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Gordon Mikalson
Gordon Mikalson, 70, longtime western Montana logger and community activist, died on Nov. 15, 2000, at his home in Trout Creek, after a battle with lung cancer.
He was born on Jan. 3, 1930, at Eureka, to John Norman and Lotti Pauline (Erickson) Mikalson.
He grew up in Eureka, attended Eureka schools and graduated with the Class of 1948 from Lincoln County High School.
Gordon joined the U.S. Army in 1951 and spent most of his enlistment in a foxhole in South Korea.
He received an honorable discharge in 1953 and on July 3, 1954, he married Edna Delores Wollan of Kalispell.
Gordon managed the Gambles Department Store in Eureka for 20 years.
After a small fire at his family home, Gordon became more active with the local volunteer fire department and as longtime fire chief helped create today’s efficient force.
He was also a member of the Eureka Jaycees, a Sheriff’s Posse volunteer and president of the Eureka Rod & Gun Club. Hunting in the fall, water skiing in summer and antique car restoration were favorite pastimes.
After Edna’s death Gordon sold the Gambles Store and returned to logging. He lived in Kalispell for several years, managing a boat yard, driving a truck for Eacker Logging and later his own logging truck.
Gordon concentrated on carpentry and siding after moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1984 to be near four of his grandchildren. There he joined and held office in the Fraternal Order of Eagles in Kent, Wash., where he enjoyed competitive darts and was recognized for membership recruitment and as Eagle of the Year.
He returned to Montana about 10 years ago to settle in Trout Creek, proclaiming it the place where he wanted to live his last years.
He enjoyed wildlife in his yard daily, the company of friends, wood working and his dog Bruno.
He visited his sisters and friends in Eureka and Kalispell in September, and enjoyed class reunions in Eureka, including the 50th anniversary of his high school graduation in 1998.
In addition to his wife, Gordon was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and a sister and a twin daughter, Jennifer.
He is survived by daughters Brenda Logan, Kirkland, Wash., Julie Mikalson of Washington, D.C., and Portland, Ore., and Cara Mikalson, Whitefish, son Jeff Mikalson in Southern California, sisters Laurene McRae, Eureka, and Shirley Barrett, Lakeside, five grandchildren Jessica, Autumn, Dustin and Kellen Logan and Andreanna Mikalson, and one great-grandchild, Celeste.
Cremation has taken place and Gene Azure of Trout Creek is making a cedar box for Gordon’s remains. A tool sale will be held for final expenses and to establish a Mikalson Family Trust.
At his request there will be no funeral or religious service. There will be military honors in his name in Eureka on Memorial Day.
Family and friends will also gather at some of Gordon’s favorite places, his sister’ home, the Eureka VFW Hall, the Kent Eagles Club, the North Fork and at Sex Peak and Wayside Pub in Trout Creek.
Memorial gifts may be sent to the Western Montana Clinic or to the Mikalson Family Fund, in care of Brenda Logan, 7404 NE 120th Street, Kirkland, WA 98034.
Maxine Foote
Former Troy resident Maxine Elizabeth Foote, 52, of Hamilton, died Monday, Feb. 5, 2001.
She was born on April 16, 1948 to Loren and Ruby Priest Garrett.
Maxine grew up in Troy, where she attended school. When she was in second grade she met the boy she would eventually marry.
Maxine and Clyde E. Foote were married at Troy on July 28, 1967.
They moved to Everett, Wash., where Clyde worked for the sheriff’s office. Following Clyde’s retirement the couple moved to Hamilton in 1993.
Maxine worked in Hamilton as a certified nurse’s assistant. She also worked as a housekeeper.
She was serving as chaplain of Leona Chapter No. 31, Order of the Eastern Star in Hamilton.
Survivors include her husband Clyde, Hamilton; daughter Michelle and her husband Paul Rempa, Seattle, and son Gary and his wife Tawnya Foote, Anchorage, Alaska; sisters Alice Peterson, Grand Junction, Colo., Ann Blankenship, Woodland, Calif., and Pat Wilson, Lapwai, Idaho; brother Steve Garrett, Troy, one granddaughter and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service is tentatively planned for March 8 at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton.
