Donald L. Sabol, 54
Donald L. Sabol, 54, died of a heart attack on Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, in Sarasota, Fla.
He was born on July 18, 1950, in Bozeman, to Stephen and Markie Sabol. He attended schools in Whitehall, Fairfield, and Wolf Point. In 1964, he moved with his family to Kalispell. He graduated from Flathead High School in 1968, and then attended the University of Montana and Flathead Valley Community College.
Don and Kerry Kitterman were married in July 1982. She died in a car accident in 1987.
He moved to Florida, married Cheryl Perzan, and is survived by her at the family home in Sarasota, after a 16-year marriage.
Don will be remembered by family and friends as outgoing, with a love of music and a zest for life.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Kerry; his father, Steve; and brother, Stephen.
He is survived by his mother, Markie Sabol, in Kalispell; his sister, Chery Sabol, and nephew Treyson Hopkins and niece Elizabeth Hopkins in Columbia Falls; his sister, Kathy Woodward and her husband, Vern, nephew Dan Woodward, and nieces Lisa and Angie Woodward and great-nephews Taylor and Eddie in Billings; his uncle, Darrell Reynolds in Butte; and aunts Phyllis Reynolds in Gillette, Wyo. And Carol Caldwell in Philipsburg.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service is pending.
Memorials may be made to Oneco Elementary School, 5214 22nd St. Court East, Bradenton, FL 34203.
Ervin C. "Bud" Schilling, 86
Ervin C. "Bud" Schilling, 86, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.
Bud was born on March 30, 1918, to Charles and Julia Schilling on the family homestead 12 miles north of Harlem. He attended schools in Harlem, graduating from Harlem High School in 1937.
Bud married Helen Marker on Feb. 15, 1941, in Harlem. They had met in high school. They had six children, five sons and one daughter.
Bud owned his own farm but had to change careers when it was discovered that Helen was allergic to alfalfa dust. He went to work for the post office for 18 years.
In 1983, the Schillings moved to Somers. They enjoyed spending their winters traveling in their motor home to Arizona. He enjoyed fishing, welding and playing pinochle. He was a member of Eidsvold Lutheran Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Julia Schilling; one sister, Dora; and a son, Wayne Schilling.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen, of Somers; daughter, Sharon Bruyer of Kalispell; sons, Charles Schilling of Harlem, Jerry Schilling of Somers, Mark Schilling and William Schilling, both of Havre; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 28, at Eidsvold Lutheran Church in Somers. Urn burial will take place at a later date at the Harlem Cemetery in Harlem.
Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.
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. He is also survived by his sister, Fern Metcalf, of Kalispell.
Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. today, 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.
Ruth T. (Gardiner) Buck, 87
Ruth T. (Gardiner) Buck, 87, of Hot Springs, passed away on Monday, Dec. 27, 2004, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Polson.
Ruth was born in Red Deer, Alberta, on Dec. 14, 1917, to Clara and Vince Gardiner. The family moved to North Dakota and then eventually settled in the Flathead Valley. She attended and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1933. Her class was the first class to hold their commencement ceremony in the present Flathead High School auditorium.
Ruth received her bachelor's degree in education from Western Montana College in Dillon.
Ruth married Howard Buck in 1955 and they spent 49 wonderful years together.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two brothers, John Dolan and Earl Gardiner; and two sisters, Mildred Roberts and Myrtle Paulding.
Ruth is survived by her husband, Howard Buck, of Hot Springs; her daughters and their husbands, Claire Massey and husband, Bill, of Hot Springs, Kathy Andrews and husband, Colin, of Kalispell, and Donna Andrews and husband, Steve, of Kalispell; her sister, Irene Benson, of Billings; nine grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Ruth was a wife, mother, grandmother, sweetheart, partner and "pal." She taught the second grade in Hot Springs for 25 years. She touched the lives of so many children through her love of teaching and learning. She took pride in the memories many of her former students returned to share with her.
Ruth was an avid gardener -- her roses were her pride and joy. She was a voracious reader, she knitted and crocheted afghans for each member of her extended family and each year created beautiful ceramic Christmas decorations.
She and Howard spent much of their retirement years traveling, camping, picking huckleberries and fishing (she never threw one back.)
Ruth's family expresses their gratitude to the staff of Evergreen Health and Rehab in Hot Springs and St. Joseph Hospital in Polson for their care and compassion.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 31, at the First Presbyterian Church in Hot Springs with the Rev. James Dickinson officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Murray Memorial Cemetery at Lonepine.
Arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory in Polson.
Francis James MacDonald, 83
Francis James MacDonald, 83, passed away on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004, at the family home in Whitefish while under the care of his three loving daughters and their families.
Francis was born on May 13, 1921, to Frank R. and Anne M. MacDonald in Whitefish. He attended both grade school and high school in Whitefish until moving on to Carroll College in Helena.
In December of 1941 he enlisted in the U.S. Army/Aircorps and was stationed in northern France and Italy during World War II until he was honorably discharged in 1945.
