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Thomas Harold Taber
Tom Taber vacated this earth on April 2, 2004, for a duck-hunting expedition in the next world. He will be joyfully reunited with a few cronies, some forgettable relatives, and his beloved Black Labrador retrievers. Hopefully, by now, these old friends will have forgotten his tall tales so that he can recount them anew, to a fresh and enthusiastic audience. With no props other than his Camel cigarettes, his gravelly baritone voice, and just the right amount of a hearty Scotch, he will schmoose with the best of them.
He leaves behind four grown daughters
, Claire-france Perez, Laura Meissenburg, Linda Kammins, and Colette Taber; three granddaughters, Codi, Emma, and Claire; and two obese felines, Miss Mittens and Domino.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local chapter of Ducks Unlimited.
Bigfork Funeral Home is caring for the family.
Evelyn Elizabeth "Jackie" Schandelmier
Evelyn Elizabeth "Jackie" Schandelmier, 94, passed away Friday, May 28, 2004, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell. She was born Dec. 27, 1909 in rural Bottineau County, North Dakota, to Fred and Sophia (Glentz) Shaw, the youngest of five children. When Jackie was young, she and her siblings moved to Turner with their mother and grandmother to homestead. Jackie then began working as a cook for the landowners in the area.
In 1929, Jackie married Clyde William Schandelmier and they moved to Astoria, Oregon, to attend vocational school for a short time; Clyde pursued training in mechanics, and Jackie pursued beauty school. They later moved back home to eastern Montana.
In the early 1950s, the family moved to Bigfork where they began farming, raising sheep, carpentry work, and buying and selling property. Jackie maintained her role as homemaker, and when the chores were done, loved flower gardening, baking, sewing, quilting, and riding horses, as well as oil painting various scenes of living in Montana. Jackie and Clyde traveled occasionally, but most of all loved being home.
She was active in establishing and building the Assembly of God church at Bigfork and was past president of the Women's Missionary Council.
Jackie was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, sister Ruth Kienenberger, and three brothers, Ford, Ken and Tolbert Shaw. Survivors include two daughters, Kathy Eslick and her husband Paul of Bigfork, and Terri Larson of Polson; six grandchildren, Eric Eslick, Aaron Eslick, Pauline Gibbs, Randy Walter, Lori Lakey and Justin Larson; several great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, June 2, in the chapel of Johnson Mortuary with Rev. Miles Finch officiating. Burial followed at the Lonepine Cemetery in Bigfork. The family received friends from 1 p.m. Wednesday until the time of services at the funeral home.
Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
Andrew Joseph Berube
Andrew Joseph Berube 9th, born Nov. 2, 1921, passed away from coronary disease on Dec. 20, 2003, at his home in Bigfork with his family at his side. He fought a gallant, strong fight for many years to live a full life.
Andy was a veteran of the Armed Forces serving in the US Army 741st Division from 1939 until 1946. He served in the South Seas Islands. He always joked he might be the youngest in the outfit, but he was waiting at the back to welcome them when they came over.
Andy was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Rita, brother, Art, daughter Andriea. He was a good, just and loving father and is survived by daughters, Rita (Bob Cannell) Jodee (Denny McViegh) and Jennifer Berube, his wife, Jessie at the family home in Bigfork. Also by brother, George in California, sister Liane (Newman), sister-in-law, Jean Berube, Seattle, numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and friends from all over the country.
L. Loring Brock, M.D.
Former Bigfork resident L. Loring Brock M.D., passed away in the presence of his family on Nov. 19, 2003, at his home in Green Valley, Ariz. Loring was a dedicated servant to the Lord, his family and his patients.
He is survived by his wife, Mona (Ging) whom he married in 1962, in Denver; two sons, David and his wife Carolyn of Twin Falls, Idaho, and Daniel of Indianapolis; two grandsons, Loring and Evan; and a sister, Barbara Daugherty of Lexington, Ky.
