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Margaret Ruth Martin-Johnson
BIGFORK - Margaret Ruth Martin-Johnson, 73, died at her Bigfork home Sept. 25, 2002.
Margaret was born Dec. 18, 1928, in Livingston to Delbert E. and Ruth (Steeves) Lang.
She moved to the Thompson River with her family at a young age.
She married
Morris Martin on Sept. 27, 1965, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He preceded her in death in 1989. On Jan. 8, 1992, she married
Peter E. Johnson in Polson.
Survivors include her husband, Peter Johnson of Ferndale; two sisters, Dorothy McDaniel and Wilma Potts, both of Washington; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial gathering will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6, at Margaret's home, 100 Halverson Road, Ferndale.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
Esther Eleanor Fried
KALISPELL - Esther Eleanor Fried, 78, passed away on Sept. 24, 2002, at the Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
She was born Sept. 23, 1924, in Beulla, N.D., to Rudolph and Amelia (Mindt) Karlin Jr.
Esther began working at the age of 13 as a hotel maid. She moved to Missoula when she was 15 and lived there until 1992, when she moved to Hamilton for five years. In 1997, she moved to the Flathead Valley.
Esther worked as a nurses aid in Seattle; Riverside, Calif.; and Plentywood. She also worked as a waitress and barmaid, as well as numerous other jobs. She married
Norbert "Bert" Fried in 1974 and was married
to him for 17 great years.
Esther had a wonderful sense of humor. She enjoyed crocheting, crafts and making pine needle baskets.
Esther was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Francis and Bert; one sister, Albenia; three brothers, Robert, Dan and Rudy; and one sister-in-law, Hedwig Karlin.
She is survived by one daughter, Charlene Tytler; one son, Rodney Tytler; stepdaughter Valerie McDonald of Hamilton; daughter-in-law Jean Fried of Georgia; two sisters-in-law, Maxine Weiler and Dolores Bucha; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A graveside urn burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Sunset Memorial Gardens in Missoula.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
Mary Waliser
STEVENSVILLE - Mary Waliser, 89, passed away in the early morning Friday, Dec. 13, 2002, at the Bitterroot Valley Living Center in Stevensville.
Born in Glen Ullin, N.D., on Monday, Jan. 13, 1913, she was the daughter of the late Liberadus and Celestine (Kuntz) Waliser.
Survivors included her two sisters, Ann Oertli of Vancouver, Wash., and Katherine Martin of Stevensville. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place and a graveside inurnment service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Riverview cemetery in Hamilton. The Rev. Mike Smith from St. Mary's Catholic Church in Stevensville will be the celebrant.
Dowling Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the Waliser family.
Joseph Lawerence Thomas
RONAN - Joseph Lawerence "J.L" Thomas, 53, passed away on his birthday, Dec. 10, 2002, near Woods Bay from injuries sustained in a vehicle accident.
A well-traveled man, J.L. had lived several places before moving to the Mission Valley in the '80s and starting his karaoke business "J.L. & Vickie" with his wife.
He was preceded in death by his father and is survived by his wife Vickie of the family home; his mother Arlean Thomas of Spokane; his children, Jolynn Marie Griffen of St. Cloud, Minn., Alisha Thomas of Missoula, Kevin Thomas of Atlantic Beach, Fla., Brian Thomas of Pacific Beach, Calif., and Bradly Thomas of Missoula; stepchildren Daniell Castro of Ronan, Joe Benedict of Elcentro, Calif., Joshua Castro of Irvine, Calif., and Jeremiah Castro of Ronan; a brother, William Thomas of Nine Mile Falls, Wash.; and numerous uncles, aunts and cousins.
As per J.L.'s wishes, cremation has taken place and no formal services are planned. However, he will be greatly missed and forever hold a special place in our hearts and memories.
Memorials may be sent to Vickie Thomas in care of Foster & Durgeloh Funeral Home, 216 Project Drive, St. Ignatius, MT 59865.
Richard Bristow
HELENA - Richard Bristow, 52, formerly of Kalispell, died Jan. 5, 2003, in Colorado.
Dick was born June 18, 1950, to Wally and Joan Bristow in Townsend. His early years were spent in Townsend and Helena. Joan moved Dick and his brother John to Kalispell, where he finished grade school and graduated from Kalispell High in 1968.
Dick married
Linda Taylor on April 8, 1968, and they had their only child, Rick, on July 25.
Dick served in the Army during the Vietnam War. In 1980, Dick moved his family to Medford, Ore., to form a partnership with his brother John manufacturing unfinished furniture. They returned to Kalispell in 1983.
Dick worked for Plum Creek until 1986. Through his job at Plum Creek, he developed an interest in computers. He decided to change his profession to become a computer technician. He worked for Val-Com and then for Computer Land until 1994. During his time at Computer Land, he took classes to become certified in over 11 different computer languages.
Due to complications from diabetes, he became unable to perform the job he had come to love so well. In 1996, he moved to Phoenix with John and his family. In 2000, Dick moved to Bozeman to live with his son, Rick. This allowed him to get to know his grandsons. He was able to receive the quality time with them that he had wanted for so long. During his last year of life, Dick moved to Helena to live with his best friend, Steve Ferrell.
Dick is survived by his son, Rick; daughter-in-law Vashti; grandsons Logon Bays, Gabriel Bahr, Taylor Bristow and Tristen Bristow; brother John Bristow; sister-in-law Kayleen; niece LaRena; nephew Jay; grandnephew Jacob-Alan; ex-wife Linda Bristow; stepfather Ed Malicote; stepbrother Billy Bristow; and stepsisters Judy Fitzpatrick, Shelly Schreibman and Kim Bristow.
A memorial service to celebrate Dick's life is to be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Eastside Grange, off Highway 35 on Creston Road next to Creston School. The family is planning to have an open microphone for everyone who would like to share a memory or just get up to speak.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Rick and Vashti at 406-570-8809 before 4 p.m. or 406-570-8810 after 4 p.m. Their mailing address is 107 McIntosh Court, Apt. E., Bozeman, MT 59715.
Margaret M. Murray
DEER LODGE - Margaret M. Murray, 89, longtime Deer Lodge resident, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2003, at the Powell County Medical Center.
Margaret was born in Butte on Oct. 8, 1913, to Bridget and Daniel O'Neill. She attended St. Patrick's Elementary and Butte High schools.
On June 27, 1935, she married
J. Elmer Murray, an electrician for the Milwaukee Railroad in Three Forks. In 1943, they moved to Butte when Elmer began working for the Montana Power Co. When he became manager of the utilities at the Deer Lodge branch, the family moved to Deer Lodge in 1948.
Margaret served as an officer of the Immaculate Conception Pastoral Council and in the St. Mary's Guild. She worked with Hospice of Powell County and other parish and community activities.
She was preceded in death by her husband; parents; a brother, John O'Neill; and sisters Agnes and May.
Survivors include a son, the Rev. John E. Murray of Anaconda; sister-in-law Mick DeBoer of Helena; and several nieces and nephews.
Cremation has taken place. The parish vigil will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Immaculate Conception Church. The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Rite of committal will be at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Holy Cross cemetery in Butte.
Memorials may be made to Immaculate Conception Church or Hospice of Powell County.
Jewell Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
