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Ole Lee Jr, 90
Ole Lee Jr, 90, of Somers passed away Friday, Nov. 21.
He was born in Oslo, Norway on July 24, 1913, to Olaf and Gunhild Lee. They returned to Montana in 1914 and resided on the family homestead in the Swan Valley and later moved to Somers where his father was employed at Somers Lumber Company. He attended elementary and high school in Somers and Kalispell. He was a member of the 1932 graduating class of Flathead County High.
He was employed by Somers Lumber Company and also sold Evinrude outboard motors in his spare time.
On June 21, 1936 he married Patricia Flynn of Kalispell. Ole and Pat began the enterprise Lee Craft Boats on Flathead Lake in 1938 and operated it for 33 years. He and his loyal crew designed and built wood and fiberglass boats. He was known throughout the Northwest as "the builder of fine boats." He raced hydroplane boats during the '40s and '50s and was an avid hunter and fisherman his entire life. Ole enjoyed reminiscing about the early days in Somers and the Flathead Valley and loved sharing his photos.
A 90th birthday celebration for him was held in July 2003 and was attended by his many friends here in the Flathead and all of his family.
He was a member of the Elks Lodge and Sons of Norway in Kalispell, and Eidsvold Lutheran Church in Somers.
Ole is remembered by his family as a loving and caring father and grandfather who cherished his entire family.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia; his parents Olaf and Gunhild; and granddaughter, Pam Michels.
He is survived by his four children, Nancy and Don Lockmall of Anchorage, Alaska, Virginia Michels and Larry and Ilene Lee of Lake Havasu City, Ariz., and Tom and Barb Lee of Kalispell; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren; sister, Hilda Hatlen of Libby; and several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, at Eidsvold Lutheran Church in Somers.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations to Eidsvold Lutheran Church, 5935 Hwy 93 South, Somers, MT 59932 or charity of your choice.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
Elsie Margaret Bruyer, 81
Elsie Margaret Bruyer, 81, "was welcomed into the Lord's arms" Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003.
Elsie was born Dec. 18, 1921, in Kalispell, to Waltermar and Amelia (Brickel) Rufenach. She lived with her family in the Flathead Valley and graduated from Flathead County High School in 1939.
She married Gregory Bruyer on May 8, 1941, in Kalispell, and they lived in the Pine Grove Community. They farmed that area until moving to Troy, Idaho, in 1946. In 1951, they moved to the Creston area where they farmed until Greg's death in 1979. Elsie then moved to Evergreen, where she lived until her passing.
Elsie was a long-time avid member of Calvary Lutheran Church. She loved to paint pictures of places in the Flathead Valley and enjoyed tending her beautifully-kept yard and flower beds, making scrapbooks from all her travel adventures and photos of her family.
Elsie was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Gregory Bruyer; son, Jerry Bruyer; brother, Richard Rufenach; and a sister Lydia Shaw.
She is survived by her daughter, Patsy Gaschet de I'Isle and her husband, Vaughn, of Kalispell; two brothers, Alfred Rufenach and his wife, Alice, of Kalispell, and Walter Rufenach of Columbia Falls; a sister, Lillian Case, of Weaverville, Calif.
She was born on March 21, 1920, to James and Sina Riley of Oilmont and Kalispell.
She married Steve Rowlan, then later divorced and moved to California.
At one time, she was a member here of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the Eagles drill team. She also was a member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Santa Rosa.
She lived at the Silvercrest Apartment in Santa Rosa with her precious cat, Rainbow, and enjoyed her friends there. Her special friends were Yvonne Hall of Kalispell, Dan Halsey and Kathy Minor of Santa Rosa and friends in Washington state; and Susan of Orofino.
Services will be 2 p.m. Monday at the Smith Valley Grange.
Memorials may be made to the Mattingly family Memorial Fund at any branch of Glacier Bank.
Wilma Grace (Spohnhauer) Burton, 94
Wilma Grace (Spohnhauer) Burton, 94, passed away Thursday, Nov. 20, 2003, at Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.
She was born Oct. 28, 1909, in Independence, Kan., to Ralph and Grace Spohnhauer. In her teenage years, she moved to Whittier, Illinois. Following their marriage, Earl, Irene and family moved from Illinois.
Earl is survived by four sons, George Dennison and wife, Jane, Richard Dennison and wife, Linda, Jim Dennison and wife, Bea, and Tim Dennison and wife, Darlene, all of Missoula; a daughter-in-law, Virginia Dennison, of Kila; three brothers, Wilbur Dennison of Cantrall, Ill., Leonard Dennison and wife, Lucille, of Williamsville, Ill., and
Norman Dennison and wife, Eileen, of Springfield, Ill.; three sisters, Lydia T. Dambacher, Evelyn Freeman, and Janet Antonacci, all of Springfield; and numerous nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Johnson Mortuary chapel, 525 Main Street, Kalispell, with burial following at the Glacier Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. today at Johnson Mortuary Chapel.
A memorial has been established in Earl's name; those wishing to contribute may send it to the Neurodegenerative Disease Research Fund at the University of Montana, c/o University of Montana Foundation, Brantley Hall, Missoula, MT 59912.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
Lavenia G. Barney Spencer, 92
Lavenia G. Barney Spencer, age 92 of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho died Saturday, October 16, 2004 of congestive heart failure. She was born May 13, 1912 in McAdam, New Brunswick, Canada to Gordon and Bertha (Mott) Lister. Lavenia immigrated to the U.S. in 1930 and later became a U.S. citizen.
Gina Marie Chisman McKinnon, 40
Gina Marie Chisman McKinnon of Marion died Wednesday morning, Dec. 1, 2004. She was 40.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 4, at Bethel Baptist Church located at 936 Fourth Avenue West in Kalispell. Phone: 406-755-5062.
Gina McKinnon was born on Jan. 6, 1964, in Portland, to Bill and Virginia Chisman. She was married to Shannon McKinnon for 19 years and they were married in Polson.
Gina was a loving and devoted mother and full-time homemaker. Her children were the loves of her life.
Survivors include her two children, Brennon (age 15) and Brenaly (age 13); her father, Bill, of Longview, Wash.; her mother, Virginia; her two brothers, Bill and Glen; and her sister, Amy, all living in the state of Oregon.
Donations are being accepted on behalf of Gina's children at the Marion Fire Department. Please contact John at 406-854-2290.