Loring graduated from Ohio State University in 1948 as a medical doctor. He interned at Indianapolis General Hospital, and did his residency in internal medicine at the University of Chicago from 1949-1951. He was at Fort Warren in Cheyenne, Wyo., from 1951-53 as a captain in the Air Force.
James Nathaniel "Jimmy" Ness
James Nathaniel "Jimmy" Ness, 22, passed away Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, at his home in Kalispell, after a courageous fight with cystic fibrosis.
Jimmy was born July 10, 1981, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center, the son of Lillian (Stubbert) Ness and James R. Ness. He was very sick when he was born, but God made him well so he did not die when he was a baby. He grew up doing what normal kids do, and he felt pretty healthy most of his life. In all he did, he put his whole heart into it.
About 1991, Jim was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, a disease that attacks the lungs and liver. In January 2003, Jim had a double lung transplant because his own were so scarred. After the transplant, it was a rough recovery, but within three months Jim was back on his feet and with the new lungs he could finally breathe. He no longer had to cough all the time as he did before the transplant. For seven months he could do some of the things he always wanted to. In October of this year, Jim started to feel rough. In November he felt real weak and light-headed. On Dec. 11, he "went home to be with the Lord," surrounded by his family and friends.
Ethel T. Ill
Ethel T. Ill, 82, passed away Monday, May 24, 2004, at her home in Bigfork after a courageous battle with leukemia.. Ethel was born on Nov. 19, 1921 in Helena, Arkansas to John and Kate O'Shield Tarkington.
She was an active member in the Puttering Potters Ceramic Group of Bigfork, and enjoyed reading.
Survivors include her loving husband of 61 years, Bernard Ill, daughter Marilyn Courtney, and son Kenneth W. Ill. There are also six grandchildren, Katrina, Karrie, Kevin, Cheryl, Christine and Alisha, and eight great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place at her request. Memorials may be given to Hospice of Kalispell. Bigfork Funeral Home caring for the family.
Connie D. Stein
Connie D. (Redpath) Stein, 59, went to be with her Lord on Wednesday, May 12, 2004, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center after a short battle with leukemia. Connie was born February 17, 1945 in Kalispell to Howard and Peggy Redpath. She grew up in Somers at the family home on Flathead Lake. She attended Somers School and graduated from Flathead High School in 1963. She attended the University of Montana for a short time and then married her high school sweetheart Frank Stein. They lived in Kalispell for several years and then returned to their childhood area of Lakeside.
Connie was the Executive Director of the American Red Cross for 16 years. She was a member of the American Red Cross Disaster Response team and was assigned to a number of major disaster operations including an earthquake in California, hurricane in Florida, flood in Missouri, hurricane in Puerto Rico, and most recently the 9-11 attack on the World Trade Center.
She felt she should help others and strived to do so through her work and her volunteerism. She served on the Board of Directors for the Hockaday Center for the Arts. She served many years on the Board of Directors of the Flathead City/County Health Department, and was a member of the Flathead area Medical Emergency Council. She was a charter member and EMT with the Lakeside Quick Response Unit. She co-taught the EMT course at FVCC for ten years, training over 200 students as EMTs. Her greatest pleasure was knowing she could make a small difference in someone's life and she more than obtained that in many areas.
She loved children and enjoyed spending time with her nieces and nephews. Her caring way and great sense of humor will be missed and always loved by many.
She was preceded in death by her father Howard Redpath in 1994. She is survived by her husband Frank of Lakeside, mother Peggy Redpath of Somers, sister Janet Bourne and husband Dan of Kalispell, sister Randee Morrow and her husband John of Lakeside, and brother Dennis Redpath and his wife Robyn of Kalispell. She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Shannie and John Heston and sons Jordan (Dude) and Clayton (Cap), Corrie Bourne, Monica and Matt Bradford and sons Kyle and Brodie, Dennis and Aileene Redpath, and Maren and Aaron King and children Sadee (Su) and Jonathan (Buzz). Along with other relatives, many, many friends and her very best friend Mary Granger.
