Search Archived Marriage Records
Lois McClurg
Lois McClurg, 93, passed away Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002, at Lake View Care Center in Bigfork. Lois was born on Dec. 3, 1908 in Fresno, Calif., 12 minutes after her twin brother, Lauren. One of ten children, she spent her childhood with love, laughter, play and hard work. Throughout life, into her 90s, she retained a childlike playfulness and delight in life that endeared her to all she met.
In 1937, she married Marion McClurg, a pig farmer and ranger in King's Canyon National Park and bore three children while teaching at a two-room schoolhouse. Always optimistic and "a good sport," she agreed to leave her clan and move to the Flathead Valley in 1947 where she was a pioneer wife and mother
, jostling bears, pigs, and her children while her husband worked on the Hungry Horse Dam. In 1956, she resumed teaching at the junior high level, first at Somers and then in Bigfork where she remained until retirement in the late 70s. Her fondness for teaching was rivaled only by her affinity for recess and sports. Outdoors always beckoned and she relished hunting, fishing, gardening, hiking and studying nature from her picture windows. Her hearty appetite extended to the kitchen, and she was an outstanding cook, blithely "tossing" together pies and a batch of bread between "putting up" the season's bounty. Above all, she loved people, and when not entertaining friends or relatives, she wrote letters and stories. In retirement, she and Mac spent their winters in California visiting friends and relatives, and returning to their beloved Flathead each spring.
Lois is preceded in death by her husband Marion; her son Keith; and eight of her nine siblings. True to her selfless nature, when they died she said, "I wish I could have given them some of my years. I've had such a lovely life."
Lois is survived by son Lauren and Merilee McClurg of Bigfork; daughter Marlo and Bob MacKinnon of Sacramento, Calif.; grandson Nicolas and Renee of Berkeley, Calif.; granddaughters Anji and Dave Walters of Deer Park, Wash., Meika McClurg of Toronto, Canada, and Cady McClurg of Ft. Collins, Colo.; and her great-grandchildren Dustin, Kaylee and Amanda Walters.
All friends are invited to a Celebration of Life at the home of Lauren and Merilee McClurg in January on a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Lois McClurg Scholarship Fund for the Bigfork School District, or charity of your choice. Bigfork Funeral Home is caring for the family.
Audrey Ida Marken Morton
Audrey Ida Marken Morton, 72, of Alamogordo, New Mexico, went to be with her Lord on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2002, after a courageous battle with cancer. Audrey was born August 12, 1930 in Kalispell to Henry and Florence (Yenne) Marken.
She grew up on the family farm and graduated from Bigfork High School. She attended Montana State College of Nursing for one year. In 1950, she married Bill Morton at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork, and they had three daughters. Audrey was a loving and giving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and her family loved her greatly in return.
Audrey loved life and the Flathead Valley. She enjoyed camping, water skiing, and traveling with her family. She received her private pilot license in 1966, joined the Ninety-Nines, and had many happy hours flying. She loved to travel, particularly to her ancestral countries, and visited Norway, Ireland and France several times. She belonged to the Norwegian Society of Texas in El Paso.
Audrey had a strong faith. She was baptized and confirmed at Bethany Lutheran Church, and she and Bill were active members of Bethlehem Lutheran Church while raising their family in Kalispell. Over the years, she taught Sunday School and Bible School at many of the churches to which she belonged. She was an active member of Our Savior Lutheran Church for over 30 years. She was a long-time member of the Hospital Auxiliary of Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center; a member of P.E.O., Chapter AV; and of Alamogordo Hospice. She cared greatly for others and often was a special friend to older women in her congregations and family.
Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Bill of the family home; two daughters, Natalie Morton of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Nanette Morton of Albuquerque; a granddaughter Nicole Lee and her husband Jebedia of Kansas City, Mo.; a great-grandson Wiatt Lee of Kansas City; four aunts, Frances Grudgel, Ann Hollingberger, Doris Yenne, and Helen Grilley; and numerous sisters and brothers-in-law, nieces, and nephews, cousins, and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; daughter Laurie Ann; and two sisters Delores Orser and Eileen Darling.
