Search Archived Marriage Records
AIDA SOWARD
POLSON -- Aida Laura Soward, 88, of Polson, died on March 16, 2004, in Kalispell. She was born on May 12, 1915, in Boston. She was the oldest of five children born to Signorina and Galileo DiFonzo. She moved to New York in 1921. After graduating from eighth grade she dropped out of school to work in her family's candy store and take care of her younger siblings while both parents worked. When her father died in 1931 Aida began work in the garment industry. Aida married Kenneth Soward on Dec. 6, 1942, in New York City. When Kenneth was detailed to the South Pacific, Aida lived and worked in San Francisco. They relocated to Denver where Aida attended college. The family moved to Great Falls in 1952 and Aida started a nursery school in her home. She also taught elementary school. She continued to take part-time classes while being a full-time teacher and mother. Aida and Kenneth were transferred to Casper, Wyo., in 1970 and upon Kenneth's retirement in 1977 they relocated to Polson. She loved languages and was fluent in Italian. She was an excellent cook who loved to travel. Preceding her in death were an infant son; her mother and father; a sister, Dora Aiello; and a brother, Renato DiFonzo. Surviving are her husband; two daughters and their husbands, Katherine and Art Gayvert (Florence) and Patricia and Frank diStefano (Kalispell); seven grandchildren; brothers Valentino DiFonzo (Sparks, NV) and Roberto DiFonzo (New York); and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services were conducted on March 26 in Polson. Burial followed at Lakeview Cemetery.
NEVA TOLLEFSON
POLSON -- Neva Janet Tollefson died on March 18, 2004, at the age of 78. She was born in Lander, WY, on Sept. 25, 1925, to Calvin and Esther Livingston. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Jeannie F. Jones and brother Raymond C. Livingston. She grew up on the family farm east of Pablo, attending schools in Polson and Ronan and graduating from Ronan High School. For many years she worked for the Lake County Soil Conservation Service and later for the Lake County Planning Board. She was a founding member of the Sandpiper Gallery, and an active artist and woodcarver. On Dec. 21,1958, she married Ronald E. Tollefson in Missoula. Neva is survived by Ron at the family home; two children and their spouses, Greg and Susan Tollefson and Toni and Keith Wock; five grandchildren; one great-grandchild; two nephews; five nieces; and five feline companions. Cremation has taken place with a private family gathering to be held at a later date. The family requests that donations and memorials be sent to the Sandpiper Gallery Scholarship Fund.
J.L. WAYLETT
MISSOULA -- J.L. "Joe" Waylett was born in Camas on July 17, 1911. He died at his home in Missoula on March 26, 2004. He grew up on a homestead on the Little Blackfoot River. He was a sawmill worker in Somers, a brakeman for the Northern Pacific Railroad, a barber, a journeyman carpenter and an avid prospector. He fought in World War II as a Navy recruit, serving in the South Pacific Theater from 1943-1945. Joe was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Frances Lozeau Waylett. He is survived by his son, Lillis, and wife Leisa (Decatur, TX); two daughters, Marlene Waylett (Missoula) and Audrey Hayes (Irvine, CA); five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren. Cremation has taken place and no funeral services are planned. Memorial gifts may be sent to the Flathead Reservation's Veterans Warrior Society, 178 Glacier Lily Lane, Ronan, MT 59864.
DAWN JEAN BIGCRANE
WELLPINIT, Wash. -- Dawn Jean Bigcrane died on April 11, 2004. She was born on June 7, 1979, and was an enrolled member of the Flathead Tribe. She is survived by her mother, Louise Wynne (Wellpinit); her father, Francis Bigcrane (Ronan); a sister, Angela Bigcrane (Ronan); a brother, Alfred Wynne (Fruitland, WA); her grandmother, Adeline Peters (Wellpinit); her life partner, Levi Ford, and their children, Nina, Levi Jr., and Seanna Ford (all of Wellpinit); and numerous uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, friends, partners and extended family on the Powwow Trail.
