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HERBERT RICKERT JR.
RONAN -- Herbert Ernst Rickert Jr. died on Jan. 11, 2004, at his home here. He was born on Feb. 7, 1934, at his parents' home in Bensenville, IL. His parents were Herbert Ernst Rickert Sr. and Elsie Bestmann Rickert. He graduated from St. Peter Lutheran School in Arlington Heights, IL, then joined the U.S. Navy. He married Kathryn Hafliger in 1969. They later divorced and he moved to Moiese in 1973. Herbert enjoyed hunting and fishing. Surviving him are two daughters and their husbands, Linda and Todd Ludeman (Moiese) and Laura and Chafy Mostofi (Wilmette, IL); three grandchildren; and five stepsons and their wives: William and Dixie Hafliger, Stephen Hafliger, Michael and Melissa Hafliger, Martin and Brenda Hafliger, Joseph and Kris Hafliger, and four step-grandchildren (all of Moiese). Memorial services were held on Jan. 20 in Ronan.
KASEE STARKEL
BALIKPAPAN, Indonesia -- Kasee Ilene Starkel died on Jan. 1, 2004, in a pool accident here. She was born in Anchorage, AK, on March 21, 1999. She is survived by her parents, Tamara (Rice) and Chet Starkel; her brother Austin; maternal grandparents Mike and Pattie Rice (Canyon Lake, CA); paternal grandparents Norm and Chris Starkel (Ronan); and many aunts, uncles and cousins. A memorial service was held on Jan. 8 in Ronan.
HERBERT RICKERT JR.
RONAN -- Herbert Ernst Rickert Jr. died on Jan. 11, 2004, at his home here. He was born on Feb. 7, 1934, in Bensenville, IL, to Herbert Ernst (Sr.) and Elsie Bestmann Rickert. After graduation, joined the U.S. Navy and served four years. He married Kathryn Hafliger in 1969. They later divorced and he moved to Moiese in 1973. Herbert enjoyed hunting and fishing. Surviving Herbert are two daughters and their husbands, Linda and Todd Ludeman (Moiese) and Laura and Chafy Mostofi (Wilmette, IL); three grandchildren; and five stepsons and their wives: William and Dixie Hafliger, Stephen Hafliger, Michael and Melissa Hafliger, Martin and Brenda Hafliger, Joseph and Kris Hafliger, and four step-grandchildren (all of Moiese); Memorial services were held on Jan. 20 in Ronan.
ISABELLO 'ROD' RODRIQUEZ
RONAN -- Graveside services for Isabello "Rod" Rodriquez were held at Calvary Cemetery here on Jan. 16.
Rodriquez, 72, died of natural causes on Jan. 9, 2004, at the Westside Care Center.
GERALD SIAS
RONAN -- Gerald Raymond "Jerry" Sias, 61, died at his home here on Jan. 21, 2004, of heart disease. Gerald was born Aug. 12, 1942, to Herbert Edgar Sias Sr. and Bernice Valentine McLeod in St. Ignatius. He attended schools in Ronan, graduation in 1961. His work history included: outfitters' right-hand man, woods worker, faller and thinner, fence builder, tree planter, horse breaker and shoer, firefighter and meat cutter. Gerald was preceded in death by his parents, stepchild Michael Bisson and nephew Theodore J. Sias Jr. He is survived by his soulmate, Verna Drowatzky; brothers Herbert E. Jr., Fred L., Theodore J. Sr. and adopted brother Joseph Senecal; sister Jean Garfield Senecal; daughter Gerri Sias; stepchildren Danny Bisson, Randy Bisson, Diana Meeks, Henry Bisson, Freddy Bisson and Carey Kline; and numerous grandchildren and other relatives. Funeral services and burial took place on Jan. 27 in Ronan.
JOHN SNAPP
POLSON -- John Lee Snapp, 85, died of natural causes at his home here on Jan. 12, 2004.