Connie requested memorials be made to the Lakeside Quick Response Unit, PO Box 911, Lakeside, MT 59922, so that this unit can continue to benefit the community.
Memorial service was held Monday, May 17, at the Lakeside Community Chapel, with Pastor John Ulrich officiating.
Hilda May Waggener
Hilda May Waggener, 77, passed away on Thursday, June 3, 2004, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. She was born on Sept. 6, 1926 in Gateway, Montana, to Reginald and Amelia (Saken) Lanfear.
Hilda's family moved to the Somers area when she was very young and she attended school in Somers and Flathead County High School. Hilda married Milfred Strand on May 15, 1943 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky and after Milfred returned from the war, they made their home in Kalispell. In 1962, Hilda went to work for the telephone company as an operator. She worked there for 14 years.
In 1964, the Strand's bought property on Echo Lake, and lived there for 30-plus years. Hilda truly loved living on the lake; that was her pride and joy.
On Jan. 28, 1992, Hilda married Ted W. Waggener in Bullhead City, Ariz. The couple enjoyed traveling. They also enjoyed bowling, fishing, and all of the out doors. They would spend their winters in Quartzsite, Ariz., and summers on Echo Lake until Hilda suffered a stroke in 1995. Hilda was loved by all who knew her, especially her family. She lived for her family and extended family. She will be truly missed.
Hilda was preceded in death by her first husband, Milfred, on Feb. 28, 1986; her parents, and brother, Robert Lanfear. She is survived by her husband, Ted W. Waggener of Kalispell; two children: Regina Houston and husband Mike of Echo Lake, and Terry Strand and wife Loretta of Kalispell; stepchildren: Ted A., James E., and Carol; five grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Graveside memorial services were held at 1 p.m., Monday, June 7, at Bethany Cemetery in Bigfork, with Pastor Jim Holman officiating.
Arrangements were under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Crematory.
Dellivan David "Dell" Thornton Sr.
Dellivan David "Dell" Thornton, Sr., 74, passed away April 30, 2004, at his home south of Lakeside. He was born Jan. 3, 1930, to Herbert and Mary Thornton in Grantham, N.H.
Dell was one of 14 children during hard times, so as a teen he learned to work hard with his dad and uncles in scrap metal to help feed the family. He also worked with draft horses doing logging. His mom co-signed for him to buy his first logging truck when he was just 16.
He went into the Air Force and served during the Korean conflict, receiving an honorable discharge in 1952, at Spokane. He went to Wallace and Kellogg, Idaho, and worked in the "Morning Mines" where he learned the correct way to use dynamite. Then he moved to Butte where he went to work in the mines; then became a motorcycle cop for the Butte Police Department during some of the rowdier times in Butte's history. City life was not for Dell.
In Butte, Dell met Mavis Simons of Lakeside, who became his wife on July 6, 1955. Dell then found work on the Noxon Dam where he drove a Uke (earth mover). When that job was finished they moved to Cobalt, Idaho, for a short time where he worked mining cobalt; then to Lark, Utah, to work in the copper mines. Dell and Mavis were blessed with five children. In 1959, they moved back to Mavis' hometown of Lakeside where they settled in to raise their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Dell worked hard at many jobs and taught his kids at a young age to do the same. He was one of the few men in the Flathead Valley that had experience with dynamite and worked for the Zook Brothers building U.S. 93 south of Lakeside, which is still in use today. He sawed logs, moved buildings, and sawed ties for the Somers Tie Yard. He purchased one of the first backhoes in the area (two at that time) and started into general contracting. He built boat docks on Flathead Lake (many of which are still out there). He worked contracting for Ben Williams, logged off and parked out the area now known as Ben Williams Park. He built roads and put water and sewer lines in the housing development in the Woodland Park area. What most people will probably remember would be the beautiful Christmas trees he sold each year and also supplied to some of the largest tree yards in Montana.
