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Rena Ruth Cornell, 90
Rena Ruth Cornell, 90, passed away Saturday, Nov. 29, 2003, at the North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.
She was born April 8, 1913, in Havre, to Andrew and Mabel Weidenhammer. Following her father's death in 1923, her mother remarried. Gilbert Speer and Mabel then raised Rena and their siblings.
She later moved to the Flathead Valley where she met and married Robert Cornell in July 1934. He passed away April 19, 1974.
Rena was happiest surrounded by her family. She loved to watch her grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow.
She had a kind spirit, loving heart, and a warm smile. She always had a lap full of grandchildren and a cookie jar full of cookies. She especially enjoyed working in her flower beds, where she had a collection of beautiful flowers. She lived life to the fullest. She will be greatly missed by all those who loved her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her son, Dell Cornell.
Rena is survived by her daughter, Linda Toren; and two sons, Robert and Jay Cornell, all of the Flathead Valley. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls. Pastor Eugene Speer will officiate. Burial will follow in Woodlawn Cemetery.
K.M. Bridenstine, 78
K.M. Bridenstine, 78, passed away peacefully on Nov. 25, 2003, at home at Finley Point on Flathead Lake. She was born May 9, 1925, to Dr. I.J. and Ellenore Bridenstine in Iowa.
K.M. is survived by his wife of 52 years, Betty Jo (Staves) Bridenstine; son, Martin E. Bridenstine and his wife, Debi, of Bellingham, Wash.; daughters, Rose E. Bridenstine of Polson, Trudy J. Cady and her husband, Jay, of Edmonds, Wash.; son, I.Jay Bridenstine and his wife, Kris, of Kalispell; beloved granddaughters, Kay Lee Bridenstine of Edmonds, Wash., Desiree and Brianna Cady of Edmonds, and Sara
Crabill-Bridenstine; grandsons Tony Crabill-Bridenstine, and Jay Crabill of Kalispell. He is also survived by his twin brother, Keith Bridenstine, of Stockton, Ohio.
K.M. had a distinguished and colorful legal career, working for the State of Montana Highway Department in Helena, concentrating mainly on the legal aspects during construction of Interstate 90 across Montana; worked with the Veterans Administration at Fort Harrison, and finally in private practice in Lake County where his main emphasis was as a public defender for Lake County.
K.M. was an outspoken defender of justice with a deep-seated belief in the rights of individual. After his retirement in 1989, he remained at the family home on Finley Point.
K.M. had a passion for jazz and was an accomplished jazz musician, playing the tenor sax and clarinet although there probably was not an instrument he couldn't play. K.M. played for many years with the Don Lawrence Big Band in Kalispell.
"We love you and will miss you terribly - your body may be gone but your spirit lives on in our hearts."
A private memorial is planned for a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Polson City Library, at P.O. Box 820, Polson, MT 59860, or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements and cremation were under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory, Polson.
Dolores M. “Dee” (Weaver) Eck, 65
Dolores M. “Dee” (Weaver) Eck, 65, died unexpectedly of natural causes at her residence in Plymouth, Ind., on Thursday morning, Nov. 20, 2003. Dee lived in the Plymouth area for the past 43 years, coming from Kalispell.
She was born Dec. 7, 1937, in Kalispell, the daughter of James and Jurine Stearns Weaver. She grew up on a cattle ranch in the Lower Valley owned by her grandparents, Buck and Clara Weaver. Dee had a love of horses all her life. For many years she rode in O-Mok-Sees, winning about everything you could win.
She loved to travel and do adventurous things. At the age of 54, Dee went on a cattle drive in Montana and Indiana with her husband, Bill, where she lived until her death.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, Bill Norris and Russell Eck; her parents; sister, Carol; and grandparents.
Dee is survived by two sons, a daughter, several stepchildren, grandchildren, stepgrandchildren, and great-grandchildren; her uncles, George Stearns of Bigfork, and Wes Stearns of Plains; aunts, Pearl Huso of Bigfork, and Beaulah Clothier of Kalispell; and stepfather, Darell Gilmore of California, Rich Hagen of Phoenix, Jean Hagen, of Beaverton, Ore.; one brother, George Singleton; and a sister, lone Dawson, of Red Wood Valley, Louisiana-Pacific Lumber for two years.
On April 17, 1975, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, he married Mary M. (Christensen) Eayrs, and for the next 13 years Jim and Mary were the managers at Glacier Manor in Kalispell. Jim was a 59-year member of the Eagles Club. He was past president of Aerie 234, Kalispell, and was instrumental in organizing the Polson and Columbia Falls Eagles clubs. He served as a board member of the Kalispell Retired Senior Volunteer Program (R.S.V.P.) and was a charter member of the Moose Lodge, Chapter 1710, Kalispell.
For many years Jim played music and entertained for the residents of the valley nursing care centers. He was a guitar and fiddle player, and a member of the Old Time Fiddlers. His biggest joy in life was the love of his family and spending time with them and the kids. He was especially fond of his two grandchildren and their kids.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Lloyd, Robert and Walter; and two sisters, Meryl Landon and Mildred Brenna. Survivors include his wife, Mary Pewonka, a stepson, Don Eayrs, and his wife, Carol, and a stepdaughter, Linda Hadley, all of Kalispell; stepgrandchildren, Amy Marsh, and her husband, Kurt, and their children, Gunnar and Grant, of Kalispell; and Heather Schiele, and her husband, Robin, and their children, Tashea and Gavin, of Helena; two beloved nieces, Gracie Watters, of Oregon.
Memorial services for James Pewonka will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, in the chapel of Johnson Mortuary. Pastor Ron Pierce will officiate. The family suggests memorials be given to the Hospice Home Health Options, 175 Commons Loop, Suite 100, Kalispell, MT 59901.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
Donald W. Sundt, 65§
Donald W. Sundt, 65, of Reno, passed away Nov. 24, 2003, at St Mary's Hospital in Reno, Nev., from cancer.
He was born March 16, 1938, in Spokane, and was raised in Kalispell.
Donald moved to Reno in the 1960s and was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Donald worked as a carpenter and building contractor before retiring, and was a member of the Carpenter Union Local 971 for over 35 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dorothy and Mel Sundt; and sons, Thomas and David Sundt.
He is survived by his wife, Helen, of 32 years; son, Jerry Slawson; daughters, Tammy and son-in-law, Steve Young, and Rose Gonzalez; grandson, Scot Tompkins; granddaughter, Angela Tompkins; great-grandson, Kaleb; brother, Melvin Sundt; and sister, Evelyn Carr.
Cremation will be held. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. today, at Walton Funeral Home, 875 W. Second Street, Reno, Nev.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 6490 S. McCarran Blvd., Suite 40, Reno, NV 89509-6125.