Cremation has taken place and private urn placement will take place at a later date.
The family suggests memorials to the Bitterroot Shrine Club, in care of Chuck Basacher, 3410 Eastside Highway, Stevensville, MT 59870.
Lavere Moe
Former Libby resident Lavere (Mac) Moe, 62, died Jan. 22, 2001, near Sandpoint, Idaho.
He was born on May 13, 1938, at Great Falls, to Arbie and Ada Johnson Moe.
Mac grew up in Kalispell where he attended schools. He had worked in sawmills and the logging industry in Washington and Montana.
He worked on the Alaskan Pipeline out of Fairbanks and worked in Montana as a heavy equipment operator.
Mac loved all kinds of horses and while living in Libby he raised Paint horses. He enjoyed hunting and fishing in the Cabinet Mountains.
He moved to the Upper Gold Creek area near Sandpoint in 1996.
On Dec. 21, 1996, he married Beverlee Purvis Erickson in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Survivors include his wife Bev Moe, Sandpoint; four children, Jackie Moe, Tony Bragdon, Wendy Moe and Justin Moe; his mother Ada Moe; sisters JoAnn Gazzaway and Melody Anderson, and aunt Verna Foster.
He was preceded in death by his father and cousin Bo Kemmis.
Private family services were conducted under direction of Coffelt Funeral Service in Sandpoint.
Lyle Austin
Former Libby resident James (Lyle) Austin, 82, died Feb. 1. 2001. in Spokane, his home for the past 15 years.
He was born on Dec. 24, 1918, at Libby, to Lyle Austin and Josephine Krumholtz Austin.
Lyle attended Libby schools and married his childhood sweetheart, Alma Edith (Ede) Dorrington on June 17, 1939.
They celebrated 60 years of marriage in 1999.
Lyle enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as an officer in charge of painting maintenance on ships in the South Pacific.
He worked for 40 years with the Fuller Paint Company, advancing from clerk to Northwest area manager for Alaska, Oregon and Washington. They lived in Montana, Washington, Oregon and Alaska before retiring and moving to Spokane in 1988.
Lyle was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and a wonderful friend to many.
He loved sharing good times with his wife and family and shared his passion for golf with everyone.
Survivors include sons James Lyle Austin Jr. and his wife Susan, Sandpoint, Idaho, and Richard Kenneth Austin and his wife Deborah, Spokane; grandchildren James Lyle Austin III, and his wife Lori, Missoula; Angela Jaeger and her husband Jason, Post Falls, Idaho; Amy Tycksen and her husband Mike, Pasco, Wash.; Darby Van Gordon and Shawn, Joe Austin and Jessica Austin, all of Spokane, and Ken Austin, Bellingham, Wash.; and five great-grandchildren, Andrew and Jack Tycksen, Jacob and Jordan Jaeger and Travis Austin.
Lyle was preceded in death by his wife Ede in August 1999.
Rosary services were held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at St. John Vianney Catholic Church and Funeral Mass will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St John’s with Father Charles Skok officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 720 W. Boone, Suite l01, Spokane WA 99201.
Leona Escott
Leona Preston Olson Escott, 99, a Kootenai Valley resident for more than 67 years, died on Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at the Libby Care Center.
She was born on Oct. 19, 1901, in Blue Earth County, near Mankato, Minn., to Howard and Mary Frances McCarthy Preston.
Leona started school in Minnesota and completed her education in Haynes, N.D.
She married Sidney Escott on Nov. 11, 1943, in Kalispell. He preceded her in death in 1996.
Leona was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church and a lifetime member of the Women of the Moose.
She was a Red Cross Volunteer during World War II.
Survivors include son Wayne Olson, Edmonds, Wash.; daughters Lavonna Mott, Depoe Bay, Ore., and Wava Murray, Anchorage, Alaska; sister-in-law Alice Hill and nephew Ken Preston, both of Libby; niece Gloria Morrill, Carmichael, Calif.; seven grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. Friday at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Wallace Smith officiating.
Burial will follow in the City of Libby Cemetery.
