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FRANCIS WILLIAMS
POLSON -- Francis C. "Toot" Williams, 75, of Polson, died on Jan. 30, 2006, after a courageous battle with bone cancer. He was born on April 12, 1930, to Lester and Beatrice Williams in Three Forks. Francis graduated from Willow Creek High School in 1949. After graduation, he helped his family on their cattle ranch there. In 1949, he joined the U.S. Navy, serving on the USS Wiltsie. After serving honorably in the Korean War, he returned to Willow Creek to start his own cattle ranch and began raising a family. In the 1970s, Francis and Jeanie moved to Finley Point on Flathead Lake in Polson. It was there that he grew cherries in his own orchard for many years. He was very fond of growing flowers. He also kept a greenhouse, where he successfully grew hydroponic tomatoes and sold them to local merchants. Francis also enjoyed watching birds, wildlife and loved the outdoors. Francis was a member of the Masons for 50 years. He was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Polson, where he faithfully attended and served for more than 36 years. Francis was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Jeanie; and two children, eldest son Bill Williams and wife Melody (St. Paul, TX) and daughter Kim Stallknecht and husband Kurt (Kalispell.). Francis was a wonderful grandfather to four grandchildren, Ariel and Alanis, Daniel and Benjamin. Francis is also survived by his brother, Gordon "Squirt" and wife Barbara (Willow Creek), along with sister Norma Miller (Three Forks). Francis also leaves behind several nieces, nephews and cousins and father and mother-in-law, Kirby and Esther Hicklin (Polson). Funeral services were held on Feb. 3 at the First Baptist Church in Polson. Military honors were held at the church following services. Military graveside services were Feb. 4 at the Willow Creek Cemetery.
HARVEY WILLISON
ARLEE -- Harvey Wesley Willison, 84, died on Jan. 18, 2006, at his home here. Harvey was born on Jan. 3, 1922, in Summit, SD, to David and Hedwig (Benz) Willison. He moved to Missoula with his family at the age of 12. After attending school and working in the area, he moved to Seattle with his sister's family, the Chaussees. In Seattle, he attended welding school and worked on the dredge until reporting for military service on Jan. 15. In the Army, he was a radar and searchlight operator, a welder and a heavy-truck driver. He was discharged on his birthday in 1946. On April 3, 1949, Harvey and Lilie Boegli were married in Missoula. They followed road construction, eventually settling in Arlee in 1956 with their three children. Harvey served in the Jocko Valley Volunteer Fire Dept. for 20 years while he worked road construction throughout western Montana. He was designated a lifetime member of the Operating Engineers. He had the ability to envision and build something useful from his pile of scrap metal and odds and ends in his shop. He enjoyed going to hunting camp up Petty Creek. After retiring in 1982, he and Lilie spent time traveling the backroads in Canada and Montana. In 1999, for their 50th wedding anniversary the family thoroughly enjoyed a jet boat trip up the Snake River. Harvey also loved attending Lady Griz games. He was a proud contributor to the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Harvey is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lilie; sons and spouses Greg and Marilyn (New Plymouth, ID) and Randy and Becky (Arlee); daughter and spouse Pam and Gary (Bigfork); grandsons Trey and Gary Willison; granddaughter Jenn Tucker; and three great-granddaughters. Harvey was preceded in death by brothers Orville and Vern, and sisters Isabel, Ruth and Marcella. He is survived by brother Gene and sister Orpah Chaussee, numerous nieces and nephews, and faithful dog Molly. A memorial service was held on Jan. 21 at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Arlee. Burial followed at Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius. Memorials can be made to the Arlee QRU, P.O. Box 254, Arlee, MT 59821.
RUTH WUNDERLICH
ST. IGNATIUS -- Ruth "Pert" Vasselais Wunderlich, of St. Ignatius, died of natural causes on Jan. 30, 2006, at Hillside Health Care Center in Missoula. She was born on Dec. 15, 1919, in Wakefield, KS, to George and Laura Braden. She lost her mother when she was two years old. Her father married Minnie Scott in 1924. She attended schools in Wakefield until moving to Topeka, KS, to live with her sister Ethel Braden Carpenter after her freshman year. She graduated from Highland Park High School in Topeka in 1937. She later moved to New York City and became a top model for the John Robert Powers Modeling Agency during the 1940s and 1950s. She married Francis Dickson in 1942. They were divorced. She married Roger Vasselais in 1952. They lived in New York City and also had a home on Long Island. He died in 1983. On Oct. 10, 1984, she married William Wunderlich. The couple resided on a ranch in St. Ignatius where they both enjoyed raising black Angus cattle during their retired years. She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, two sisters and one nephew. Survivors are her husband William Wunderlich (St. Ignatius); her son, Douglas Dickson (Guilford, CT); and two nephews. A memorial service was held at the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission Church in St. Ignatius on Feb. 18. The family suggests memorial contributions in Pert's name to the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission Church, P.O. Box 667, St. Ignatius, MT 59865.
