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Ronald "Don" Sanchez
ARLEE - Robert Donald "Don" Sanchez, 35, went to join the ones who have gone before him on Sept. 21, 1999.
Don was born Dec. 12, 1964, in Missoula, to Baldomario Juan Sanchez and Clarice Marie Charlo. He was raised and educated in Arlee. After graduating from Arlee High School in 1982, he later attended the Missoula Vocational Technology School.
Don was a quiet, caring, loving person who had many friends that were very special to him. You could often see him driving through the streets of Missoula in his wheelchair. Whether he was out on business or just out for pleasure, he always had a smile and a hello for everyone.
While in school, Don participated in basketball, wrestling and football. His favorite sport was football. He was honored to be a member of the West team for the East-West Shrine football game in 1982. Don was also a member of the 1981 Class C champion football team, which he was very proud of.
Don loved football, and even though he was unable to participate, he enjoyed attending his nephews', cousins' and friends' games. He liked to watch the Arlee Warriors and he was a season ticketholder of the Montana Grizzlies, never missing a home game - rain, sleet or snow.
Don was a member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes and a descendant of the San Felipe Pueblo, which he was very proud of.
Don was preceded in death by his grandmother, Margaret Pablo; great-grandfather Abel Combs; great-great- grandmother Mary Ann Combs; paternal grandparents Don and Juana Sanchez, and his uncles: Neil Charlo, Kenneth Charlo and Albert Sanchez.
He is survived by his mother and stepfather, Clarice and Rudy King; his father, Baldomario Sanchez; grandfather Clarence Charlo; great-grandmother Louise Combs; sister Margaret Sanchez and her children A. J., Felicite and Bronson McDonald; sister and brother-in-law Juanita and Mark Wanner, all of Arlee; brother and sister-in-law David and Angie Sanchez and their children Robert, Christine and Kendra of St. Ignatius; aunts Rose Pablo of Arlee and Pauline Jackson of San Felipe, N.M.; uncles Joe Pablo of Arlee, Clarence Charlo of Hermiston, Ore., Joe Sanchez and Raymond Sanchez of San Felipe and Edward Sanchez of Albuquerque, N.M.; stepbrother Woodsey King of Arlee, and his many special caretakers and friends who supported him and remained by his side through all the tough times, especially Linda Rogers and her boys.
Mass of the Resurrection was celebrated Sept. 24 at Sacred Heart Catholic Mission in Arlee. Burial followed at the Jocko Catholic Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Randy Meidinger, Dennis Lackner, Stanley Kazcmar, Bill Rogers, Robert Rogers and Brian Rogers. Honorary pallbearers were A.J. and Bronson McDonald; Robert Sanchez; Tex Cooper; Carlos Matthew; Vincent, Barney, Ike and Matt Pablo; Joe, Don, Landon, Doug, Harley and James Charlo, and all his many special caretakers and friends.
The family suggests memorials be made to Eagle Watch Estates in care of Clarice King, Box 23, Arlee, 59821.
Irene Holt
MISSOULA - Irene Holt, 79, of Pablo, died Sept. 27, 1999, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula of natural causes.
Arrangements are pending and will be announced by Grogan Funeral Home.
Alice M. Roth
PABLO - Alice Mae Roth, 71, of Missoula died Oct. 29, 1999, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.
She was born Nov. 6, 1928, in Pablo, to Andrew and Esther Wiggin. She attended schools in Ronan, Pablo and Polson. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Hazelle and Blanche Wiggin.
Surviving are a brother, Ralph Wiggin of Polson, and a sister, June Hanson of Dillon.
Cremation has taken place. Graveside rites will be held at 2 p.m today (Thursday) at Ronan's Mountain View Cemetery.
Billie Z. Sprague
ARLEE - Billie Zillah Sprague, 85, of Arlee, died Oct. 24, 1999, at St. Patrick Hospital Hospital in Missoula after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.
She was born Jan. 12, 1914, in Rainy River, Ont., Canada, to Howard and Ethyl Stevens Price. She was raised and educated in Calgary.
On June 3, 1937, she married Elbert "Al" Sprague in Conrad, Mont., where the couple farmed until 1963. They moved to Post Creek, where they had a ranch until 1973. The couple then retired to Arlee, where they still kept a small ranch.
Billie enjoyed traveling with her daughter on the rodeo circuit. She will be remembered for her great apple pies.
She was preceded in death by her husband Elbert; her mother and father; sisters Dorothy Weige, Casey Davis and Audrey Mercer, and brothers Norman and Ken Price.
Survivors include her daughter Billie Faye VanNess and her husband Roy of Arlee; a sister, Rita Minderlen of Sardis, B.C., Canada; a niece, Rita Blanchard, and her husband Cyr of Revelstoke, B.C.; many other nieces and nephews, and her longtime friend and caregiver, Della Shepard of Arlee.
Gil M. Leano
RONAN - Gil Munoz Leano, 71, of Ronan died of cancer Oct. 25, 1999, at his home in Ronan.
Gil was born Sept. 8, 1928, in Los Angeles. He grew up and attended schools in San Pedro, Calif., and joined the Merchant Marine during World War II.
He lived and worked most of his life in the Los Angeles area. He moved to the Mission Valley in March 1996. He married Willow Diaz on Sept. 8, 1999.
Gil loved photography, woodworking and Montana, and was loved by everyone who knew him. He was preceded in death by his son, Cody Leano, his father and two brothers.
Surviving are his wife Willow of Ronan; son Michael Leano and daughter Ria Leano, both in Ohio, and daughter Tina Diaz of Ronan.
Cremation and arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory of Polson.
Anna E. Kuntz
RONAN - Anna E. Kuntz, 89, of Ronan, died of natural causes Oct. 28, 1999, at St. Luke Extended Care.
She was born Sept. 11, 1910, in Odessa, Russia, to Mike and Perpetura (Walisar) Gress. She emigrated to Canada when she was eight years old and then to Mott, N.D. She attended schools in North Dakota and then moved to Fromberg, Mont., where she married Chris Kuntz on Jan. 10, 1928.
They moved to Moiese in the early 1930s. They farmed there and then moved to Ronan in the 1950s. She worked at the Polson and Ronan hospitals and at Anthonyıs for several years before retiring.
She was preceded in death by her husband Chris in 1969, a grandson, a great-granddaughter, sisters Lena, Rose and Helen, and brothers Matt, Joe and John.
She is survived by four sons: Chris of Missoula, Frank of Orem, Utah, Roy of Lolo and Joe of Salcha, Alaska; 13 grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; two sisters, Margaret Cole of Missoula and Marie Gress of St. Ignatius, and a brother, Mike Gress of Missoula.
Parish vigil services were held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ronan. Mass of the Christian Burial was also held at the church. Father Gary Reller was celebrant. Burial was in the Ronan Cemetery.
The family requests memorials to the Sacred Heart Catholic Church or to the Ronan Senior Center.
Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Shriderıs Mortuary of Ronan.
