Helena Pannell Blend, 88
Helena Pannell Blend, 88, of Bigfork, died Friday, Dec. 10, 2004, in Phoenix.
Helena was born in Choteau on Jan. 1, 1916. She grew up on her parents', Mary E. and John E. Sullivan, sheep ranch near Pendroy. She loved to ride horses everyday while on the ranch. She attended the Ursuline Academy in Great Falls during high school and graduated from the University of Minnesota.
In 1939 she married James B. Pannell. She bought and sold many properties during her lifetime. An active volunteer, she was involved in PTA, Red Cross and Junior League and worked hard in the Great Falls community.
Helena and Jim raised four children in Great Falls. Jim was an architect until 1957 when he and Helena built the Mid-Town Motel and later, Smitty's Pancake House, which they owned and operated until 1970 when they retired.
After Jim's death in 1978, she married Carroll Blend. She and Carroll traveled all over the world while living in Great Falls, Bigfork and Phoenix.
Helena was a wonderful, hard-working mom and grandmother to her children and grandchildren, making brownies for all occasions, bragging about sleeping in a prostitute's bed that she bought second-hand in Butte, and telling everyone her first name was Helena, emphasis on the "Hell." She had requested the song, "As the Saints Go Marching In," be sung at her funeral Mass. She was a fun-loving person and "her memory will remain in our hearts and thoughts forever."
Four children, James Pannell of Great Falls, John Pannell of Duxbury, Mass., Marylane Pannell of Kalispell, and Joan Perrins of Gilbert, Ariz.; a stepson, Carroll Blend, in Bigfork; 10 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren, and many friends survive Helena.
A memorial service will be held in Bigfork at St. Catherine's Catholic Church on Saturday, Jan. 15, at 10 a.m. Cremation has taken place.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donation be made to Hospice.
Eric Altenburg, 95
Eric Altenburg, 95, died at Community Hospital in Monterey, Calif., on Dec. 18, 2004.
He was born at home on a ranch outside of Holt, Mont., on Nov. 30, 1909, to German parents.
Eric left home at the age of 16, jumping trains as he worked his way west. He worked at the Allan Ranch in Ripon, Calif., where he cared for the San Francisco Zoo animals.
Eric joined the U.S. Army and served two and a half tours in the Pacific. He was wounded at Biak Island in New Guinea and received the Purple Heart.
Eric then returned to Ripon and married the rancher's daughter, Thelma. They moved to the Monterey Peninsula in 1945 and Eric worked for Wilson's Plumbing for 30 years.
Survivors include his grandson, Tyson Eric Altenburg, and his daughter-in-law, Lynn Altenburg, both of Pacific Grove, Calif.; his sister, Martha Holm, of Olympia, Wash.; and his brothers, Edward of Cut Bank, Arthur of Spokane, and Richard of Kalispell.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Thelma, in 1995; and his son, Thomas, in 2003.
At his request no services will be held.
Arrangements are under the direction of The Paul Mortuary in Pacific Grove, Calif.
Florence V. Homuth
Florence V. Homuth "went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ" on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004.
Florence was born Dec. 28, 1916, in Spring Grove, Minn., to Oscar and Clara Olson. The family moved to Essex where her dad was employed by the Great Northern Railroad. Florence attended first grade in Essex and after moving to Kalispell, in 1922, she attended school here, graduating with Flathead County High School class of 1934.
Florence moved to California in 1938 where she met Herb Cambell, her first husband. They were married in Reno, Nev., in 1939, and divorced in 1944. They had one child, Jerry.
Florence worked for the War Department and the Southern Pacific Railroad during World War II in Tracy, Calif. She returned to Kalispell in 1945, worked for Montgomery Ward for five years, then for the Conrad National Bank (now First Interstate), retiring after 20 years as assistant cashier.
Florence married Vernon M. Homuth in 1948. She was a lifelong member of Epworth United Methodist Church where she sang in the choir for over 30 years. Florence was also a member of the Kalispell Duplicate Bridge Club and the Kalispell Golf Association.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Oscar and Clara Olson; three brothers, Clare, Elbert and Merle; and two sisters, Olive and Stella.