WAYNE BERG SR.
RONAN -- Wayne Carl Berg Sr. was born in Fargo, N.D., on July 8, 1939, to parents Carl and Myrtle Berg. After high school, he entered the U.S. Army, where he studied aerial photography. He served a tour in Korea after combat action had ended and entered the Secret Service as a security guard for Dwight D. Eisenhower. Six years in the White House allowed him to earn a degree in electrical engineering from Georgetown University. From Washington, D.C., back to California in the early '70s, Wayne took a job at Pacific Scientific where he designed hydrogen atmosphere furnaces for the space industry. The corporate lifestyle did not appeal to him so he opened a bar and feed store in Riverside, Calif., while dabbling in the insurance business on the side. There he married and started a family. In 1975, wanting a slower-paced life and missing the cold that is genetic to those of Norse descent, Wayne packed up his family and moved to Montana and the Mission Valley where he became a jack-of-all-trades: rancher, retailer, restaurateur and entrepreneur. He is best known for his two eateries, Buffalo Chip Pizza and Trapper's Food Emporium: The Little Place with the Big Taste. Wayne Carl Berg Sr. passed away Feb. 17, 2006, at St. Luke Community Hospital in Ronan. He was preceded in death by his parents and survived by his children, Daniel Berg and his wife Bridget (Raleigh, N.C.), Alaina Berg (Ronan), Wayne Berg Jr. (Ronan); Angelika, Ryan and Mason Sloan (Missoula); Weston Berg (Ronan) and Alizabeth Berg (Ronan). Wayne is also remembered by his close friends, Joe Kultgen, John Gehring, Raymond Peavler and far too many others to name. Memorial services were Feb. 22 at the Glacier View Elementary School north of Ronan.
RUBY BERGSTROM
LOLO -- Ruby Velna Harris Bergstrom, 85, died on Feb. 28, 2006. Ruby was born in 1920 in Polson to Martin and Ida Schliep. She grew up in the Mission Valley with eight siblings. In 1939 she married Max Cullen Harris, which whom she had two daughters, Andrea and Darlene, who were reared in St. Ignatius. In "Mission," Max and Ruby built a dance hall in their back yard to host local round and square dancing clubs. Eventually the couple moved to Lolo to be closer to Darlene and her family. Upon this move, they continued their dancing at the Lolo Dance hall until Max passed away in 1993. Ruby remained in Lolo, where she met her second husband, Carl Bergstrom. In May of 1997, Ruby and Carl were married in Lolo and continued to be active members of the community. They were both involved in different card clubs, Lolo Seniors and were members of Lolo Community Church. Ruby was also involved in various other organizations such as the Lolo Women's Group. She was also a talented artist and craftswoman. Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; sisters Rose Schliep, Margaret Schliep, Emma Blood and June Spade; brothers Arnold Schliep, Robert Schliep and Lester Schliep; husband Max Harris; and various other extended family members. She is survived by her husband Carl Bergstrom of Lolo; daughters Darlene Cook of Lolo and Andrea (Ron) Matt of Northglenn, CO; step-daughter Lynn Wilson (Bud) of Condon; step-son Bill (Tammy) Bergstrom of Woods Bay; and son-in-law Tom Cook of Lolo. She is also survived by one sister, Irene Blush, of Polson. She leaves behind grandchildren Shelly (Kevin) Haley of Eaton, CO; Gary (Robin) Matt of Northglenn, CO; Paula (Jerry) Connely of Lakewood, CO; Taunia (Jim) Riska of Lolo; Renata (Jake) Welch of Albuquerque, NM; Steven and Derek Bergstrom and Jill (Russ) Lindley of Belgrade, MT; and 13 great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Ruby were held on March 4 at the Lolo Community Church. Burial services were also on the 4th at the St. Ignatius Cemetery. Donations can be made in Ruby's honor to the Pinehaven Christian School, PO Box 940, St. Ignatius, MT 59865.
