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JAMES KNUTSON
POLSON -- James P. Knutson, 75, Polson, died on Feb. 20, 2006, at Life Care Center of Yuma, AZ, of brain cancer. He was born to John A. and Pauline Knutson on Aug. 11, 1930, in Shelby. The family moved to Polson, where they were living at the time of his mother's death in January 1934. Jim, the oldest of three children was then raised by his grandparents, Pete and Mary Rau, up in Pleasant Valley. After high school, he went to Polson and lived with his father and sister, Mary. He went to work with his father as an apprentice carpenter around Polson and Missoula. He had known his beloved wife, Lois, since they were young children. Jim joined the Navy on Aug. 8, 1950, and was later sent to the Great Lakes Naval Training Center to go to school. This was in Waukegan, IL, so Lois went out there and they were married by a justice of the peace on Dec. 23, 1950. Jim served aboard the USS Point Cruz and went to Korea. They brought a baby back that had been found by a sailor who was on shore leave. A movie was made about this called "A Thousand Men and A Baby." Jim was discharged on June 7, 1954. They returned to Valley View, where they started farming with 500 head of "old" sheep, and lived there until their home burned on June 22, 1961. Jim's lifelong dream had always been to go to Alaska, so after their home burned they felt like it was a good time to go. All they had left was five children and a toy cocker spaniel. So they sold their farm and away they went; Jim's brother, Bill, went up with them. He loved to hunt, fish and dig razor clams in Alaska. He worked out on Amchitka, where they did the atomic bomb testing, and figured that could have caused his cancer. He worked as a carpenter all over the state. In 1974, they sold their place in Alaska and moved back to Polson. In 1977, they bought Lois' parents' ranch, which is known as the Bailey Ranch. They still have it. His son, Jeff, runs the ranch and has worked for them for 29 years. They did a lot of traveling over the years and ended up in Yuma in 1985. They spent every winter since in Yuma, except one. He had a long haul with the effects from the cancer, and died on Feb. 20, 2006 (his father's birthday). He was preceded in death by three sons, Larry I, Rodney and Larry II; grandson, Dusty Ely; his parents, John and Pauline Knutson; in-laws, Art and Blanche Bailey; sister-in-law, Doris Jennison; and three brothers-in-law, Art (Sonny) Bailey, Johny Cook and Chuck Jennison. Jim and Lois had six children of which only three are still living: Patricia Ely and Jeffrey (Kathy) Knutson of Polson and Suzie (Earl) Owens of Shoreline, WA; five grandchildren; five great-grandsons; two great-granddaughters; sister, Mary (Red) Carr; brother, Bill (Mary) Knutson of Wasilla, AK; an aunt; and numerous nieces and nephews and extended family.
LUANN LEISHMAN
Luann was born in St. Ignatius on Dec. 16., 1955. She was the second child of Gene and Helen (Matt) Leishman, and the oldest daughter of six siblings. Luann was always the best big sister. She was surrounded at home by many of those who loved her when she died on Feb. 1, 2006. She grew up on the family farm in Charlo. After graduation from Charlo High School in 1975 she worked with a tribal youth care program. It was there she earned the nickname of "Kool-Aid" by bringing large jugs of Kool-Aid to work and sharing with her crew. Her compassion to care for people took her to West Side nursing home for several years. Her next employment was the great adventure that took her up the Alcan Highway to Alaska where she was a camp cook at a fishing cannery for many seasons. Luann moved back to Montana in 1997 to help care for her ill father and began cooking at Kicking Horse Job Corps. Luann touched the lives of many with her gift of caring and genuine happiness. She had immense pride in being a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Luann had many talents. Her love of cooking was a delight for all she cooked for, and much of her stained glass work and beading was gifted to several people around her. While not having children of her own, Luann was a special aunt to her nieces and nephews. In the order she was able to spoil them they are: Erin (Leishman) Mullins (Salt Lake), Jenny (Smith) Lambdin (Missoula), Christopher Dean Leishman (Salt Lake), Dustin Smith (Lozeau), Paul Graham (Boston), Tim Smith (Missoula), Joe Graham (Chicago), Rachael Driscoll (Big Arm), Betty Graham (Rantoul, IL) and Emmerette Driscoll (Big