Dell was always working and made a lot of stuff out of nothing. He would help anyone no matter who they were. He taught his kids and grandkids all about gardening and caring for animals. He always had a bounty from his garden to share with whoever came by. He was famous with his kids, grandkids, and all their friends for making the world's best hashbrowns.
Dell worked hard to the very hour of his passing. He may have retired, but he never quit working.
Dell was preceded in death by the tragic loss of his youngest son, Dale, on May 5, 1985. He was also preceded in death by great-grandson, Talis Timothy Buck; his parents; seven brothers; and one sister. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Mavis; sons, Richard (previous marriage), Dellivan Jr., Donald, and Dennis; and daughter, Sherry Williams; brothers, Chuck and John; and sisters, Mabel Click, Irene Trottier and Edith Bell; special grandchildren, Melanie and Derrick Blair, Amber, Dallas, Dustin and Candice Thornton, and their mother Shirley Helland, Marri and Dewayne Brown, Collin Thornton, Josh and Aaron Cork, and Holly and Josh Rich; great-grandchildren, Angelo, Makenzy, Sierra, Santiago, and Chester; and numerous special relatives from back East. "Last, but not least, he is survived by his dogs and cats who will miss him greatly," as will all of his friends and loved ones.
A celebration of Dell's life was held Saturday, May 8, 2 p.m., at the Buffalo Hills Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Daniel Lambert officiating. Internment followed at the C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.
Wayne C. Turner
Navy veteran Wayne C. Turner, 58, of Big Sandy, died Thursday in a plane crash in Utah.
His funeral service is 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Big Sandy airport with a reception to follow.
Wayne was a beloved husband, son, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, pilot and coach.
Wayne passed away tragically on June 17, 2004, while fighting the Dammeron Complex forest fire near St. George, Utah.
Wayne was born Dec. 31, 1945, the third of five children born to Kenneth and Edith Turner in Great Falls.
He graduated high school from Centerville, MT in 1963. He went on to Montana State University and obtained a bachelor's degree in agricultural business and his pilot's license.
He enlisted in the Naval service in 1968 and served as a flight simulator instructor during the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1974.Wayne's first love, after his family, was flying, and he always felt at home when he was in the air.
He maintained a commercial pilot's license for the last forty years. He owned and operated his own flying service, which included aerial application, flight instruction and contract piloting. He was extremely active in the community and the schools, and always especially enjoyed the time he spent with the kids of Big Sandy. Some of his favorite activities were coaching, wrestling and the Science Olympiad. Wayne was also a volunteer fireman, EMTI, city council member, 32nd degree Mason and Shriner.
Wayne had endless amounts of energy and loved the outdoors. It was his goal to climb the highest peak in every state. He was well on his way. Wayne was funny, enthusiastic, hard working, intelligent, and even sometimes handsome, but most of all he was "neat inside." He was always ready with a quick joke, a smile and a big bear hug. He was caring and compassionate and was always reaching out to others in need. It didn't matter if he had known you five years or five minutes, he was always ready to help. He was still a child at heart and was never too busy to have a good "romp" on the floor with one of his grandkids. He was affectionately known as "that crazy Grandpa Wayne." He taught us all so much in the short time we were allowed with him. He will be missed by all who had the honor of knowing him.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Jan Turner of Big Sandy; his mother, Edith Turner of Kremlin; a son, Jeff Turner and his wife, Kristie, and their children, Abriana and Jabin; a daughter Katrina Salois and her husband, Chad, and their children, Sarah, Jaida, Cole and Nicki; a son, Daniel Adams and his wife, Heather, and their daughter, Arabella; a sister, Fay Wolf and her husband, Wes; a brother, Ivan Turner and his wife Mariana; a sister, Jan Kuno; a sister, Judy Seibert and her husband, Dick; and numerous nieces and nephews.
His father, Kenneth Turner, and his son, Warren, preceded him in death.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials be made to the Big Sandy Medical Center and the Big Sandy Volunteer Fire Department.
Flamin' Mamie! I'm incredibly high!
