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Gerald Nelson
Gerald Nelson, 60, educator-musician, who became known in later years as the “Voice of Glacier,” died Nov. 28, 2001, after a difficult struggle with cancer.
Jerry was born on July 17, 1941, at Billings, to Phil and Venita Havlik Nelson.
In 1943 the family moved to Kalispell where Phil Nelson was a teacher and later an administrator.
Jerry graduated from Flathead High School in 1959 and continued his education at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in education.
While in Billings, Jerry met Mary Crowe, to whom he was married from 1960-1983.
They moved to Columbia Falls for Jerry’s first teaching assignment in the English department at Columbia Falls Junior High School.
He was involved with and supportive of the band program, and referred to by Don Lawrence as his “right hand man,” always ready to help wherever he was needed.
Jerry never missed a rehearsal and enjoyed participating when his own children were involved in the program.
A friend to community music in other ways also, Jerry was a member of the community band, brass sextet, polka band and choir member at Columbia Falls United Methodist Church.
Hobbies included hunting, fishing and restoring classic vehicles. His summers were spent working for the Forest Service and later for Glacier National Park.
In 1983 the summer job turned into a full time position at the Glacier Park communications center where he became known as the “Voice of Glacier.”
And what a voice he had as the source of endless information about his beloved park.
Jerry later became fee and film coordinator for Glacier Park, working with filming crews on commercials, catalog projects and movies including Beethoven and Forest Gump, among others.
His work took him to many of America’s national parks, where he made a positive impression. Judging from the cards and letters received during his illness, he will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.
Preceded in death by his father, Jerry is survived by his mother, Venita Nelson, Kalispell; sister Linda Rickard, Kalispell; son John Nelson and his wife Heidi, Libby; daughters Joan Kuemmerle and her husband Bill, San Antonia, Texas, and Jackie Ashcraft and her husband Kelly, Clovis, N.M.; nieces, nephews and 16 grandchildren who will dearly miss their Grandpa Jerry.
Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Epworth United Methodist Church with Pastor Glenn Woodson officiating.
Burial took place at Glacier Memorial Gardens.
The family suggests memorial gifts be given to Home Options Hospice, 175 Commons Loop Suite 100, Kalispell, MT 59901, or to the Flathead Community Band, in care of treasurer Doug Hetrick, Whitefish Credit Union, 234 East Montana St., Kalispell.
Arrangements are under direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
Glenna ‘Kip’ Pumnea
Glenna May (Kip) Pumnea, 73, died at her home near Priest River, Idaho, on Nov. 14, 2001.
She was born at Wolf Point on March 28, 1928, to Edward and Blanche Jimerson Grotjan.
She graduated from high school at Glasgow in 1945.
Kip married Forrest Doane Pumnea in Sheridan on June 3, 1950. The family moved from Florence to the Priest River area in 1978.
Kip worked for Pumnea Construction Co. for many years. She loved ranching and farming and the hard work that went with it. She enjoyed the outdoors, cutting firewood, gathering hay and milking cows.
When she found the time she enjoyed dancing, bowling, fishing and riding horses.
Survivors include her husband Forrest of Redding, Calif.; four children, former Libby residents Brett Pumnea and his wife Val, Lolo; Craig Pumnea, Klamath Falls, Ore.; David Pumnea, Oldtown, Idaho; sister Isla Roantree, Atherton, Calif.; seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial services were conducted at Priest River on Nov. 20.
David Robins
Longtime Troy resident David J. Robins, 71, died at St. John’s Lutheran Hospital on Jan. 29, 2002.
He was born on July 23, 1930, at Troy, to Clarence and Catherine Dwyer Robins and attended Troy schools through the eighth grade.
He was a logger all his life, working for a local logger and at one time owning his own logging operation.
Hobbies included collecting and rebuilding old bicycles to give away and providing firewood for local area widows.
Survivors include longtime companion Linda Fisher; daughters Penny Robins, Seattle; Carrie Roecks and her husband Mike, Rockford, Wash., and Mary Ruth Brown and her husband John, Troy; son Jerry Hays and his wife Linda, Troy, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Robins is also survived by sisters Ginger Osterberg and her husband Ed, Troy, and Agnes Luchini, Post Falls, Idaho, and brothers Ben Robins and his wife Sandy, Greenacres, Wash., Pat Robins and his wife Florence, Newman Lake, Wash., and Larry Robins, Spokane.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three sisters and a brother.