Graveside services were conducted Saturday, Sept. 28, 11:30 a.m., at Conrad Memorial Cemetery in Kalispell, with Pastor Len Erikson officiating. The family requests any memorial be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 603 S. Main, Kalispell, MT; Bethany Lutheran Church, 8559 MT Highway 35, Bigfork, MT; or to Make-A-Wish Foundation, 107 Cherry Street, Suite 305, Seattle, Wash. 98104.
Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
Robert Warren McConkey
Robert Warren McConkey, 81, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2002, at the Heritage Place in Kalispell. Robert was born in Belt on Nov. 20, 1920 to Leon A. And Ruth (Atkinson) McConkey.
As a little boy, he rode horseback to Warrick School through 8th grade which was 27 miles from home. He graduated in 1939 from Big Sandy High School. At 21, he enlisted in the US Army Air Corps where he initially started pilot training. He later became a parachute rigger and was honorably discharged.
He and his uncle Joe Morris opened a Kyser Frazer Garage in Belt, but he couldn't get any cars so decided to go back to school in Moorehead, Minnesota using his G.I. Bill to become an electrician and welder. He worked at Choteau for a year or so where he met his future wife. He married Marian Packer on Dec. 11, 1948 in the Havre Methodist Church.
From that point, he moved on to O'Neil Construction Ranch and worked as a foreman for four yeas. He then bought a ranch in Ronan and ran it for 34 years. He then moved to Corvallis for three years before coming to Kalispell in 1990.
Robert was a Past Master of the Masonic Blue Lodge in Polson where he was also a Scottish Rite and Algerian Temple Shriner. He as actively involved for 49 years with the Mason's. He made and sold over 110 macrame chairs. He loved his cattle and his ranch. He shipped calves on stock trains and was a head of that association.
Robert is preceded in death by his parents; sister Inez McConkey Peterson in 1999; brother Royal McConkey in 2001; a double cousin in 1949; and several cousins, aunts, and uncles. He is survived by his wife Marian of Kalispell; two sons, Larry McConkey and wife Debra of Youngsville, Louisiana, and Warren McConkey and wife Betty of Bigfork; daughter Margaret Therriault and husband Alvin of Philipsburg; 10 grandchildren, Trevor, Aaron, Rebecca, Stacy, Ryan, Heather, Charlotte, Charity, Christopher, and Chadley; brother-in-law, Julius Peterson of Big Sandy; sister-in-law, Delores McConkey of Missoula; nephews Jerry Peterson of Big Sandy, and Leon Peterson of Blackfoot, Idaho; nieces Sharon Patterson of St. Regis, and Bonnie Clixby of Missoula; and three great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Friday, Sept. 27, at 11 a.m., at Johnson Mortuary Chapel with Reverend Marvin Northcutt officiating. Burial followed at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Visitation was held on Thursday, Sept. 26, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The family suggests memorials to the Shrine Transportation Fund, c/o Gale Henderson, P O Box 762, Kalispell, MT 59903.
Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
Margaret Ruth Martin-Johnson
Margaret Ruth Martin-Johnson, 73, passed away at her Bigfork home on Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002. Margaret was born Dec. 18, 1928 in Livingston to Delbert E. And Ruth (Steeves) Lang.
Margaret moved with her family at the age of two to Thompson River where she received her early education. She also attended Flathead and Helena High Schools. Margaret met and married Morris Martin on Sept. 27, 1965 in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. They lived in the Swan Valley and later in the Ferndale area. Morris passed away in 1989. On Jan. 8, 1992, Margaret married Peter E. Johnson in Polson.
Margaret was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband Morris; and three brothers, Alvin, Jerry and Rick Roam. She is survived by her husband Peter E. Johnson of Ferndale; two sisters, Dorothy McDaniel and Wilma Potts, both of Washington; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial gathering will be held Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002 at 1 p.m., at Margaret's home (100 Halverson Road) in Ferndale.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
K. Rod Allin
Rod Allin, 72, a 20-year resident of Bigfork and the Flathead Valley, died Tuesday, August 20, 2002, of cancer and stroke in Goderich, Ontario. He was born December 3, 1929 in Ferndale, Michigan.