Arm). Luann was preceded in death by her father, Eugene Leishman (1997); a brother, Francis Dean Leishman (1979); and her grandparents, Louis (Sonny) and Armenia (Sis) Matt. Luann leaves behind her mother, Helen (Charlo); brother Ronald (Charlo); sister (Helen) Marie Peterson and Len (Pablo), sister Patty and John Graham (Rantoul); sister Mary/Peg and Mike Driscoll (Big Arm); a 102-year-old grandmother, Margaret Leishman Clawson (Great Falls); and numerous aunts and uncles. Luann also leaves behind a special friend, Bruce Strawn (Charlo). A memorial service was held at the Longhouse in St. Ignatius on Feb. 6. We were completely blessed to have Luann in our lives and wish to thank family and friends for the help and encouragement during this difficult time. We also wish to thank Dr. Speckart and his staff at the Cancer Center for the five years of care they provided for Luann, and to the Lake County Home Health Hospice. Any memorials may be sent to the Cancer Center, St. Patrick Hospital or Lake County Home Health Hospice in Luann's name.
FERN E. MOORE
POLSON -- Fern E. Moore, 96, of Polson, died on Feb. 10, 2006, at St. Luke Extended Care in Ronan from natural causes. She was born on July 17, 1909, in Sheridan, WY, to Roy and Anna Retzlaff Minster. Fern attended school in Sheridan and moved with her family to Pablo in 1918. She and George Moore were married on May 25, 1925, in Kalispell, and they were married for almost 66 years. Fern worked with George in their outfitting business for 50 years. She and George ran the Monture Lodge near Ovando. She did a lot of the books and correspondence and was an excellent cook for the groups that they outfitted. People from all over the United States and the world loved to come to the Monture Lodge to enjoy Fern's cooking. Before her retirement she served as clerk for the Potomac School Board. She enjoyed sewing, reading, refinishing furniture, the outdoors and her garden, and was known for her great sense of humor. Preceding her in death were her husband in 1991, her parents, son Bill in 1962, two brothers and three sisters. She is survived by her son Leonard (Ethel) Moore (Condon); daughter Marian (David) Larson (Hayden, ID); sister Anna Mae Cheff (Missoula); brother Garnet Minster (Kalispell); eight grandchildren; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; along with several nieces and nephews and other relatives. Funeral services were conducted on Feb. 18 at the Grogan Funeral Home. Interment followed at the Ronan Cemetery.
KENNETH G. MORIGEAU
Kenneth G. Morigeau died of cancer on Feb. 25, 2006. Kenny was born May 13, 1961, in Saint Ignatius. Kenny was the third child in the family of Carl and Irene Morigeau's five children. He was raised on the Flathead Indian Reservation in Arlee, where he attended school as well as at Two Eagle River School, with a brief stint at Busby Indian Boarding School. Kenny loved sports and excelled at numerous activities throughout his life. He loved to shoot pool with his friends. Most of all, he was a proud member of the Conf. Salish Kootenai Tribes and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He shot his first elk with a .22 rifle in Bose Meadows. In junior high he qualified for nationals in wrestling. He traveled to California for the event. As a young man he became a laborer and then a journeyman carpenter. He was a member of the Carpenters Union, Local #28. As with his father before him, he proudly pointed to the various monuments that he help build in the communities in Western Montana and Idaho. Kenny's father, Carl Morigeau, and his Uncle Frenchy, preceded him in death, also from cancer. Kenny is survived by his soul mate of 30 years, and mother of his children, Charlotte Wheeler; his children, Johnny Carl, Mary Rose (Tyson), and Rhonda Georgine (Tylynn), all of the family home; his mother, Irene Morigeau; and three brothers and a sister, Doug Morigeau (Robin), Calvin Morigeau, Curt Morigeau (Shelly), and MaryRose Morigeau-Bacon (Charlie); and numerous nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Funeral services were March 4 in Sacred Heart Mission Church; burial followed at the Jocko Cemetery. Pallbearers were Harley "Jake" Tanner, Davey Burland, Tyon Miller, Craig Padilla, Jay Rasmussen and John Plouffe. Honorary pallbearers Dave Love, Arnie Caye, Tyson Manzanares, Tylynn Edmo, Darwin Zemple, Griff, Scotty Gardipe, Vincent (Spaghetti) Burafato, members of the Carpenters Union Local #28, Clancy Lafley, Bill Tanner, Tony Grant, and his many special friends and family.