Graveside services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Troy Cemetery.
Family members and friends are invited to gather afterward at the Trojan Lanes.
Local arrangements are by the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
Cherylyn Klvacek
Cherylyn Claire Tenney Klvacek, 31, died on Saturday, March 30, 2002, at the Troy home of her parents.
She was born in Santa Rosa, Calif., on July 29, 1970, and moved with her family when she was 13 to Prescott, Ariz., where many people knew and loved her.
She graduated from Prescott High School in 1988 and later attended Brigham Young University and Bridgerland Applied Technology School.
She married Ross Klvacek of Glenwood, Alberta, Canada, on April 28, 1990, in the LDS Logan Temple at Logan, Utah.
Cherylyn was a devoted and loving wife and mother, sister, daughter and friend. She enriched and brightened the lives of all who knew her. Her outgoing nature and numerous talents — a lovely singing voice, clever knack with handwork, wit, intelligence, generosity, warmth and beauty, both within and without — will be remembered by those who knew and loved her and the community in general.
Cherylyn was a devoted disciple of Jesus Christ as evidenced by her untiring and loving service to others through her church and community activities and through her love and devotion to her husband, children and extended family.
She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in a variety of capacities from providing music to teaching adults and children things both temporal and spiritual.
Survivors include her husband Ross Klvacek, Troy; sons Russell, 10, and Matthew, 5, and daughter Camille, 21 months; her mother Joy Rackham, and step-father Jack Rackham, Troy; her father Jack Tenney and step-mother CoDele Tenney, Santa Rosa, Calif.; sisters Nola Spicer, Roy, Utah; Loralyn Hogewoning, La Mesa, Calif.; Rebecca and her husband Steven Goodrich, Lindon, Utah; Jacquelyn and her husband Dan Abernathy, Santee, Calif., and Pamela and her husband Dennis Jarvis, Bountiful, Utah; brother R. Clark and his wife Sonya Tenney, Prescott, Ariz.; grandfather Hubert Bradeen, Troy, special friend Rhonda Rosa, Santee, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 8, at the Libby LDS Chapel. A separate viewing will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, April 7, at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be held on April 10 at the Orem City Cemetery in Orem, Utah.
Ford Wilson
Ford E Wilson, 72, of Libby, died on April 1, 2002, at Libby.
He was born on Dec. 8, 1928, at Puyallup, Wash., to Ford E Wilson Sr., and Evelyn Hale Wilson.
He grew up in Alsea and Salem, Ore., graduating from Salem High School in 1948.
He married Doralee Pound on Nov. 5, 1949, at Mill City, Ore.
During a 32-year career with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Ford worked on military projects in Alaska and Great Falls, and on most of the dams in the Columbia River system, including Libby Dam and the associated road and railroad relocations.
He retired at Bridgeport, Wash., in 1984 and returned to Libby.
Ford had many interests and hobbies and pursued each passionately and thoroughly. He was a philatelist, numismatist and family genealogist. He was an enthusiastic gardener and particularly cultivated gladiolus, cacti and an extensive hosta collection.
He especially enjoyed flowering plants, loved the outdoors and spent time fishing, identifying plants, trees and birds and tramping through the woods.
He started panning for gold in Alaska and carried that interest to his placer claim on Libby Creek.
Modeling was a lifelong interest and included rockets, boats and trains. He was noted for his artistry and fine craftsmanship. He dabbled in woodcraft and photography and enjoyed snacking.
Ford was past president of the Oregon State Gladiolus Society and a member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
He was always willing to share his knowledge and passed his passions on to his children. He was devoted to his wife and shared and encouraged her interests. He loved his family above all things and will be remembered for his strong nature and good heart.
Survivors include his wife Doralee Wilson, Libby; son Robert Wilson and his wife Sally, Bend, Ore.; daughters Jeanne Remiro and her husband Dale and Debra Meckley and her husband Don and grandson Scott Remiro, all of Eugene, Ore.; brother Dick Wilson, Roseville, Calif; step-father Jack Duncan, Salem, Ore., and dear friend August Hardgrove, Libby.
Donations in his memory may be made to St. John’s Hospice.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the City of Libby Cemetery.
Local arrangements are by the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