OLIVER MILLER BONES
RONAN -- Oliver Miller Bones, 82, of Ronan, formerly of Polson, died on Feb. 7, 2006, at his home here. He was born on July 21, 1923, in Shamrock, Texas, to Walter and Lana Smith Bones. He was preceded in death by his wife, Opal, in December 2005; a sister, Bernice Bones; and brother, Ray Bones. His daughter, Gwen Nelda Bones (Ronan); a son, Stan and wife Janet Bones (Bigfork); and two grandchildren, Mac and Jodie, survive him. No services are planned at this time and cremation has taken place. Arrangements under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Cremation, Polson.
JOSEPH BOYER
RONAN -- Joseph O. "Bud" Boyer, 75, died on Feb. 14, 2006, in Missoula. A member of the Little Shell Chippewa-Cree Tribe, Bud was born on April 13, 1930, in Helena to Merceline Sandine and William E. Boyer. He grew up in the Helena area where he "cowboyed" until the 1960s. At that time he moved to the Flathead Reservation, where he continued to work as a cowboy and ranch hand. He was preceded in death by a sister, Marie Pellew, and a brother, William Boyer. Bud never married but is survived by many friends, extended family, numerous grandnieces and grandnephews; and nieces and nephews Roxanne Boyer of Omak, Wash., Theora Gonzales of Arlee, Rocky Laurence of Arlee and Randy Boyer of Missoula. Cremation has taken place and interment of cremated remains will be at the Jocko Cemetery at a later date.
JAMES M. BRANTNER
POLSON -- James M. Brantner, 84, died on Feb. 5, 2006, at his home here.He was born on July 12, 1921, in Bremond, Texas, to Horace and Mabrey Petteway Brantner.Jim is survived by his wife, Shirley (Polson); daughters Mabrey Lee Henry (Lewiston, ID) and Linda LaBonty-Snyder (St. Ignatius); son John LaBonty (Glasgow); five brothers; one sister; and grandchildren whom he loved very much.A military memorial service was held on Feb. 21 at the Polson Community Church. Memorials may be made in James' name to the Lake County Hospice or Polson Community Church.
KIMBERLY CROSSLAND
RONAN -- Kimberly (Maker) Crossland, 45 and a member of the Osage Tribe, died on Feb. 24, 2006. Kimberly was born on Dec. 19, 1960, in Pawhuska, Okla. Her family moved to Missoula in the 1960s, where she attended Roosevelt Grade School and Hellgate High School. After high school, she moved to the Flathead Indian Reservation as a teacher's aide with the Head Start program. Later, Kimberly moved to New York to pursue her life's work with children. She returned to Montana to be near her family during her courageous battle with breast cancer. So many thanks go out to Dr. Stephen Speckart and the staff at the Cancer Center in Missoula. Patty, thank you for all the reading material you kept Kimberly busy with. Kimberly loved children, animals, the outdoors and all things natural. She planted many flowers in hopes of seeing her tulips bloom this spring. Kimberly is survived and loved by her mother, Kim Maker (Charlo); her soul mate and love of her life, Ed Graniero (Mount Kisko, NY); sister Laura Crossland (Ronan); and her brother and sister-in-law, Kent (Rhea) Crossland (Phoenix). She had many close friends who shared in the joys and struggles in her life, some of whom are Karen, Glen and Adam Dicterow of New York; Arleen Dejone; the Graniero family; Duff and Marion Gerrish; the Toussaint family (Sharon); the Hoyt family; Richard Eggert, Pat Hurley and Carolyn Myhre; and so many more. Kimberly leaves behind her beloved cats, Tar, Edie and Blackjack. Kimberly requested no services. A celebration of her life will be held in the spring.
SHIRLEY HOGAN/U>
POLSON -- Shirley Ann Hogan, 75, passed away on Feb. 20, 2006, at St. Joseph Hospital here from natural causes. She was born Sept. 20, 1930, to Leo and Ione Witczek in Minneapolis. Shirley is survived by her husband Ray of Polson; daughters Tammy (Jerry) Puglia of Hungry Horse and Jenny Ione Hogan of Spokane; sons Danny Hogan of Polson, Jeffery Hogan of Kalispell and Mark (Merri) Hogan of Missoula; sisters Gloria Chapman, Janice Sorenson, Mary Loken, Judy Dallman, Lynn Witczek, Teri White, Carol Hase and Mari Lee Witczek; brothers Sonny Witczek, Dick Witczek, Tom Witczek and Jim Witczek; nine grandchildren; and four great grandchildren. Cremation has taken place, and a memorial service will be held at a later date.
IRMA KARL-GIBB
POLSON -- Irma Minnie Karl-Gibb, 88, of Polson, died on Feb. 24, 2006, at the Evergreen Health and Rehabilitation Center here from natural causes. Funeral services were conducted on March 2 at the First Baptist Church. Interment followed at Lakeview Cemetery.
