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MARY C. CONWAY
RONAN -- Mary C. Conway, 51, died on Dec. 2, 2003, of heart failure at Missoula's Community Medical Center. She was born Nov. 24, 1952, in Pittsburgh, the daughter of Charles and Marlan (Burke) Conway. Mary's main focus was to assist the developmentally disabled in Montana. She began her mission in Charlo in Sept. 1981, where she taught special education until June 1982. From Sept. 1982 until June 1984, she was the behavior therapist for the Dillon schools. She then moved to Flathead Industries in Kalispell, where she was "Employee of the Year" for 1985 and continued her employment until 1991, when she moved to the Mission Valley where she worked for Mission Mountain Enterprises. She had a special talent working with the autistic and decided to pursue this passion by taking a teaching position in Vancouver, WA, in 1996. She returned to the Mission Valley a year later. She continued to be active in the community until Feb. 2001, when she moved to Pennsylvania. She returned to Montana in October 2003. She is survived by her life partner, Gary Dietrich (Ronan); three brothers, Charles, James and Robert Conway and a sister, Barbara Welsch; numerous nieces and nephews; and her dog Goldie. Memorial services were held on Dec. 13 in Ronan.
RICHARD CRAIG
POLSON -- Richard E. "Dick" Craig, 72, died from natural causes on Dec. 15, 2003, at St. Joseph Hospital here. He was born July 12, 1931, in Pocatello, ID, to Richard M. and Rose Marie (Ringo) Craig. He attended schools in Idaho and Calif. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. In 1967 Dick and his family moved to Gresham, OR, where they bought a grocery store. Dick then became superintendent of Lusted Water District for the next 20 years. He and his wife worked with Youth With a Mission for 17 years, including mission trips to Japan and the Philippines. He also did weekly Radio Free Europe broadcasts into Romania. He started a Laubach Adult Literacy Center, teaching English as a second language at the center there. In 1995 Dick, his wife and oldest son moved to Big Arm, where he enjoyed the diverse pleasures of Montana. He attended Polson Alliance Church. His greatest joy was his sons and their families and he always looked forward to big family gatherings. Richard is survived by his wife Dena; sons David Craig, Jim Craig, Richard and his wife Susan, and Kevin and his wife Cheryl; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held on Dec. 27 at the Polson Alliance Church.
EVA CROSS
RONAN -- Eva Webber Cross, 105, long-time resident of St. Luke Extended Care Facility here, died on Dec. 20, 2003. She was born on Dec. 28, 1897, in Red Lodge, to pioneers John and Mary Webber. She graduated from Red Lodge High School and worked on the family ranch and in the family greenhouse until she married James L. Cross in 1919. Eva and Jim graduated from the Palmer School of Chiropractics in 1921. They went on to raise award winning chinchillas in Red Lodge for many years. The couple lived a varied life that ranged from growing oranges in Florida to operating a malt shop in California. They retired to Polson in 1972. Eva led an active life. She loved to entertain her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with tales of life in early Montana. She worked hard and always maintained she would rather wear out than rust out. In October of this year she realized a longtime dream and took a helicopter ride from Ronan to the south end of Flathead Lake. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and three sisters: Irene Campbell, Alice Johnson and Laura Weaver. She is survived by her son John (Osceola, MO); four grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren, and 11 great-great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held at St. Luke Extended Care Facility on Jan. 5, 2004.
SID CROSS
CAMAS PRAIRIE -- Sid Cross, 80, died here on Dec. 6, 2003, of an apparent heart attack. He was born March 4, 1923, on Camas Prairie to Dick and Marie Cross. Sid loved Camas Prairie. He farmed the land and raised his family there. He attended grade school in Camas Prairie and graduated from Hot Springs High School in 1941. Except for a short time working in an aircraft factory in California before World War II, Sid lived on Camas Prairie all of his life. Sid married Mary Lou Bras in 1955. Together they had three children: Ben, Carlene and Melanie Cross. They also have 12 grandchildren. Sid was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Herb and Gordon Cross. Funeral services were Dec. 10 at Lonepine Hall.