ROSE MORIGEAU
ST. IGNATIUS -- Rose Marie Alexander Morigeau, 46, died on Feb. 27, 2006, at 4:40 a.m. at the family home here. Rose loved the outdoors. All her jobs had to do with the outside she loved post and poling, Christmas treeing, pine coning and picking mushrooms and huckleberries. Rose was a traveler; she never stayed in one place for too long. She made lots of friends all along her journey and she adopted many children on her path. Rose was known to a lot of young ones as "Mama G." She left behind three brothers, Richard (Bernie) Alexander, Andy (Florence) Alexander and Louie Alexander; two sisters, Josephine Hernandez and Mary (Todd) Alexander. She had a cousin, Sophie Pierre, she called a sister and two friends that she considered her sisters: Twerp Sherwood and Nee-Nee Sherwood. She also leaves behind her four children, Gabrielle (Charles) Zepeda, Jessica Morigeau (Eric Peak), Tina Morigeau (Travis Gardipe) and Richard Morigeau (Stormy Bear); 11 grandchildren, including two newborns on the way. She also left her husband, Jim Morigeau, behind; her aunts Liz Pierre, Millie Camel and Helen Conko; and her uncle, Pat Pierre, as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews. Rose was preceded in death by her father, Eli Alexander; her mother, Agnes Alexander; two sisters, Cecillia Alexander and Christine Alexander Gates; four brothers, William "Porky" Alexander, Levi Alexander, Isaac Alexander and Francis Alexander. Rose also will be able to join her son, Elijah Allen Alexander; and her aunts, Telah Hewankorn, Granny Conko and Margaret Friedlander. A wake began at the family home. Mass was celebrated in the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission. Interment followed in the Snyelmn Sntmtmne.
EARL SILVAS
RONAN -- Earl Anthony Silvas, 80, a member of the Blackfeet Tribe, died of cancer on Feb. 25, 2006, at St. Luke's Hospital here. Earl was born on June 29, 1925, in Los Angeles. He was raised on the family ranch at Cut Bank Creek on the Blackfeet Reservation. He lived for 30 years and raised his family in Salinas, Calif., before retiring to Ronan in 2002. Earl was a retired welder/foreman who was involved in the pioneering of some of the first automated harvesting equipment in the Salinas Valley. He enjoyed fishing, traveling, visiting, and he loved dancing and attending rodeos. He especially enjoyed being with family and friends. He loved to joke and tell stories about his youth at the Cut Bank Creek Boarding School. Earl was considered a historian by many of his close friends and family members. He was a proud member of the U.S. Marine Corps who served his country from 1942 to 1946. Earl is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty; five children, Patricia (Bradley) LaPlant of Browning, Jeanne (David) Whiteing of Boulder, Colo., Wayne (Lori) Silvas of Salinas, Sharon Silvas of Browning and Barbara (Chris) Grealish of Boulder; 14 grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; his brother, Gerald "Bud" Silvas of Browning; and his sister, Ramona Davis of Ronan. He was preceded in death his mother, Elvira Goss Silvas; father, Jose Anthony Silvas; and grandparents, Al Goss Sr. and Mary Jane Wren Goss. A funeral Mass was celebrated on Feb. 27 at the St. Ignatius Mission.