After the war Francis worked for a time in Oregon with the U.S. Forest Service. Upon his return to Whitefish he went to work for the Great Northern Railroad as a conductor.
In 1947, he married Mary Margaret Arnold, and together they raised three beautiful daughters.
After retiring from the railroad in 1983, Francis spent much of his time focusing on his two great passions; his garden and his seven grandchildren. Francis will always be remembered for his biting sense of humor and his ability to turn everyday events into wonderful stories that will entertain friends and family for years to come.
Francis was an active member of St. Charles Parish and Knights of Columbus, and volunteered his time with the Stumptown Historical Society and Meals on Wheels.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary MacDonald; his parents, Frank R. and Anne M. MacDonald; stepmother, Dorothy MacDonald; brother, Harold MacDonald; and his son-in-law, Mike McFadden.
Francis is survived by his three daughters, Mary "Muff" Morrison, and her husband, John, Jeanie Schultz, and her husband, John, and Megan McFadden. He will also "live on in the spirit" of his seven beloved grandchildren, James Morrison and his wife, Heather, John and Josh Morrison, Leland and K.C. McNamara, and Aylee and Mary McFadden; and three great-grandchildren, Jessica, Amanda, and Matthew Morrison.
Francis is also survived by brothers, Reg, Ralph, Mike and Don MacDonald; his sister, Marguerite Schenck; and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and dear friends.
Donations may be made in memory of Francis to the Whitefish Food Bank, Stumptown Historical Society, or the Flathead Valley Hospice.
Memorial services for Francis will be a rosary at 7 p.m. today, Dec. 29, at Austin Funeral Home in Whitefish, followed by a Mass of the Resurrection at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, at St. Charles of Borromeo in Whitefish, with interment immediately following at the Whitefish Cemetery.
Richard L. "Dick" Hertz
Richard L. "Dick" Hertz died peacefully on Oct. 14, 2004, at his home in Polson.
He was born in Bridger, on July 10, 1933, at the home of his parents, Adam and Helen Hertz. Dick grew up in Billings. He loved motorcycles and owned the first 650 BSA in Billings. He took many trips on his motorcycles up the Beartooth Highway to Cooke City. At 16 years old, he hitchhiked to Seattle with a high school friend and they caught a boat to Alaska where Dick worked for the summer in the fish canneries. He graduated from Billings Central High School in 1951. After school, he joined the Navy Reserve and made a trip to Hawaii.
While working on a seismic crew in Malta, he met Virginia Mae White. They were married on March 15, 1953. While living in Malta, Dick worked for Carter Oil and eventually owned his own bulk plant. Virginia gave birth to four sons while living in Malta.
In 1959, they moved to Polson where their fifth son was born. Dick worked in the logging and trucking industry and for Plum Creek Lumber Company where he retired in 1988 after approximately 25 years of service.
Dick loved to hunt and fish with his family, and enjoyed many camping trips with Virginia and their five sons. He also enjoyed snowmobiling and golfing.
Both Dick and Virginia could also be seen at all of their sons sporting and school events. In later years, he also enjoyed watching his grandchildren participate in school events.
In 1989, Dick and Virginia moved to a warmer winter climate, Wolford Heights, Calif., where they met many new friends. They returned to Montana in 1994 and continued to spend winters in warmer climates visiting friends and children.
In 1997, Dick began his struggle with colon cancer. Much to the amazement of his doctors and family, Dick went through many surgeries and fought hard to beat the cancer. However, his battle was stopped short of apparent heart failure.
Dick was preceded in death by his parents; and his mother and father-in-law, Josephine and Pete White. "We're confident Dick and Pete are enjoying a hunting trip together in heaven."
Dick is survived by his beloved wife and lifelong companion, Virginia; three younger sisters, Margie and Richard Kelly of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., Judy and Milt Fretheim of Columbia Falls, and Connie and Rick Smith of Cave Creek, Ariz.; his five sons and four daughters-in-law, Mike and Peggy of Missoula, Rick and Gayle of Great Falls, Steve, Greg and Kate, all of Polson, and Shawn and Sondra of Ridge Crest, Calif. Dick also has 15 grandchildren, Ryan, Stefani, Sarah, Adrian, Mistee, Dylan, Robin, Danielle, Kristin, Matthew, Adam, Jacob, Hilary, Whitney and Bryson; and four great-grandchildren, Adrian, Destiana, Braden and Nicholas.
visitation will be from 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Grogan Funeral Home, and at 8 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 18, at the Immaculate Conception Church. A rosary will be held at 9:15 a.m. on Monday at the church. Mass of the Resurrection will follow at 10 a.m. at the Immaculate Conception Church with Father Gary Reller officiating. Cremation will follow the services and inurnment will be held at a later date.
The family would like to thank all of his doctors and caretakers who assisted Dick with his struggle with cancer.
Remembrances may be directed to the American Cancer Society, 3350 Mullan Road, Suite 105, Missoula, MT 59808.
Arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory in Polson.
