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Michael Shafer Sr
Michael Kenneth Shafer Sr, 44, Died in his home, May 6, 2000, from self-inflicted wounds, in Soldotna, Alaska
Born July 4, 1956, to Albert and Sandra Shafer in Seattle, Wash. He is survived by wife, Laurie Shafer, of Soldotna; parents, Al and Sandy Shafer of Gig Harbor, Wash.; children, Korie Barrey, Mike Shafer Jr., Amanda Shafer, all of Helena, and Sandra Shafer of Soldotna; grandson, Coty Carlson of Helena; exwife Karen Amedee of Helena; brother, Jim (Sheri) Shafer and family; sister, Robin (Pat) Dent and family, of Washington; several aunts, uncles and cousins.
Mike was a very friendly and outgoing man. He was an accomplished Dart Master in both steel and soft tip. He served as President and Vice President of the Last Chance Dart Association before moving to Alaska. In 1995, his soft tip team won third place at a National Dart Association Event, which was added to several other trophies he won over the 20 years he participated. He also enjoyed horseshoes, bowling, pool, camping, fishing, hunting, and car racing. He always made Christmas a special time for family. He was very caring, loving, and would give the shirt off his back to anyone who needed it.
Throughout his lifetime he worked several occupations. He was a carnie, roofer, semi-truck driver, bartender, cook, fisherman, and owned his own dart supply business. Recently he had been in the electrical field. Numerous friends as well as family will miss his contagious laughter and competitive zest. A private memorial service will be held in Seattle. Date and time is still pending.
Florence Gilmore Maronick
Florence Gilmore Maronick died in Spokane, Wash., where she has lived for the past eight years.
She is survived by her daughter Kay McGonigle of Spokane, Wash.; son, E. Phil Maronick of East Helena; sisters, Margaret Shea of Denver Colo., Dorothy Meyer of Everett, Wash., 12 grandchildren and 21 great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three brothers and one sister.
She was born on Oct. 26, 1906, in Butte to Martin and Mary (Lynch) Gilmore. She grew up in Butte and attended St. Lawrence Elementary and Butte Central High School. She received her teaching degree from St. Mary College in Leavenworth, Kan. She taught elementary grades in Butte including many years at the Garfield. On Sept. 2, 1943, she married Edward P. Maronick of East Helena.
She was a lifetime member of the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish, the first president of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women, was active in the Good Shepherd Auxiliary, St. John’s Hospital Auxiliary, YWCA and many more worthy causes.
Vigil Service will be held Thursday, June 8, 2000, at 7:30 p.m. at the Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church in East Helena. Mass of Christian burial will be held Friday, June 9, 11 a.m. at Sts. Cyril and Methodius Church. Interment will be at St. Ann’s Cemetery, East Helena.
Memorials maybe sent to Sts. Cyril and Methodius Parish, East Helena or Dominican Sisters, 3102 W, Ft. Wright Dr. Spokane, WA 99224,
Hennessey-Smith Funeral Home 2203 N. Division in charge of arrangements.
HELEN KIRWIN EISENMENGER...
Helen Kirwin Eisenmenger, age 76, of Helena died Tuesday, April 10, 2001 after a long illness.
Helen was born on Oct. 25, 1924, in Blue Earth, Minn., to James and Mary (McNally) Kirwin. She attended schools in Chokio, Minn., into 11th grade. In 1942, Helen married Joseph Eisenmenger in South Dakota. They divorced in 1963.
In Great Falls, prior to her retirement, Helen worked at KMart and prior to that she worked as a seamstress. Helen found great enjoyment with the time she spent traveling, sewing and reading. She was also a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and the American Legion Auxiliary.
Preceding Helen in death were her parents, brothers, a sister, and her son John.
Survivors include her children, James of Yankton, S.D., Donald of Glen Ellyn, Ill., Mary Jo Vickoren of Great Falls, and Roni Eisenmenger of Helena; daughter-in-law, Debbie Eisenmenger of Summerfield, Fla.; sister, Patricia Anfinson of Great Falls; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, at Retz Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to the C.M. Russell Museum, 400 13 St. N., Great Falls, MT 59401.
WANDA JEAN MILLER...
Wanda Jean Miller, 55, died peacefully at her home in Fairfield, Jan. 31, 2001.
Wanda was born June 3, 1945, in Portland, Ore., to Vivian Rogers and Max C. Widger. She moved to Dillon in 1963. She graduated from Beaverhead County High School in 1964.
In 1968, Wanda married Bill Mitchell of Dillon they later divorced. Wanda married Bill Miller of Dillon. They lived in Bozeman for many years, where Wanda worked as a financial advisor for Waddell and Reed.