DONALD TANGEDAL
POLSON -- Donald Tangedal, 69, of Polson, died suddenly on Feb. 4, 2006, in Mesa, Ariz. He was born near Westby on Oct. 25, 1936. Upon graduating from Westby High School after growing up on the family farm, he joined the military in 1956. He then started his long career in the oil industry, first working for the Ecklund Brothers, then Matador and then Koch Industries where he worked until retiring in 1992. He married his wife, Patty, in 1963. They were married for 43 years. He is survived by his beloved wife Patty, son Michael, daughter in-law Nadine, daughter Christie, son-in-law Brian, and grandchildren Ella and Noah. He is also survived by all of his siblings: Curtis (Janice), Stanley (Muriell), Eleanore Stuckey (Bob), Elton (Yvonne) and Norman (Lyn). He was a member of the Polson Elks Club, Sons of Norway and Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. He loved spending summers on Flathead Lake, playing with his grandchildren, fishing in North Dakota, playing cards and golf, spending winters in Arizona, and most of all entertaining friends and family. He will be remembered by all those who knew him as an obsessive storyteller with an infectious sense of humor. He was an astute observer of human nature with an excellent knack for impressions, especially those of the Scandinavian variety. The funeral was held on Feb. 13 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Polson. Interment took place at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson. (Condolences).
WANONA TODD
RONAN -- Wanona Priscilla (Burland) Todd passed away on Feb. 19, 2006, at St. Luke Extended Care in Ronan from natural causes. She was born on Nov. 9, 1916, in Ronan, to Henry Harry and Frances Pearl (Ladue) Burland. Wanona attended school in Ronan. She and her husband, James K. Todd, married on Aug. 26, 1950, in Vancouver, WA. Wanona and Jim had lived in Portland, OR; Honolulu; and Edmonds, WA, when they moved back to Wanona's hometown of Ronan. She moved to St. Luke Extended Care Facility in December 1999. She worked as a waitress, a restaurant cashier and had done volunteer work at a Washington hospital. She had no children, but had numerous nieces and nephews with lots of great great-nieces and great-great-nephews. She was preceded in death by her father in 1939; her mother in 1960; and her husband, James K. Todd, on June 19, 1999; and also nine brothers and sisters. Funeral services were Feb. 24 at the Ronan Alliance Church. Burial followed at the Burland Family Cemetery.
IRENE VERMULM
POLSON -- Irene Marengo Vermulm passed away from natural causes on Feb. 21, 2006, at her home here. She was born to George and Sarah Arndt on June 3, 1924 in Hardin, MT. She is survived by her ten children, Carole (Keith) Fredrickson, Lynda Frost, Sheila Garrison, Gregory (Ellen) Marengo, Douglas Marengo, Monty Marengo, Bradford (Debbie) Marengo, Cyndi Marengo, Kevin (Peggy) Marengo, and Kimberly Marengo. She is also survived by her brother, Willard Arndt, and sisters, Jeanie (Marvin) Ingraham and Patricia Olsen, along with 19 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews. Preceding Irene in death include parents George and Sarah Arndt, sister Eleanore Ingraham, and her grandchildren Joe Ployhar and Jesse Marengo. Also preceding her in death includes her three husbands, Mitch James, Clarence "Speedy" Marengo and Garrett Vermulm. Irene was known as an openhearted person who would help all. Even though she did not have much materially, she was always giving of what she had. Irene's favorite pastimes where studying her Bible, gardening, making quilts, listening to music and going to garage sales. Irene's love of God and neighbor motivated her to share her knowledge of Jehovah God and his promises. She always tried to be encouraging and help us remain close to our creator. The days spent around her were the days that would make you smile the most. Memorial services were held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses on Feb. 25 in Polson.