TIA DENTON
POLSON -- Tia Christine Denton, four-month-old daughter of Jon and Annie Denton of Polson, died in her sleep on April 11, 2004. She was preceded in death by her great-grandfather, Malcolm Chuck Mitchell; her grandfather, Arthur Denton; her great grandmother, Susie Blixt; and a great-aunt, Tommy Sue Mitchell. Tia is survived by her parents; two sisters, Rashaunda and Tabitha Denton; two brothers, Tobias and Quentin Denton; grandmothers Iris Caye and Anna Mitchell; and great-grandparents Agnes Caye and August Lefthand. Wake and funeral services were conducted at the Elmo Hall. Burial followed at the Dayton Cemetery.
JEAN ELLIS
DIXON -- Jean Margaret Ellis died on April 9, 2004, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. She was born Dec. 5, 1920, in Belt, to John R. and Clara Culver, the youngest of four children. Her brothers are Don, Bruce and Kenny. Nov. 9, 1941, marked the beginning of 62 years of marriage to LeRoy Scott Ellis of Stanford. The couple lived in Lewistown from 1947 until 1991. They owned many rental properties and worked side by side doing home renovations. She will be remembered for taking great pleasure in caring for her family. Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Barbara Cripps (Dixon) and Linda Ransford (Desert Hot Springs, CA); two sons, David Ellis (Canoga Park, CA) and Jay Ellis (Navarre, FL); 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. No public services are scheduled.
DENNIS FELSMAN
ST. IGNATIUS -- Dennis James "PacMan" Felsman of Charlo died in an automobile collision south of Ronan on April 13, 2004. He was born in St. Ignatius on April 30, 1951, to Annie BigTom and Ernie "Cow" Felsman, both deceased. He was a member of the Conf. Salish and Kootenai Tribes. He married Sharon Bird-Felsman on July 28, 1982. Dennis's greatest joy was his family. He also loved to go hunting, fishing and camping, playing stickgames and country drives. He will always be remembered for storytelling and making people laugh. A dedicated worker, he enjoyed his job as a truck driver. He was preceded in death by his brother, Johnson BigSmoke. He is survived by his wife, Sharon; five daughters: Sheri, Shirley, Sheila, Shelly, and Rhonda and her husband, Matt Mahkuk; a son, Willie Colon, and his wife, Lola Hawk; six grandchildren: Danika, Miranda, Byron, Mary, Trina and Galen; a brother, Robert Sherwood (Spokane, WA); sisters Doris Felsman (Ronan), Denise Sherwood (St. Ignatius) and Margaret Gardipe (Pablo); as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Traditional wake services were conducted at the Longhouse. Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on April 18 in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Interment took place in the family cemetery near Ninepipes.
PAUL FLEMING
POLSON -- Paul John Fleming died on April 22, 2004, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula. He was born on Jan. 5, 1917, in Sutton, NE. He grew up, attended school and, in 1935, graduated from high school in Sutton. He helped build the Lincoln Highway with his team of horses. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and worked in the camp laundry, was a barber and learned the carpentry trade. He moved to Alaska and built aircraft hangars on the Aleutian Islands chain. Paul enlisted in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. He returned to Montana, where his family had moved prior to the war. He farmed in the Mountainview area near Polson. He helped build the upgrades on Kerr Dam in the 1950s. He married Josephine (Arpan) Violette on Nov. 5, 1952. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Polson, and he and Josephine enjoyed traveling and visiting with family. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, James. He is survived by his wife; three sons and their spouses, Donald and Ann Violette (Polson), Jim and Sharon Violette (Polson) and Paul Fleming (Seattle); daughter-in-law Debra Fleming (Seattle); eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one sister, Lois Gergan (Garden Grove, CA). Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated on April 24 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Burial with military honors followed at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson.
BLANCHE HARDING
POLSON -- Blanche Lillibridge Harding, 95, of Polson, died of natural causes on April 5, 2004, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell. She was preceded in death by her husband, Roland "Tommy" Harding, and two daughters, Betty Blanche Harding and Bonnie Wolgamot. She is survived by her daughter, Gaye Engle (Polson); two sons, Gordon Harding (Billings) and Gary Harding (Pablo); nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. A memorial service was held on April 10 at the First Presbyterian Church in Polson.
