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JOHANNES CHRISTIANSEN
POLSON -- Johannes Christiansen, 70, died on Jan. 31, 2006, at St. Joseph Hospital here. He was born on March 28, 1935, in Oevenum, Germany. Oevenum is a small island in the North Sea near Denmark. After finishing school, he worked on a farm. A friend of the family came to visit from America and invited John (as he is called here in the U.S.), to come to America, the land of many opportunities. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1954 and was put to work in a German delicatessen. He couldn't speak one word of English, but had to learn the language while on the job. In New York, there were many opportunities to participate in German dances. One of those dances was held in Franklin Square, Long Island, and the same type was held in New Jersey that a young lady by the name of Ina Diers attended. Both John and Ina lived on Long Island, and had the same common interest in dancing. They dated for a short time, then were married on March 24, 1957, in Rego Park, NY. John and Ina owned and operated a delicatessen store for 17 years. They lived in the New York area until 1997, before retiring and moving to Prescott Valley, AZ, where they lived for 4 1/2 years before moving to Montana in 2003. Not too long ago, John said, "I love it here, this feels like going home." John was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, and is survived by his wife, Ina, and two children: a daughter, Marrett, lives at the family home, and a son, John, lives in Phoenix. John and Ina don't have any grandchildren, but their daughter has three dogs and a cat so they are the grandparents of those. Five brothers, Jens, Siegfried, Tony, George and Manfred, and two sisters, Tina Christiansen and Marrett Luders, also survive him. A memorial service was held on Feb. 4 at the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. Inurnment followed at Lakeview Cemetery. Cremation and arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson. (Condolences)
IONE N. DOBSON
POLSON -- Ione N. Dobson, 80, of Polson, died on Jan. 18, 2006, at St. Joseph Medical center here of natural causes. Ione was born on Sept. 28, 1925, in St. Ignatius, the daughter of Patrick Francis and Mary Irene (Dubay) Normandeau. She attended schools in Ronan and graduated from Ronan High School in 1943. She then attended nursing school at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane. Ione married Lynn S. Dobson in Spokane on Nov. 27, 1947. He preceded her in death on July 18, 1982. She was also preceded by her parents and brothers Rupert, James, Edward and Louis Normandeau. She is survived by a brother, Henry Normandeau (Ronan); a sister, Rose Normandeau (Aberdeen, WA); along with numerous nieces and nephews and extended family. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Jan. 24 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ronan. Burial followed at Calvary Cemetery. The family requests that memorials be made to the organization of the donor's choice.
LUELLA FORMAN
POLSON -- Luella May Forman, 94, died of natural causes on Jan. 5, 2006, at her residence here. A graveside inurnment service was held on Jan. 7 at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson. Cremation has taken place. Condolences
GEORGE HELIKER
POLSON -- Dr. George Butler Heliker, 86, professor emeritus of the Univ. of Montana Economics Dept., died on Jan. 5, 2006, at St. Joseph Hospital here after a brief illness. George was born on Oct. 18, 1919, to George B. and Grace Hill Heliker on a farm in Walled Lake, MI. He graduated from high school in Walled Lake in 1937 and then attended the Univ. of Michigan, where he earned a Ph.D. in economics in 1954. He joined the National War Labor Board staff in 1943 and was appointed to the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service National Panel of Arbitrators in 1954. He was active in the field of labor arbitration for 55 years, continuing to take arbitration cases until 1997. From 1947 to 1955, George taught economics at two universities in Detroit and was a research associate of the Columbia Univ. History Dept. He moved to Missoula in 1955 to join the economics department faculty at UM, where he spent the remainder of his academic career, specializing in labor economics. He was chairman of the economics department when he retired in 1976. In addition to labor arbitration, George was active in forensic economics and testified as an expert witness in many state and federal courts. George met his wife, Betty, when both were students at the Univ. of Michigan. They were married in Ann Arbor in 1942. Betty was a social worker for the Univ. of Montana and Missoula elementary schools. After retirement, they lived in Big Sky and Bozeman before settling at Flathead Lake in 1987. George was a pilot, skier, backpacker, rock climber, canoeist, sailor, big-game hunter, fly fisherman and golfer. In his later years, aside from golf and hiking, his chief hobbies were surfing the Internet and dabbling in the stock market. George is survived by his son Russell and daughter-in-law Linda Brock (Vancouver, B.C.); his daughter Cindy (Volcano, HI); and his sister Charlotte Nowaczyk (Englewood, FL). George was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, on Dec. 27, 2003, after more than 61 years of marriage. His brother Arthur also preceded him in death in 1999. Memorial contributions may be made to the Grounded Eagle Foundation (278 Kraft Creek Road, Condon, MT 59826) or to the Mission Valley Animal Shelter Endowment Fund (P.O. Box 1644, Polson, MT 59860).
