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Sylvia Ebing
Sylvia Marie Ebing passed away Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, at Brendan House in Kalispell.
Sylvia was born Feb. 18, 1928, in Choteau to Kristian and Oline Evensen. The family moved to the east shore of Flathead Lake in 1931, where she grew up and graduated from Bigfork High School in 1946.
She furthered her education in Havre and Bozeman, then moved to Spokane where she worked as a medical secretary. There she met John Ebing. They were married on June 28, 1952.
She had been active in Home Extension Club. She enjoyed her family and friends, always having time to help the elderly. She was especially fond of her gardens, boating, card playing, music and playing the piano.
Sylvia was preceded in death by a brother, Norman, and her parents.
She is survived by her husband, John; her daughters, Sue Ebing, of Bigfork, and Karen and Larry Yerian, of Columbia Falls; two grandsons, Paul and Levi Yerian, of Columbia Falls; a brother, Ton Evensen and wife, Fava, of Choteau, and their children and families.
Interment will be Friday, Jan. 24, 2003, at 11 a.m. at the Conrad Cemetery in Kalispell. A memorial service will follow at 1 p.m. at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.
The family has suggested that memorials be made to Wings, 310 Sunnyview Lane, Kalispell MT 59901.
Calvin Johnston
Calvin P. Johnston, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away Sunday, Jan. 19, 2003, at Heritage Place in Kalispell.
He was born May 29, 1922, in Livingston to Preston and Wanda Johnston. He was raised and educated in the North Flathead Valley.
Cal was married to Evelyn Speer in April 1941. He was employed at American Aviation in Los Angeles from 1942 to 1944.
He served in the Army during World War II and the Korean Conflict. After his discharge as a 1st Lieutenant, he returned to the Flathead. He became qualified for radio and TV repair and operated a business in Salmon, Idaho. In 1957, he began working for IBM and retired in 1977 as a production manager.
He is preceded in death by his parents and two sisters.
Cal is survived by his wife, Evelyn Johnston, of Kalispell; two sons, Gary Johnston, of San Jose, Calif., and Lindsay Johnston, of University Place, Wash.; and four grandchildren, Erin, Jane, Allison and Kirk.
A funeral service was held Jan. 22, 2003, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Rev. Ron Pierce officiated. Burial followed in Fairview Cemetery.
The family has suggested that memorials be made to Shodair Hospital, Box 5539, Helena MT 59604.
Timothy Shelley
Our Heavenly Father took His child, Timothy Ray Shelley, back into His arms on the 31st of December, 2002. Tim was on this Earth 35 years.
Tim was born in Tacoma, Wash., on April 12, 1967. He spent the first four years of his life in southeastern Washington before the family moved to Columbia Falls where he spent all of his school years, graduating with the high school class of 1985. He spent his high school years working and cooking at the Nite Owl, where he made many lifelong friendships. Then he left the valley for life in the city, Phoenix, Ariz.
He became manager for Riviera Opticare and went to DeVry Institute, graduating with high honors March 2001 with a degree in computer science.
Tim loved to hunt with the men of the family. He had a trip planned to be home in Montana with a hunting trip to be taken with his cousins and father in October. He loved the holidays and truly enjoyed playing games and was a "high winner". His love for cooking and entertaining stayed with him his whole life. If you ever were able to eat or party with Tim, you would realize what an accomplished chef he was. He enjoyed traveling in Europe, making several trips there, with Paris being his favorite city. He was taking his mother on a trip to England and France in February of this year. Tim had lots of friends in Montana and Arizona. He was a joy to be around and had an unforgettable laugh.
He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Ernest Shelley, and his uncle, Bill Shelley.