OLIVE DONALDSON
RONAN -- Olive A. Donaldson, 92, died at St. Luke Extended Care here from natural causes on Dec. 8, 2003. She was born July 3, 1912 at Valley Creek to Eli and Nancy Morigeau. She married William Edward Gefeller and they had five children together. They later divorced. Olive moved to Washington and married Bill Donaldson. They retired at Blue Bay. After Bill died Olive moved to Lakeview Village in Polson. She was a homemaker for most of her life. She was also preceded in death by three sons, William, Robert and James Gefeller. She is survived by two daughters, Susan and Sandra (WA); sister Stella Jamison (formerly of Polson); and several nieces, nephews and other relatives. A memorial Mass was celebrated on Dec. 11 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson.
GLEN JUNIOR FULKERSON
POLSON -- Glen Junior Fulkerson, 61, of Polson, died on Dec. 27, 2003, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula of cancer. Glen, a tribal member, was born on June 20, 1942, in St. Ignatius to Geraldine Dupuis Fulkerson and Ray A. Fulkerson. He was a lifelong resident of Polson and will be remembered by many as a local milkman for Darigold and a one-time co-owner of the Polson Town Pump. During the last 22 years, Glen worked for the Lake County Sanitation Department at the landfill, operating heavy equipment. Glen attended elementary school in Polson and graduated from Polson High School in 1960. He went on to attend Kinman Business College in Spokane for two years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and any moose, elk, deer and fish were invited to join him at the dinner table anytime. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Lorraine and brother Robert DePoe. He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Phyllis; daughter Gerri Fulkerson (Duvall, WA); son and wife Mark and Merry Fulkerson (Edmonds, WA); grandchildren David, Micold, Michelle and Josh; great granddaughter Makyla; and his stepchildren, Tom Kantola and family (Olympia, WA), Chris Kantola and family (Camano Island, WA), Rod Kantola and family (Bothell, WA) and Cory Colbert and family (Chelan, WA). Also grieving Glen's death are his sisters, Jeanie Schwarz (Charlie Griffith) of Polson and Carol Martin (Larry) of Seattle; brothers Douglas Fulkerson (Espie) of San Diego and Bruce Fulkerson (Margie) and family of Spokane; plus many nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held on Dec. 31 at the Grogan Funeral Home. Inurnment followed at Lakeview Cemetery.
FRANCIS GALLAGHER
RONAN -- Francis "Frank" John Gallagher, 91, died of natural causes on Dec. 28, 2003, at St. Luke Extended Care Facility here. He was born Nov. 26, 1912, in Vallejo, CA, and resided there most of his life. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Attridge) Gallagher. Frank attended schools in Vallejo, graduating from Vallejo High School in 1932. He also attended the University of California-Davis. Frank was a St. Luke Extended Care resident since November 1997. He is well remembered at the facility for keeping the "temperature just right." Rosary services and burial were Jan. 5 in Vallejo. Burial followed at All Souls Cemetery there.
LEAH GRAHAM
GREAT FALLS -- Leah May Thompson Graham, 66, died on Dec. 6, 2003, at the Hospice House in Great Falls. She was born May 16, 1937, in Valley View, a daughter of George and Flora Thompson of Polson. She grew up in the Valley View area and graduated from Polson High School in 1955. She moved to Richland, WA, and worked in blueprinting at the Hanford nuclear power plant. She married Gary Lee Graham in 1955 and moved to Kansas. She returned to Montana in 1956 and since then had lived in Eureka, Kalispell and Great Falls. She was preceded in death by her father, George William Thompson; sister Freda Sparks; brothers, Bill and Cecil Thompson; and a great-granddaughter. Surviving are her mother, Flora Emma Olsen Thompson (Polson); her children, Marty Graham and Kathy Ronke (Great Falls), and Greg Graham (Pilot Rock, OR); and 11 grandchildren. Private family services were held following cremation.
