Search Archived Marriage Records
Florin Timothy (Tim) Kahnberg, 84
Florin Timothy (Tim) Kahnberg passed away on Saturday October 20, 2007 after a battle with cancer. He was born in Sacramento, California on August 30, 1923 to Alvar and Achsah Kahnberg. One of 6 children, he grew up in Oakland and Alamo. Taking family vacations to Santa Cruz he learned to love the ocean and fishing. He graduated from San Ramon High School at the age of 16. He was active in theater and band throughout his high school years. On his 18th birthday he began working for Pacific Bell Telephone Company in San Francisco. On October 20, 1942 he enlisted in the Army Infantry. During WWII he spent time in France and Germany. He returned home 3 years later and married June Coe and had his first daughter, Kathleen in 1947. After his return home, he continued working at the telephone company. He worked his way up from an office boy to a senior engineer during his 39-year career. During this time he also played his clarinet and saxophone in a German Band with friends and co-workers. In 1964 he married Barbara Reed and had his second daughter, Susie in 1965. After he retired from the telephone company he moved to Montana in 1979 and lived there for the remainder of his life. For 25 of his 28 years in Montana he had the wonderful opportunity to return to the theater. Working with his close friend Don Thomson, he was active in the Summer Theater productions as well as the Bigfork Community Players. His favorite role was the Rabbi in Fiddler on the Roof. Tim's active membership in the Masonic Lodge began in California in the early 1940's and continued when he came to Montana. It was always an important and meaningful part of his life. His many talents and hobbies included golfing, fishing, theater and band. He was an artist as well as an accomplished carpenter, building man homes throughout his lifetime.
His 2 daughters
Kathy Korb Breshears and husband Jay of Cove, Oregon and Susie Walsh or Kalispell survive Tim. He has 5 grandchildren; Jeff, Jamie, Kendra, Kyer and Kacey and 2 great-grandchildren; Chris and Bobby. His younger brother Nils Kahnberg, his baby sister Yamashita, 4 nieces and 3 nephews also survive him.
Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday October 25, 2007 at the Bigfork Masonic Lodge. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Bigfork Summer Playhouse Scholarship Fund.
Wilma M. Christopherson, 79
Wilma M. Christopherson, age 79, passed away on Thursday, October 18, 2007 at her residence in Kalispell, Montana. She was born on May 28, 1928 in Jasper, Minnesota the oldest daughter of Walter and Alma (Schriever) Niemann.
Wilma met Elvin "Chris" Christopherson in Yuma, Arizona and they were married on May 1, 1945. After Chris was discharged from the Army Air Force in 1946, the couple moved to Kalispell. Wilma was a business agent for various local labor unions for many years. She was an active member of the Democratic Party and a long-time member of the Eagles Auxillary; she was also a charter member of the Eagles Camping Club. Wilma enjoyed many happy hours fishing, boating and camping with her family. She also enjoyed snowmobiling and was involved in many activities with her children and grandchildren. She took pride in her appearance and in her home. She had a green thumb and especially loved flowers. Wilma was an excellent cook and just last week was canning apples and making pies.
Wilma made friends easily and loved to dance and laugh. She lived life to the fullest, always on her terms, and with no regrets. She always felt lucky in life and in love. Wilma will be deeply missed.
Wilma was preceded in death by her husband, parents, a brother, John Niemann and a sister, Jeanie Niemann both of South Dakota. She is survived by three sons, Craig Christopherson and wife Kathy of Kalispell, MT; Terry Christopherson of Murray, UT and Allan Christopherson and wife Kathy of Bethel, AK; granddaughters: Thi, Chelsea and Kelly Christopherson, Chanel Nikiforov and husband Tony, and great granddaughter, Natasha Nikiforov. Wilma is also survived by a brother Bill Niemann and wife Vi; sisters: Evelyn Kroger, Margaret Dickerson, Gladys Fallon, Marlis Wright and husband Chuck, Elsie Waite and husband Harold and Janis Polzen and husband Les, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services for Wilma will be held at 2:00pm on Thursday, October 25, 2007 in the Johnson Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Darold Reiner officiating. Burial will be in the Glacier Memorial Gardens. There will be a closed casket visitation on Wednesday, at Johnson Mortuary from 2:00pm to 5:00pm. A gathering of family and friends following the services at the Eagles Club, 37 1st St. West in Kalispell.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Wilma's family.