He is survived by his parents, Ben and Eleanor (Sami) Shelley, of Columbia Falls; a sister, Tammy (Bret) Birk; two nieces, Nicole and Lilly Birk, and two nephews, Colton and Marshall Birk, of Lakeside; grandparents Ray and Agnes Hoon, of Kalispell; an uncle, Mick (Brenda), and cousins Dustin, Cody and Clint, of Whitefish; and aunt, Nancy (Earl) Williams, and cousins Tara (Aaron) Jacobs and Travis Williams, of Yakima Wash., and uncle Dan (Jayn), and cousins Jacob, Nathan and Megan Hoon, of Friona, Texas; a great grandmother, Belva Melsten, of Portland, Ore.; a grandmother, Esther Shelley, an uncle, Larry, and cousins Chuck, Rick and Andy Shelley, of Walla Walla, Wash.; an aunt, Freda Bond, and cousins Herb, Jack, Susan and Charles, of College Place, Wash.; an aunt Deane (Don) Hutsell, and cousins Kirk, Jan and Gary, of Mountain Grove, Mo.; an aunt, Rosemary Shelley, and cousins Mary Beth and Shane, of Waitsburg, Wash.
Tim passed away of peritonitis at his home in Phoenix. He is greatly missed and the world is a better place for having him on it.
A memorial celebrating Tims' life was held on Jan. 4, 2003, at his home. It was attended by co-workers and friends. A memorial will also take place at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls on Jan. 25, 2003, at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, P.O. Box 52435, Phoenix AZ 85072-2435, or Wings Regional Cancer Support, 310 Sunnyview Lane, Kalispell MT 59901 in Tim's name.
Alma Bartsch
Alma H. Bartsch, 92, passed away at the Lakeview Care Center in Bigfork, on Jan. 17, 2003.
She was born on July 14, 1910, in Minnewaukan, N. D., to Andrew and Ragna (Knutson) Skarsten.
She grew up in Tokyo, N. D., and worked at the post office there until she graduated from Tokyo High School in 1928. She then moved to Billings in 1931, where she attended Billings Business College and worked at the House of Moure as a secretary and bookkeeper. On June 10, 1940, she married Clayton Bartsch and they were married for 30 years before his death in 1970.
She was a member of the Eastern Star, Daughters of the Nile, and Bethlehem Lutheran Church. She also enjoyed gardening, reading and playing pinochle.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton Bartsch; her parents; three brothers, Odin, Albert and Norman Skarsten; and two sisters, Norma Stotesbury and Mabel Gross.
She is survived by her two sons, Jerry Bartsch and wife, Melinda, of Columbia Falls, and Charles (Chick) Bartsch and wife, Janet, of Kirkland, Wash.; six grandchildren, including Sam Bartsch, of Kalispell, Kevin Bartsch, of Portland, Ore., Kristie Bartsch and Tami Hebert; three great grandchildren; two sisters, Alice Toohey, of Del Mar, Calif., and Florence Moen, of Billings; and one brother, Paul Skarsten and wife, Peggy, of Great Falls.
Funeral service was held Jan. 21, 2003, at the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with Pastor Herb Knutson officiating. Burial was at C. E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials to the Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 603 South Main Street, Kalispell MT 59901.
Donald Claypool
Donald Forrest Claypool, 91, passed away at his home in Kalispell on Jan. 16, 2003.
He was born in Kalispell on Oct. 23, 1911, to John (J. E.) and Cecil (Saunders) Claypool.
He was educated in Kalispell, graduating from Flathead High School in 1929. He attended Montana State University, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, and he graduated with a forestry degree from the University of Montana in 1939. He was employed by the Bureau of Land Management for a short time and then married Helen Heidel in Columbus in 1940. From there, the couple moved to Seattle, Wash., where he worked as a tool and die inspector for Boeing. In 1945, he returned to his family's farm in Kalispell and operated the dairy farm until the early 1970s.
He was the Kalispell City Airport manager in the early 1970s. He enjoyed hunting in his earlier years, flying small planes as a pilot, boating, computers and fishing. He and his wife Helen spent their winters in Sun City, Ariz., until her death in 1989.