For the past four years, they lived in Emigrant and managed the West Creek Ranch. They had recently purchased a farm in Fairfield.
She is survived by her husband, Bill Miller; her mother and stepfather, Vivian and Brick Buell, of Ennis; sister, Bobbie (Jim) Pomroy of Clancy; brother, Gary (Jeanne) Fornfeist of Woodbridge, Calif.; daughter, Tina (Dan) Shearer of Lake Stevens, Wash.; sons, Will (Christy) Mitchell of Spokane, Jack Mitchell of Boca Raton, Fla.; two nieces and two nephews.
Funeral service will be Saturday Feb. 3, at 10 a.m. at Brundage Funeral Parlor in Dillon.
DAVID C. OLSON...
David C. Olson, age 74, of Helena, died Feb. 1, 2001, from cancer at Big Sky Care Center.
David was born Sept. 12, 1926, to Arthur R. and Elizabeth (Plunkett) Olson in Lewistown. David worked as a farmer and was also a laborer on missile site construction during the 1960’s. He was a member of Sts. Cyril and Methodius Catholic Church in East Helena.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Francis Conway and Margaret Olson.
David is survived by brothers, Oliver Olson of Geyser, Raymond Olson of Billings; sisters, Mary Faith Young of Jamestown, N.D., Eva McDunn of Great Falls; numerous nephews and nieces.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at a later date.
Martin Salisbury
Martin Reed Salisbury, 83, of Edmonds, Wash., passed away Aug. 4, 2003.
He was born July 10, 1920, at Chewelah, Wash., to the late Edward and Evelyn Salisbury. He contracted polio at age 4 and was bed-ridden for several months.
Despite his illness, he not only learned to walk again, but went on to become an avid skier, tennis player, jogger and swimmer.
He overcame many such adversities in his life, such as the untimely death of his mother, through his "never-give-up" attitude.
He attended WSU and was a member of Tau Kappa Epellon fraternity. He completed three years of pre-law before his studies were interrupted by his enlistment in the Army in 1942.
He served first in the Pacific until 1945. After the war, he served in General MacArthur's civilian staff during the Army's postwar control of Tokyo, Japan.
He returned to the States in 1946 and was working in the Spokane area where he met Dolores E. Scholz, a resident of Colfax, Wash.
They were married on Aug. 19, 1950. Together they moved to Seattle where in 1953 he embarked on a 34-year career as an underwriter in property and casualty insurance with Robert O. Fleming Company.
The company was later called F. B. Beattle and Company. He retired in 1987.
He was a dedicated and loving husband and father who imparted his enthusiasm for sports to each of his children.
He took great delight in his grandchildren, Shane and Kyla, and often skied with them until complications from childhood polio forced him to put his skis away at age 75.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Douglas Salisbury.
He is survived by his loving wife, Dolores; his son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Rita Salisbury of Whitefish; daughter and son-in-law, Maureen and Jerry Kukes of Poulsbo; daughter and son-in-law Jan and Ron Speer of Auburn; one sister, Joyce Nunokawa of Honolulu, Hawaii, and two grandchildren, Shane and Kyla Salisbury.
Graveside service was held Aug. 8 at Colfax Cemetery in Colfax, Wash.
Remembrances may be made to the Colfax Cemetery Tree Fund, in care of the Salisbury family, 625 Centennial Drive, Whitefish, MT 59937, or Bruning's Funeral Home in Colfax, Wash.
NOLA LOUISE TORGESON...
Nola Louise Torgeson, age 64, of 3610 Pelican Road, Helena, passed away after a long illness.
Nola died from heart failure on the morning of Jan. 31, 2001, at the Benefis Hospital in Great Falls. She was born in Oak Park, Ill., on Dec. 28, 1936. She was an only child.
Nola retired from the State of Montana, where she worked at Mountain View School for 16 years and then for the Child Support Division.
Nola received a B.A. from Western Illinois University. Her hobbies were painting and travel.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Emmett and Gladys Nolan.
Nola is survived by her husband of almost 47 years, Roger Torgeson Sr. They were married on June 26, 1954, in Oak Park. She is also survived by her daughter, Terri Bischke of Lake City, Fla.; sons, Roger Torgeson Jr. (Sandy) of Helena, Richard Torgeson (Tammy) of McCord Air Force Base, Wash.; seven grandchildren; one great-granddaughter.
No public visitation will be held. Cremation has taken place. Graveside services will be at Fort Harrison on Feb. 5, at 10 a.m. All are welcome to attend.
Please send any memorials to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Retz Funeral Home is in care of arrangements.