Rod is survived by daughter Robin Ashton and her daughter Jazmine Ashton of Kalispell, and daughter Sue Allin of Wyoming.
Memorial services will be held Saturday, Sept. 7, at 2 p.m., at the Christian Center in Kalispell. If anyone would care to make a donation to help cover his funeral costs, they may call the McCallum & Palla Funeral Home in Goderich at 519-524-7345.
James R. "Bob" Heim, Sr.
James R. "Bob" Heim, Sr., 85, passed away Monday, Oct. 27, 2003, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell. He was born July 31, 1918, in Beaumont, Texas, to Oscar and Fanny Lee (Beard) Heim.
The Heims were hard-working farmers who first homesteaded near Fort Benton before settling in Bigfork in the 1930s. Bob was raised in Havre with three brothers and a sister. He attended and graduated from Bigfork High School in 1936. He married Ingaborg Alida Espeland on May 8, 1943. They had 46 great years together before Inga's death in 1989.
Bob has lived in many places in Montana: Fort Benton, Havre, Bigfork, Glasgow, and finally, Kalispell, residing here since 1952. Bob served in the United States Marine Corps during World War II, serving as a Sergeant in Okinawa, Japan. He worked as a fireman for Great Northern Railroad before working in the automobile parts business, and eventually as a lab technician at the Anaconda Aluminum (Columbia Falls Aluminum Plant), and retired in 1981.
Bob and Inga spent their early retirement years traveling throughout the United States visiting family members. Bob dabbled in furniture refinishing after retiring, and he also enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, reading, and other relaxing pastimes. He was a charter member of the Calvary Lutheran Church in Kalispell, and moved to Immanuel Lutheran Home in January of this year.
Bob was preceded in death by his brothers John and George, and granddaughter Julie. Survivors include two sons, Jim Heim and wife Linda of Lakeside, and Darrell Heim and wife Sheila of Burke, Va.; two daughters, Susan Dahlgren and husband Ken of Kalispell, and Alida Young and husband Gary of Battleground, Wash.; nine grandchildren, Roberta, Roger, Rod, Kevin, Bret, Darrell, Darren, Mark and Michelle; 13 great-grandchildren; one brother Fred Heim and wife Jo of Whitefish; and one sister Emily Pfrimmer and husband Jack of Whitefish.
Funeral services were held Friday, Oct. 31, 1 p.m., at Calvary Lutheran Church in Kalispell. The Rev. Kurt Rau officiated. Burial followed at Glacier Memorial Gardens. Visitation was Thursday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Johnson Mortuary Chapel. The family suggests memorials be sent to Immanuel Lutheran Home, 185 Crestline Ave., Kalispell, MT 59901.
Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
Paul David Johnston
Paul David Johnston, 54, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003, at Fort Harrison Veterans Medical Center in Helena after a courageous nine-month battle. He was born April 1, 1949, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Thomas F. and Jean Laverne (Ewing) Johnston, Sr.
Paul has been a resident of Bigfork for 14 years, having moved here upon his retirement from the Air Force in 1989. He loved the outdoors and was an avid fisherman and hunter, waterfowl, upland bird and big game. He loved to bowl and was very active in the local Bigfork Bowling Association. He was known for his cooking and was always sharing a recipe. He was a gentleman and storyteller, sharing a laugh with anyone who had time to spare.
Paul is preceded in death by his mother, Jean Laverne Johnston. His memory will be cherished by his wife Margaret (Peggy) Johnston of Bigfork; his children, Christine, Lisa and Paul Johnston of Pittsburgh, Pa.; his father, Thomas F. Johnston, Sr., and his brother and sister-in-law Thomas F. Jr., and Terry Johnston, all of Kalispell; his wife's parents, June Simpson of Riverside, Calif., and Roy and Mary Simpson of Murrieta, Calif.; nieces and nephew; and countless cousins and friends.