Barbara Farquhar Blumberg
Barbara Farquhar Blumberg, a resident of Bigfork since 1978, suffered a stroke Sept. 10 and died Friday, Sept. 21, in a Kalispell hospice room a few days before her 73rd birthday.
She was born in Lincoln, Neb., on Sept. 29, 1934, the only child of Robert and Helen Farquhar. She graduated from Lincoln High School, earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Nebraska in 1957 and was awarded a master of fine arts degree by Paul Engle's Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa in 1962.
She married Gregory FitzGerald in Iowa City in 1957 and had a daughter, Nina, in 1959. She was an assistant professor of English at Monroe Community College in Brockport, N.Y., and Ithaca College in Ithaca, N.Y., for several years before her divorce in 1972.
Barbara came to Missoula in 1973 and married Nathaniel Blumberg, a journalism professor and former dean of the University of Montana School of Journalism.
They moved in 1978 to Bigfork where they designed and built, with the help of friends and two skilled carpenters, the Montana cabin of their dreams in the woods overlooking Flathead Lake. It was their home for 29 of the 34 years they shared.
She introduced Nathaniel to Newfoundlands and through the years they enjoyed the companionship of seven "Newfies" (and a female wolf with a touch of dog in her, a gift from friends living in the hills outside Helena).
Barbara had a strong affinity for the ocean and they traveled to beaches in the Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, the Florida keys and frequently to Mexico and the central Oregon coast.
Barbara was an artist and a published poet of distinction, but after coming to Montana she withdrew from academia and wrote poems only for herself and those she loved.
Survivors include her husband, Nathaniel; her daughter, Nina FitzGerald Gutierrez and her husband Miguel of Ciudad Colon, Costa Rica; her stepdaughters, Janet Leslie Blumberg of Bothell, Wash., and Jenifer Lyn Blumberg of Charlo; her grandchildren, Helen, Valerie and Sofia Gutierrez of Ciudad Colon, Caleb Knedlik of Bothell, Wash., Asher Loeb of San Francisco, Calif., Ariel Loeb of Phoenix, Ariz., Aram Loeb, temporarily in Malawi, and Laramie, Kiam and Adam Loewen of Missoula.
She loved Bigfork and had many friends here. A collection of her poems is being prepared for the many people in her life who respected, admired and loved her profound intellect, compassion, idealism, glorious sense of humor and her inner and outer beauty.
As she fervently wished, no formal services will be held. She would prefer, if it is in your heart, that you send a donation to those who care for animals. Certainly, there will be times in the light of the moon or when the sun is high when some who knew her will raise a toast to the memory of this extraordinary woman who shed so much grace during her treasured time on earth.
Beatrice "Bea" Marais
Beatrice “Bea” Marais, 87, passed away on Friday, September 28, 2007 at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, Montana. She was born on January 5, 1920 in Manchester, England to William and Mary Ann (Waring) Roberts.
Bea lost both of her parents when she was very young. She spent some time in a catholic orphanage affiliated with a convent, then lived with her older sister. Bea met and married Gordon Marais in Great Britain while he was station there in The U.S. Army. They had two children and moved to the United States in 1947. They later divorced.
Bea lived in New York, California and finally in the Flathead Valley. She was in retail management and worked at Bullock’s Wilshire on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. It is a historical landmark that was destroyed during the Rodney King riots.
Bea was known for her creative baskets, which were spotlighted in the L.A Times newspaper
. She enjoyed sewing and reading until her eye sight began to fail. She was also very social and liked being with people. She will be deeply missed by all who know and loved her.
Bea is survived by a daughter: Susan Trust and husband Ken of Bigfork and a son: Philip Marais of Palos Verdes, CA, three grandchildren and one great grandson.
No services are planned at this time.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Bea’s family. You are invited to go to www.johnsonmortuary.com to offer condolences and sign Bea’s guest book.