Florence is survived by her brother, Raymond, and son Jerry and his wife, Genelle, all from Kalispell; four grandchildren, Kevin Homuth and wife, Lisa, and Kimberly Homuth, all of Hemet, Kory Homuth and wife, Athena, of Henderson, Nev., and Amber Boehler of Manhattan; three great-grandchildren, Rachel, Steven and Victoria; along with many nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27, at Epworth United Methodist Church, with a reception to follow in the basement of the church. Interment will be in Glacier Memorial Gardens.
'Jack' Sheldon Dalton, 71
"Jack" Sheldon Dalton, 71, of Charlo, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at home. His big heart finally gave way.
Jack was born on Aug. 14, 1933, in Lewiston, Utah, to Arnold and Marietta Dalton. He graduated from Bear River High School in 1951. He led his high school team as a Golden Glove boxer.
In 1951, he started his career as a brick and stone mason. He married his beloved sweetheart, Beverly Ipsen, May 21, 1955. Jack was a master mason and artisan known for his majestic fireplaces. He was sought out by the rich and famous. He built the Delta, Colo., courthouse and prison, Deer Lodge municipal building, Utah State University Union Building, Ronan grade school, Brendan House and many buildings in the Flathead Valley. He was a contractor who worked in Texas, Wyoming, New Mexico and Colorado.
During the summers of 1970 and 1971, Jack and his crew rebuilt four miles of stone walls and guardrails, a dozen culvert arches and the large mosaic veneer at the tunnel turn on the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park.
He and Bev owned and operated the Sitting Duck in Woods Bay near Bigfork.
He was preceded in death by one son and one daughter.
He is survived by his loving wife, Beverly; son, Kenneth; daughter, Chris; three brothers, Lee, Newell and Timothy; one sister, Sharon; three granddaughters; and three great-granddaughters.
Everyone that knew him was touched some way by him. Jack was a man who many youth and adults admired because of his integrity, charisma and generosity. In 1979, he organized and managed the Triple B Boxing Club in Bigfork. He wanted the young people of Bigfork to have the opportunity to box and build their self-esteem.
Jack will be remembered for his infectious laugh. "Jack will be in our hearts as a wonderful husband, brother, father and grandfather." He had a great love for life, family and friends.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, at the Charlo Senior Citizens Center in Charlo.
William 'Bill' Tatum Haines, 51
William "Bill" Tatum Haines, 51, died on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at his home in Libby.
He was born on Sept. 26, 1953, in Kalispell, to Clifford E. and Amy H. Haines. He attended grade school and high school in Kalispell, graduating in 1971. He also attended Flathead Valley Community College in Kalispell. He then went on for further education in Portland, with advanced appraisal training.
Prior to coming to Libby, Bill worked for the Flathead County weed department. He started working in Kalispell for the Montana Department of Revenue in 1976. Bill began working in Lincoln County in 1979.
He had worked for the Montana Department of Revenue as a property tax appraiser in Lincoln County for the past 23 years. He was known lovingly by many as "Bill the tax man."
He married Janet Hamilton on Feb. 24, 1979, in Kalispell. They lived in Kalispell for two years prior to moving to Libby, their home for the last 23 years.
Bill was a very active member at Faith Bible Church, where he had attended faithfully for 23 years and was currently serving as an elder where he was a lay preacher over spiritual life.
He also served as director of the AWANA Truth and Training Club. Bill had a passion for working with youth and had been involved in the AWANA club for over 30 years. Bill often spoke from the pulpit at Faith Bible Church, where he was loved by many for the way he incorporated his wonderful stories, memories and jokes into his sermons.
Bill enjoyed dreaming of owning a 1957 Chevy. He loved attending home shows as well as drawing and designing house plans. He treasured spending time with family, friends and neighbors.