GLADYS HUGHES
POLSON -- Gladys Marie Gessner Hughes, 93, of Polson, died on Jan. 28, 2006, at the St. Luke Extended Care Facility in Ronan. Gladys was born on Dec. 10, 1912, to Benjamin and Margaret Boyer in Washoe. She attended elementary school in Washoe and graduated from high school in Billings. Gladys also attended Montana State University. She worked at the Stockman's Bank in Cascade and was a business manager for the Cascade public schools. She retired in 1980 and moved to Polson. Gladys was a 50-year member of the Order of Eastern Star No. 101 and was a past matron of OES. She was a member of the Polson Senior Citizens and was active at one time in the Boy and Girl Scouts. She is survived by her son, Bruce Gessner and wife Liz (Polson); daughter Patricia Hendzel and husband Leonard (La Luz, NM); five grandchildren; and a brother, Floyd Boyer and wife Helen (Indianapolis). A memorial service will be held at a later date in Cascade. (Condolences)
CONNIE NIEMEYER
RONAN -- Constance Niemeyer died on Jan. 12, 2006, at St. Luke Extended Care Facility here. She was 93. She was a cosmic adventurer, world traveler, mystic, healer and the keeper of stories for generations of her family. She was born on March 3, 1912, in Billings to LeRoy and Constance Baker, the third of four children. The family moved to Missoula shortly afterward, and she lived in the Garden City for many of the next 60 years. She and her husband-to-be Joseph Niemeyer were students together at Missoula County High School. They were married on Nov. 9, 1931, in Butte. Dancing remained one of the couple's favorite pastimes. The couple raised five children and spent most of their married life in "The Big House" on Spurgin Road. Connie worked at Western Union and spent many summers helping organize the Missoula County Fair. She also sold stories to Modern Romance magazine. She was a 4-H leader and belonged to the Orchard Homes Women's Club and Orchard Homes Country Life Club. Her husband died on May 26, 1969, in Paradise. They were married 38 years. In the years that followed, Connie studied journalism at the University of Montana and began to travel. Over the next three decades, her travels took her to China, Japan, India and Kashmir, England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and Thailand. he sold her home in Missoula and when she wasn't roaming the globe, she was often visiting friends and family in "Herbie," her trusty Toyota camper. She studied massage and reflexology and continued her practice of yoga and meditation. She eventually retired from traveling and spent the past 13 years living with her daughter, Billie Lee, in Ronan. She is survived by five children and their partners, Jyoti SaeUn (Big Arm); Billie Lee and Arthur Gorov (Ronan); Jan and Chris Niemeyer (Ronan); Joe and Debra Niemeyer (Seaside, OR); and Kristi Niemeyer and Steve Connell (Charlo). She had 10 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Friends and family will gather to celebrate her life on March 4, a day after her 94th birthday, at Leon Hall east of Charlo.
JOSEPH NOMEE
ARLEE -- Joseph "Joe" Nomee, 84, died on Jan. 7, 2006, at St. Patrick's Hospital in Missoula from complications due to a stroke. Joe was born to Veronica (McGillis) and John Nomee on March 15, 1921, in Rocky Boy, MT. Always a traveling man, Joe worked as a ranchhand and eventually made the Jocko Valley his home. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Andrew J. Nomee; a sister, Isabel Gardipee; and his daughter, Lorraine Nomee. Survivors include a son in Fort Hall, Idaho; and many nieces and nephews. Services were Jan. 10 at the Arlee Community Center. Interment followed in the Jocko Cemetery near Arlee.
