two children, Dorthea and Tana. Wayne lived and worked in Polson. He enjoyed playing cards, solitaire and watching Loony Tunes cartoons. He was a generous man. He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Dorthea, and his brother, Neal. He is survived by his daughter Tana Bachman (Polson); two stepsons, Martin "Bud" Papin (Polson) and Darrell Papin (Kicking Horse); a sister, Alice (Finley Point); a brother, Earl (Seattle); three grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Oct. 7 in Polson. Interment with military honors followed at the Old Catholic Cemetery in Polson.
BERNADENE BARRETT
HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. -- Bernadene 'Bernie' Ashley Barrett, 72, died at her home on Oct. 17, 2003, from stroke-related complications. She was born on Nov. 11, 1930, in St. Ignatius, the seventh of nine children born to Charles and Agnes Madsen. She has been a resident of Huntington Beach, Calif., for 35 years. She worked for Mattel Toys for 25 years. After retirement, she enjoyed traveling with her husband, Jan Barrett. They spent many months living in Baja, Calif. Those who knew her well say that if there were music, dancing and a good party going on, she would be in the center of it all. She also enjoyed bowling, fishing, reading, playing games, rock painting, sewing and watching the sun set. An enrolled member of the Salish-Kootenai Tribes, she was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters Cec McClure, Laura McClure and Geneva Stevens; and two brothers, Charles Madsen and Ed Madsen. In addition to her husband, she is survived by her children: Greg Carney, Marla Carney, Tim Carney and Toni Barrett; her grandchildren, Kyle Carney, Nichole Carney, Tiffany Carney and Jessica Carney; one great-grandchild; three sisters, Margaret Tildon (Lapwai, ID), Charlene Hansen (Issaquah, WA) and June Cordas (Seattle); and numerous nieces and nephews. No formal services were held.
JACKIE CAMPBELL
DAYTON -- Jackie B. Campbell died at her home here on Oct. 8, 2003, from natural causes.
She was born Feb. 17, 1929, in Grand Junction, CO, to John and Claire Goldsmith Helman.
She is survived by her husband, Dr. Thomas Campbell (Dayton); four children, Thomas Campbell (Polson), Tim Campbell (San Fran.), Phillip Campbell (Roseville, CA), and Karen Burres (Seattle); seven grandchildren; and a brother, Phillip Helman (Ind.).
Cremation has taken place and private family services are planned.
MARY ANN COSTILLA
POLSON -- Mary Ann (Sarceeman) Costilla died from natural causes on Oct. 10, 2003, at St. Joseph Hospital here. She was born on Feb. 28, 1934, to Joseph and Maggie (Home Gun) Sarceeman in Browning, where she grew up and attended Starr School. She married her soulmate, Edward Costilla, in Browning. They moved their family to Houston, TX, in 1967. They moved to Polson in 1989. One of Mary Ann's main accomplishments in life was taking a mission trip to Ecuador in 1985. She made most of her own clothing and was an excellent seamstress and afghan-crocheter. She was known on the Flathead Reservation for her authentic Mexican food. People knew her as the "Tamale Lady." She loved to attend powwows. She especially loved her traditional Blackfeet customs and was fluent in the Blackfeet language, which she taught at Rice University in Houston and Salish Kootenai College. Mary Ann was a devout Christian and a member of the Blackfeet and Peigan Tribes. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Gerald Home Gun; two sisters, Rosalie Cutfinger and Sally Big Beaver; and a grandson, Shawn Smith. She is survived by her husband, Ed (Polson); her children - Felicia "Keela" Smith and Joe (Browning), Ricardo Costilla and Brenda (Polson), Jani M. Costilla (East Glacier), Valerie A. Costilla and Perry Nation (Missoula), David M. Costilla (Polson), Louisa "Lisa" F. Cadman and Darin (Polson), and Jose I. Costilla (Missoula); 13 grandchildren; a sister, Theresa Sarceeman DuBray (Polson); and numerous other relatives. Funeral services were held on Oct. 13 in Polson. Services were also conducted in Browning. Burial was at the Home Gun Cemetery.