Survivors include his wife, Janet, of 25 years; son, Tatum Haines; daughter, Anne Simmons and her husband, Ben Simmons; grandchildren, Zachary and Isabelle Haines, Hailey and Baby Simmons, all of Libby, Hunter, Star and Aurora Simmons from Bemidji, Minn.; mother, Amy Haines of Kalispell; brother John Haines and his wife, Kathy, of Great Falls; sister Margaret Engberg of Kalispell; mother-in-law Joyce Hamilton of Kalispell; brother and sister-in-law Mike and Suzie Hamilton of Lewiston, Idaho; sister-in-law Vickie Hamilton of Kalispell; sister and brother-in-law Cindy and Chris Barry of Kalispell; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Clifford E. Haines; his father-in-law, Byron Hamilton; and his brother-in-law, Gary Hamilton.
Services will be conducted at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28, at Faith Bible Church with burial to follow at the Libby Cemetery.
Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Monday and 9-11 a.m. on Tuesday at the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
Donations can be made to Faith Bible Church's AWANA club.
Paul Jerome Berger, 82
On Dec. 22, 2004, Paul Jerome Berger went to spend Christmas in heaven with his wife, Dorothy, daughter Denise, and his parents, Carl and Emily Berger, who were all waiting for him there.
Paul was born in Whitetail in 1922. He attended grade school and graduated high school in Whitetail. He later went to college.
Paul served in the Army in World War II. After the war, he met and married Dorothy Bjerke from the Scobey area. They farmed there for many years. He had car dealerships in Kalispell and Missoula. Paul retired to his garage to work on his many inventions.
Paul attended Kalispell Faith Alliance Church. He was a loving husband and father, and avid aviator, sailor, and inventor. He loved jazz music and was a wonderful friend to many.
"Paul was a gift from God, loaned to us, that we will all treasure in our hearts and memories forever."
He is survived by his son, Roger and wife, Rose; his daughter, Nancy and husband, Jim Skurvid; all of Kalispell; grandchildren, Amy and Whitney Fisher of Missoula; grandsons, Lars and Casey Berger of Seattle; and two great-grandchildren.
Viewing will be from 9 to 11 a.m., Wednesday, Dec. 29, with the funeral following at the Buffalo Hill Funeral Home in Kalispell.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the charity of the donor's choice.
Gordon Ira Broeder, 85
Gordon Ira Broeder, 85, passed away Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004 at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.
Gordon was born July 10, 1919, in Sumatra, Mont., to Fred and Alma Carlson Broeder Sr. He attended elementary school in Eastern Montana and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1938. Gordon married Hazel J. Jensen in 1941, in Kalispell. They were together for 63 years.
As a young man, Gordon worked on the family farm. After high school, he started working in the woods until he entered the Navy on May 17, 1944. He served as a Fireman 1st Class on the U.S.S. Massachusetts battleship during World War II. He was honorably discharged on Jan. 15, 1946.
After serving in the military, Gordon worked for several sawmills until he and his brother Fred began their own lumber mill, Broeder Brothers Lumber Co. He retired from the lumber business in 1974.
Gordon was a member of the Bethany Lutheran Church, the Masons Lodge of Bigfork, The Scottish Rites, Flathead Shriners and the Shriners Band, Elks, Eagles, Hoo Hoo's (lumbermen's organization), VFW, Creston Grange and the Creston Volunteer Fire Department.
He served on the Bethany Lutheran Church Council and the Creston School Board. He was a 4-H leader, Babe Ruth baseball coach and women's softball coach.
He loved golfing, hunting, fishing, gardening, taking family trips in the camper, playing cards, reading, music, winter in Arizona with his wife Hazel, and spending time with his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Arlene Wellman; and one brother, Fred Broeder Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Hazel, of Kalispell; daughter, Carol and her husband, Richard Seddon, of Kalispell; son, Gary and his wife, Karen Broeder, of Billings; daughter, Barbara and her husband, Nathan Byrd, of Kalispell; daughter, Sandra and husband, Bill Hall, of Bozeman; twins, Dale and his wife, Janis Broeder, of Kalispell, and Diane and her husband, Chip Todd, of Butte; son, David and his wife, Jude Broeder, of Kalispell; 15 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 3-8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 27, at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork. Burial will follow the services in Bethany Lutheran Cemetery.
Gordon was a kind and gentle person with a great sense of humor. He was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. "We will miss you so much but your spirit will live on in all of us."
The family requests memorials in Gordon's name be given to the Bethany Lutheran Church or the Spokane Children's Hospital.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.