He is survived by two sons, Robert and wife, Vivianna Claypool, of Salem, Ore., and David Claypool, of Baton Rouge, La.; a daughter, Kathryn and husband, Bill Quast, of Great Falls; a sister, Minta and husband, Lloyd Anderson, of Yakima, Wash.; a niece, Joni Long, of Bellevue, Wash.; seven grandchildren, Greg S. Quast, of Everett, Wash., Jennifer S. Quast, of Meldert, Belgium, Christopher and Samantha Claypool, of Baton Rouge, La., and Jessica, Joni and Janine Claypool, of Scio, Ore.; a cousin, Kathryn Greig, of Kalispell; a sister-in-law, Ruth Clark and husband, Bud; a brother-in-law, Don Heidel; and many nieces and nephews.
A family graveside committal was held Jan. 20, 2003, at the Glacier Memorial Gardens with Pastor Marvin Northcutt officiating.
The family suggests memorials in Donald's memory to the Northwestern Montana Rails to Trails, P.O. Box 1103, Kalispell MT 59903, or to the Humane Society of Northwestern Montana, 43 Woodland Park Drive, Kalispell MT 59901, or to the charity of your choice.
Ellis Drewry
Ellis Omer Drewry, a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to many, entered the throne room of our Lord and Savior by way of a massive stroke on Feb. l, 2003. He was 84.
Ellis was born in Weldon on July 7, 1918. He completed the seventh grade and grew up working on the family farm in Circle. In 1936, Ellis moved with his parents to the Witty Lane area, north of Columbia Falls. He was drafted into the Army on Aug. 8, 1942. Ellis served under General Omar Bradley in the Second Infantry Division's 23rd medical Corps, at Normandy. Ellis landed on Normandy on June 7, 1944, otherwise known as "D-day plus one." Ellis served our nation in many European countries, including Germany and Czechoslovakia. Ellis was a decorated soldier with numerous medals, including the Purple Heart.
After his discharge on Nov. 15, 1945, Ellis moved back to Columbia Falls and worked for many years in the timber industry and then retiring from the Anaconda Aluminum Co. plant in 1983. Although Ellis worked different occupations, the job he loved most was his farm.
The true love of Ellis's life was his relationship with the Lord. Ellis was a passionate follower of Jesus for over 50 years. He was dedicated to his church and to the worship team in which he played the guitar for many years. Ellis was also very proud to serve the Lord on a mission trip to Peru.
Ellis had many hobbies. He loved to play the guitar and mandolin. He was an avid coin collector, scrap booker and loved to travel. Ellis was also an incredible story teller and author, publishing a book about his military experiences titled, "My Memoirs of WWII."
Ellis is survived by his wife Donna (of 18 months); son Loren Drewry and wife, Mary, of Kalispell; daughter Elaine and husband Jim Nash, of Columbia Falls; sisters Edith Witty, of Whitefish, and Dorothy Lowe of Wolf Point; five grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
Ellis was preceded in death by his wife Mildred of 56 years, daughter Jeanette Mayo, two sisters and one brother.
Ellis will be greatly missed by all with whom he came in contact. The family suggests in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Columbia Falls Assembly of God Church or a charity of your choice.
A visitation will be held from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2003, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 7, 2003, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls, with Rev. Darrell Newby officiating.
Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia Falls. Military graveside honors will be provided by the United Veterans of the Flathead Valley.
Stanley Jones
Stanley Hayes Jones, "Bud", 83, passed away on March 27, 2003, at his home in Kila.
He was born Dec. 3, 1919, in Naches, Wash., to Charles William and Caroline (Zumstien) Jones.
He was preceded in death by his parents, six brothers; six sisters, one daughter at birth, and one grandson, Jakob Jones.