A celebration of his life will be held Saturday, Dec. 13, from 2-4 p.m., at the Swan Bar and Grill in Swan Lake. Private interment. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to The Disabled American Veterans, Ft. Harrison VA Medical and Regional Office Center, Williams Street, Fort Harrison, MT 59636.
Robert B. Brown
Robert B. Brown, 74, a man centered on God, his family, and his country, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 4, 2003, at his home in Kalispell of natural causes. He was born Aug. 5, 1929 in Marion, Indiana to H. Kenneth and Delores (Williams) Brown.
After graduating from Marion High School, Bob completed one semester at Purdue University before enlisting in the U.S. Army. He served three years in the Army before entering the United States Military Academy at West Point. Upon graduation from West Point in 1955, Bob married his sweetheart of four years, Helene Arrotta. Together, for the next twenty years, they were stationed at several Army bases throughout the United States and the world, including the Pentagon. Having served in Korea and in Vietnam, Bob retired as a Lt. Col.
He received the Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, and various campaign medals. After retirement, Bob and his family moved to Missoula to enjoy the beauty of the west. Bob received a teaching certificate and a Masters Degree from the University of Montana.
He was a dedicated educator that served in the positions of teacher, principal, professor, personnel director, and superintendent in Missoula, Hardin, Bozeman, and Clancy. Bob and Helene moved to the Many Lakes area of Flathead Valley in 1989.
Bob's interests included skiing, hiking, and football (he was a big Bronco's fan). He enjoyed teaching Spanish and meeting with his Wednesday morning men's Bible Study group. Bob was a man of integrity and character. He was a devoted servant, faithfully living out his commitment to Jesus Christ and his church family. He loved his wife, daughters, and family very much.
Bob was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, David R. Brown. He is survived by his wife, Helene; daughters: Kathleen and Don Bischoff and their children, Luke, Joel, Amy, Ellen, and Mary of Helena, and Susan and Bill Salonen and their children, Andrew and Ryan of Great Falls; one brother, James C. Brown of Syracuse, Indiana; brother-in-law, Louis Arrotta of Newburgh, New York; and a step-mother, Allie Brown of Marion, Indiana.
Memorial services were held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, Dec. 8, at the Riverside Vineyard Church, 859 W. Reserve Drive, with Pastor Paul Arends officiating. Burial will take place with Full Military Honors on Thursday, Dec. 11, at 1 p.m., at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Helena. The family suggests memorial gifts be given to Flathead Pro-Life, P.O. Box 2211, Kalispell, MT 59903.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
Marian Mitchell
Marian Mitchell, 60, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 30, 2003, at the Brendan House in Kalispell after a lengthy illness. She was born on Sept. 16, 1943 in Kalispell to Melford and Ruth (Johnson) Nordtome.
A life-long resident of Kalispell, Marian was a fun-loving outgoing friend to everyone she would meet. She loved being around people, just talking, laughing, and having a good time. She also enjoyed traveling and horses along with many other interests.
Marian graduated from Flathead County High School in 1961 and then went to work for the local telephone company for the next 20 years until retirement in 1981. She then, in 1985, started working for Flathead County as a switchboard operator until her illness in 1994.
Marian had a beautiful warm heart. She brought out the best in the people around her. Illness took her from us too soon and she will be dearly missed by all her family and friends.
Marian was preceded in death by her father. She is survived by her husband Dan; one daughter, Kim and Bob Sutton and their children: R.C., Krystal and Madeline; one son, Rob and Debbie Miller; and five step-children: Danette, Scott, Joel, Paul, and Eric, all of Kalispell. She is also survived by her mother Ruth of Bigfork; one brother Robbin Nordtome of Kalispell; and one sister, Linda Desch of Wolf Point. Marian has a large, extended family and is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, and step-grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life Service was held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Central Bible Church Gymnasium, 902 1st Ave., E., Kalispell, with Pastor Ron Youde officiating. A private family service will be held at Conrad Memorial Cemetery at a later date.
Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