Robert (Bob) Staudenmayer
Robert (Bob) Staudenmayer also known as “Bud” passed away at a friend’s house in Bigfork on September 25, 2006. His life was taken by severe depression and alcoholism. He was born in Upland, Ca, on July 18, 1962 to Robert E. Staudenmayer and Muriel Joseph. He was the youngest of three boys. The family moved to Butte, Mt. when Bob was in his early teens. In 1984 Bob married his wife Sandy. They moved to Bigfork in 1987 to manage the Marina Cay Vacation Club that was downtown. Bob was also involved in various businesses in Montana, including owning Diamond Lil’s Restaurant in Dillon, Mt. in the early 90’s. His hobbies included hunting, fishing, gardening, travel, and spending time with his friends. In the spring of 1988, Bob graced the cover of the Bigfork Eagle when he caught the “Flathead Lake Monster”; the biggest bull trout caught in 100 years. As an avid hunter, his hunting collection included trophy size elk. Bob tried moving from Bigfork several times and made his home in Washington, Colorado and Texas over the years, but kept coming back home to Montana.
Bob cherished his wife and his 3 sons and was an exceptional provider for his family. He was a loving husband and father and spent as much time with his family as possible. He went out of his way to help out friends and family and has even given away his last dollar to someone less fortunate. Bob was a very straightforward person and he was known to “tell it like it is”. He frequently explained that he didn’t have a filter in his brain, so what went into his head came straight out of his mouth.
Bob is survived by his wife sandy Staudenmayer, sons; Michael, Robert and Skylar Staudenmayer, his mother Muriel Joseph, his brothers Joe and Jim Staudenmayer, three grandsons, various nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles and cousins. His family would like him to be remembered as the fun, down to earth, free spirited, loving and caring man that he was. We are very grateful to have had him as a part of our lives. He is missed very much. Please remember him and celebrate Bob’s life.
Roy Eugene Murray, Jr., 88
Roy Eugene Murray, Jr., age 88, passed away on Sunday, December 14, 2008 at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell, Montana. He was born on October 23, 1920 in Butte, Montana the son of Roy Eugene and Thelma (Stewart) Murray.
Roy graduated from Boys Central High School in Butte. He graduated from Notre Dame University, class of 1942. He served as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. He received his J.D. from Harvard University in 1950. He was a member of the Montana and California State Bar Associations. Roy was a life member of the Butte Country Club and a lifelong avid golfer.
Roy succeeded his father as owner of Murray Motor Company in Butte. He served as an assistant U.S. Attorney under the Nixon administration.
Roy was preceded in death by his wife Patricia Halloran Murray and his daughter Kathleen Murray Scholz.
He is survived by his daughter Seanne Murray Klingensmith and husband Harvey R. of Bigfork, MT and Calgary, Alberta; and his son Roy Eugene “Geno” Murray, III and wife Brenda Guthrie Murray of Santa Fe, NM; and his son in law Richard H. Scholz of Warrenton, VA;
“Popeye” is also survived by his grandchildren; Jessie Klingensmith and wife Lindsey and Kathleen Klingensmith of Houston, TX; Rachael Murray of Denver, CO; Roy Eugene “Rory” Murray IV of Socorro, NM and Lauren Murray of Boulder, CO
There are no services planned at this time for Roy. The family suggests that any memorial contributions be sent to Pope John Paul II Catholic Church, 195 Coverdell Road, Bigfork, MT 59911.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Roy’s family.
Jan N. Stewart
Jan N. Stewart, age 69, died peacefully at her home in Bigfork Friday, July 30, 2004 surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born October 15, 1934 in Pampa, Texas to Wesley and Faye (Addington) Davis.
Ray Edmund Preston, Jr.
Ray Edmund Preston, Jr., age 53, passed away Monday July 26, 2004 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
He was born October 11, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois to Ray Edmund, Sr. and Doris Jeanne (Schmid) Preston.
Dorothy Marie Cox
Dorothy Marie Cox, age 88, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2004 at her residence in Kalispell, Montana.
She was born on Sept. 7, 1916 in the Demarsville community south of Kalispell, the daughter of William and Florence (Dowling) Lanegan.
She was one of 13 children.
Vicki Jo Lopez
Vicki Jo Lopez, age 53, passed away on Friday, Jan. 28, 2005, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.
Eleanora Frieda Adams
Eleanora Frieda Adams, 92, went home to be with her Lord on Jan. 25, 2005.
She was born in Philips-burg, Mont., on Dec. 23, 1912, the eighth child of nine, to Henry and Marie (Stier) Steber.
Eleanora was raised and educated in Philipsburg.
Mildred Hansen Wells
Mildred Hansen Wells, age 87, passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2005, at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.
She was born Feb. 12, 1917, in Sterling, Colo., the daughter of John and Ogle (Smith) Hansen.