DAVID PEARSALL
POLSON -- David Carl Pearsall, 63, died on Jan. 7, 2006, at his home here. David was born on Dec. 6, 1942, in Indianapolis, to Elroy Pearsall and Verona Liggett Pearsall. He had lived 15 years in the Mission Valley. He married Evelyn Hapken in January 1975 in Denver. They have four children. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn (Polson); sister, Cheri Petraitis (PA); daughters, Darleen Gilbert (OH), Dawn Stahl (FL) and Heather Crosswhite (NC); son, Roy Pearsall (NM); and 13 grandchildren. David had been in the travel industry for 41 years, beginning with Trans World Airlines. He has managed several travel agencies and owned and operated Integrity Travel. He was an avid rifle and certified bow hunter. He enjoyed fishing with his children in the Mission Mountains Wilderness. He backpacked and canoed with Evelyn, family and friends into Can˜ @ ovincial Par¯Ée loved vegetable gardening. However, the passion of his life was his love of Jesus Christ and the desire that all men walk according to all his ways. Colossians 2:6, Philippians 2:10 and Proverbs 1:7. In lieu of flowers and gifts, send donations to Lake County Home Health and Hospice, 711 Main St. S.W., Ronan, MT 59864. Funeral services were held on Jan. 16 in Musselshell, where David loved to hunt, and his final resting place will be in Roundup. Condolences
MARY TRAHAN
TACOMA, Wash. -- Mary Agnes Trahan, 78, died on Jan. 2, 2006, at St. Joseph Hospital here. She was born on June 5, 1927, in St. Ignatius, where she lived most of her life until 1977, when she moved to Cut Bank. In 1984, she moved to Tacoma to help her daughter and son-in-law with their two handicapped children. In 1990, she moved with them to Birmingham, Ala., to continue caring for the children while the parents worked. She then moved back to Tacoma in 1992 and resided there until her passing. Mary died of complications due to diabetes. She married Lyman Luke Trahan in 1955. Luke had three sons, Art, Mike and Ron, from a previous marriage and she raised them as her own. They had one daughter, Dixie, from their marriage. In 1972, they adopted their granddaughter, Marilee Trahan. During her lifetime, she was a bookkeeper for their business, L&M Logging and worked at Plum Creek Lumber in Pablo for four years. She and Luke also owned and operated the Santa Rita Tavern in North Cut Bank. Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Luke; her parents James and Agnes Standing Bear Pichette; her sister, Mary Rita (Pete) Evans; brothers Baptiste, Ernest, James B. Pichette and Joe and Steve (Brody) Abell; her granddaughter, Billee Jo 'B.J.' Brabender, who just recently died; granddaughter Wendy Roullier; premature son and daughter of Ron and Violet Trahan; and numerous other relatives. She is survived by her children and their families, Art and Gloria (Elmo), Mike and Caro of (Ronan), Ron and Violet (St. Ignatius), Bill and Dixie Brabender (Lakewood, WA); Marilee Trahan; and her youngest brother, Noel Pichette (St. Ignatius). She also has 21 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends. Traditional wake services began Jan. 7 at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius. Mass was celebrated Jan. 9 at the Mission Catholic Church. Interment took place on Jan. 8 at the Catholic Cemetery, where she was put to rest with her husband and granddaughter.
ARTHUR VOSS
POLSON -- Arthur R. Voss, 92, died at the St. Joseph Assisted Living here on Jan. 22, 2006. Arthur was born in South Dakota on April 1, 1913, to Charlie and Anna Voss. He grew up and attended schools in South Dakota. Arthur joined the Civilian Conservation Corps as a young man and later worked on the Alaskan Pipeline and sheared sheep in Montana, Idaho and Utah. He married Helen Stolle on July 23, 1955, in Washington. They lived in Missoula, and for years Arthur worked at Coca-Cola Bottling until his retirement in 1976. He and Helen retired to Polson in 1976. In his retirement years, Arthur took great pride in his yard and gardening. He enjoyed fishing and hunting in his younger days. He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen, in 1998; and by his brothers, Clarence, Lloyd and Warren. His two brothers, Orville Voss (Washington Terrace, UT) and Vernon Voss (Sunset, UT); a sister, Dorothy McQuiddy (Washington Terrace); and numerous nieces and nephews, survive him. Funeral services were conducted on Jan. 28 at the Good Shepard Lutheran Church. Interment will take place in Clermont, Iowa.