A memorial service was held on Jan. 31 in Polson.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia; children, Penny Lippincott (Livingston, MS), Nancy Newberry (Corona, CA), Dorey Schug (Huntington Beach, CA), and John Snapp (Conyers, GA); nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and siblings Woody Snapp (LaCrosse, WI), Jane Rotondo (Bloomfield, NJ) and Amy Gannon (Peoria, IL).
Cremation has taken place.
RAYMOND F. WAGNER
RAVALLI -- Raymond F. Wagner died in a car accident on Jan. 12, 2004. He was born on Aug. 28, 1921, in Forsyth, to Harley and Monta (Rhodes) Wagner. He came to the Dixon area as a young man. Ray served in the Navy from 1942 to 1946. He married Rose Palin in 1947. In the early '50s they purchased the Four Star Bar in Ravalli and operated it for about 30 years. The marriage ended in divorce. Ray was an accomplished heavy equipment operator. He enjoyed manythings: the board game "Gimme Five," auctions, having yard sales, learning new things, cookouts and sitting around a campfire telling stories, gold-panning, dancing and attending accordion jamborees. He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his sister, Doris Moe (Hamilton); brothers Harold (Stevensville) and Warren (Yakima, WA); two sons, Shannon Wagner (Dixon) and Ken Wagner (Seattle area); a grandson and a great-grandson; and several nieces and nephews. Ray requested no formal services. Cremation has taken place.
MELVIN WANGERIN
RONAN -- Melvin C. Wangerin died on Jan. 3, 2004, at St. Luke's Hospital here. He was born on July 2, 1925, to Henry and Bertha Wangerin in Outlook. He worked with his father on the family farm and played baseball for the local team. A veteran of World War II, he was interested in aviation. He received his pilot license in 1946, attended air shows, and made and flew miniature airplanes. He played the piano and the guitar by ear. He enjoyed hunting and fishing. He married Agnes Lorraine Christensen in Westby in 1951. He and Agnes lived in Bozeman and then in the Mission Valley, where they bought a ranch in the Round Butte area. Melvin worked at Plum Creek for 25 years while ranching. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Elsie. He is survived by his wife; four children and their spouses, Marcia Wangerin, Wayne Wangerin and Jayne, Rich Wangerin and Waneta, and Sandy Murray and Bob; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; three sisters, Esther Bakker, Lorna Schrull and Betty Klimper; and many nephews and nieces. A funeral service was held on Jan. 9 in Ronan.
WILLIAM WHEELER
ST. IGNATIUS -- William J. "Bill" Wheeler died on Jan. 4, 2004, from injuries sustained in an auto accident on Dec. 31, 2003. Bill was born in Willmar, MN, on April 7, 1923, to Thomas and Emily (Rosenquist) Wheeler. In 1941, at the age of 18, Bill went to Vallejo, CA, to work on submarines. He was at Pearl Harbor went it was bombed. In 1943, he returned to Montana wherehe ranched, mined, and owned and operated a trailer park and store. He also manufactured his own mining equipment and packaged and sold barite. At the time of his death, he had a large cattle ranching operation at Post Creek. He was married twice. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Thomas, Joseph, Michael and John; sisters S. Marie (Osborne), Frances (Van Dusen) and Mary Wheeler; an infant daughter, Bridget; and a grandson. He is survived by his and Blanche Lanoue Wheeler's 12 children (and their spouses): Mary and Bob Van Gieson (WA), William and Yvonne (Superior), Emily and Lee Van Gieson (WY), Frances and Bob King (Missoula), Katherine and Tim Hammond (Missoula), Michelle and Peter Wilkins (WA), Judith and Wayne Maxwell (Missoula), Thomas (Superior), Michael(AZ), Joseph and Linda (Missoula), Dorothy (Missoula), John and Mary(Missoula), and Peter (Missoula); three children born to him and his wife, Judy (and their spouses): Billie and Brian Anthony, Paul and Dana, and Shane and Donna (all of St. Ignatius); stepson and wife, Randy and JoAnn Rupert (Polson); two sisters, Dorothy Ryan and Katherine Phillips; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Mass was celebrated on Jan. 15 in St. Ignatius. Interment followed at the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.