He is survived by his loving wife, Betty Jones, of Kila; two sons, John Jones and wife, Belinda, and Joseph Jones and wife, Connie, all of Kila; three daughters, Ellen Miller and husband, Rich, of Spanaway, Wash., Christine Sisley and husband, Loren, of Puyallup, Wash., and Cindy Brockmann and husband, Russ, of Fort Collins, Colo.; 20 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be held (today) April 3, at 11 a.m., at Bethel Baptist Church with Pastor David Pestel officiating. Burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens.
Helen DesRosier
Helen King McCourt DesRosier, 97, passed away of natural causes on April 2, 2003, at the North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.
She was born Sept. 26, 1905, in Salem, Ore., the daughter of James Henry McCourt and Florence Amanda King McCourt.
Helen was raised in Butte, graduating from Butte High School in 1922. She received her lifetime educational teaching certificate from Montana Normal School in Dillon in 1924. She later attended Eastern Montana College in Billings and Northern Montana College in Havre.
She was married to Joseph Stuart DesRosier on Jan. 2, 1924 at St. Rose Catholic Church in Dillon.
The couple moved to Browning where she lived for 52 years, raising her family of eight children and teaching school for almost 30 years. She was a leading advocate for the welfare of the youth of Browning and was eager to improve the conditions and education of the young people. She was active in the teachers organizations, a member of the Montana Education Association, serving as a delegate to many state conventions, and a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma organization of teachers, serving in many different posts and as past president.
Helen enjoyed her large family. She took a special interest in the lives and activities of all her 101 living descendants. Helen enjoyed playing bridge, doing crossword puzzles and discussing current events. After her retirement she traveled, touring Ireland, Europe, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Canada and many of the Lower 48 states.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph Stuart, in March 1946; her brother, James H. McCourt; her son, James Stuart DesRosier, who died one day before she did; her daughter, Frances Lauretta (Sister Anthony Mary); and grandson, Scott Babcock.
Helen is survived by two sons, Peter J. DesRosier and wife, Karen, of Drummond, and Thomas David DesRosier and wife, Cindy, of Big Sandy; four daughters, Helen Jane Shook, of Albany, Ore., Patricia Squires, of Shelley, Idaho, Mary Lou Babcock and husband, Mitchell, of Whitefish, and Annette Munson and husband, Jerry, of Columbia Falls; a daughter-in-law, Joy, of Butte; 38 grandchildren; 44 great grandchildren; 13 great great grandchildren; her sister, Frances Atkins, of Sun City, Ariz.; and four nephews, Fred DesRosier, Donald and Michael McCourt, and Richard Leadbetter.
Mass of the Resurrection was conducted at St. Richard's Catholic Church in Columbia Falls on April 7, 2003, with Rev. Joe Pat Moran as celebrant. Burial followed at the St. Richard's Catholic Cemetery in Columbia Falls.
Memorials may be made to Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, 2911 West Fort Wright Drive, Spokane WA 99224-5298.
Mark Endreson
Mark Harris Endreson, 43, formerly of Columbia Falls, died on April 1, 2003.
He was born in Spokane on March 30, 1960. Mark was raised in Columbia Falls and was a graduate of Columbia Falls High School in 1978. After high school he joined the U.S. Navy and served with a helicopter unit on Coronado Island in California. After leaving the Navy, he worked for different organizations in the San Diego area until becoming disabled.
He loved the southwestern United States and resided in San Diego until 1999 before moving to Phoenix, where he resided until the time of his death.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Delores E. Endreson in 1994.
Mark is survived by his father, Harris W. Endreson; stepmother Avis F. Endreson; sister, Pamela J. Jones and her husband, Gregg Jones; his nephews, Mackenzie Jones and Morgan Jones; his stepbrother, Steven D. Thompson and wife, Linda, all of Columbia Falls; his stepsisters, Diana Winters and husband, Jay, of Kalispell, and Denise Kemp and husband, Roy, of Helena, and Verna Hedrick and husband, Chris, of Sebree, Ky.; and numerous relatives and friends.
Cremation has taken place and memorial services and internment will be at a later date.
