Miscellaneous Montana Obituaries
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Margaret Ratchford, 86, died on Monday, Aug. 27,
2001, at the Westview Care Center in Sheridan, Wyo. She was born on March
7, 1915, in Smith Center, Kan., to Don and Nellie (Barrett) Clark.
Margaret graduated from Bigfork High School in 1935.
She married Thomas H. Ratchford in November 1935. He preceded her in death.
She enjoyed gardening, collecting and refinishing antique
furniture, music and singing, and most of all spending time with her family
and friends.
She is survived by her son, Tom Ratchford of Missoula;
daughter Helleen Taylor of Sheridan, Wyo.; four grandchildren; sister,
Effie Holmes of Bigfork; brother, Pete Clark of Bigfork; and many nieces
and nephews.
Cremation and burial has taken place. The family suggests
memorial contributions be sent to the Arthritis Foundation, Rocky Mountain
Chapter, 2280 S. Albion St., Denver, CO 80222 or to the American Cancer
Society, P.O. Box 1002, Kalispell, MT 59903-1002. Arrangements are under
the direction of Johnson Mortuary Crematory.
Jean Frances Warden
J.F. Warden, 336 N. Rodney St., Helena, died Monday,
Sept. 3, 2001. She was born, Aug. 27, 1929, in Fort Collins, Colo.
J.F. is survived by her son, Alex; daughter, Dundee and
friend, Don St. Clair; grandsons, Zachary and Lucas Warden; and her beloved
dogs, Pandy and Jack. J.F. was preceded in death by her daughter, Rye;
son, Spery; and husband, Scotty Warden.
In the early 1950s, J.F. was a reporter with The New
York World Telegram and Sun where she met and married Scotty Warden from
Great Falls, who at the time, was a studio supervisor with NBC in New York
City.
In 1952, the couple decided to raise their children under
The Big Sky where they both worked for The Great Falls Tribune. In the
late 60s, the Warden family sold the newspaper. Scott and J.F. then moved
their family to Helena where he was appointed Montana State Advertising
Director by Gov. Forrest Anderson.
As Scotty encouraged the Hollywood movie makers to film
their movies in Montana in the 70s, J.F. embarked in numerous activities
including; freelance writing, teaching yoga, and creating fabulous concoctions
in her kitchen. She also started The Montana Parapsychology Study Group
involving over 200 dedicated people. She was also a member of the U.S.
Psychic Search and Rescue Squad, which was particularly active in finding
missing children. Mom’s greatest pleasures in the 80s and 90s, were hunting
for oriental rugs and other treasures at garage sales.
Cremation has taken place, and there will be no funeral
service at her request. A celebration of J.F.’s life will be held 11 a.m.,
Saturday, Sept. 8, at the Fort Harrison Service Club.
Dr. Rae Joseph Johnston
July 12, 1930 Sept. 1, 2001
Dr. Rae Joseph Johnston of Missoula, passed away Saturday,
Sept. 1, 2001, while heli-hiking with his wife Joan in British Columbia.
He was born July 12, 1930, in River Rouge, Mich., to
Joseph Joy Johnston and Margaret Rae Johnston. His father, mother and stepson
Greg Peterson preceded him in death.
He is survived by his wife Joan Johnston; sisters Shirley
Zimmerman, Marilyn Moody and Sheila Little, all of Michigan; children Rod
Peterson of Alberton, Brooke Hansen of Bigfork, Holly Mendenhall of Albuquerque
and Kirk Johnston of Missoula; two grandchildren.
Rae graduated from River Rouge High School, Michigan
State University and the University of Michigan Medical School. He was
an intern in Spokane, Wash. and completed his residency in Sacramento,
Calif. before deciding to specialize in orthopedics. He completed his postgraduate
training in orthopedic surgery at the University of Utah and Shriner’s
Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah. He met his wife Joan in Salt Lake City
and they moved to Missoula in 1965. He practiced orthopedic surgery in
Missoula from 1965-1973 and Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery from 1974-2000.
He was a member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, the Pediatric
Orthopedic Society, the North Pacific Orthopedic Society, the Montana Orthopedic
Society, the Western Orthopedic Society and the American Academy of Cerebral
Palsy.
He was an Amateur Boxing Champion and member of the Michigan
State NCAA Championship Boxing team. At age 16, he was also 2-time Golden
Glove Champion of Detroit. He was a noted high school and college athlete
and scholar. He served in the United States Air Force in Japan as the Flight
Surgeon for the Pacific Air-Sea Rescue Service.
Rae loved medicine and knew from the time he was in the
8th grade that he wanted to be a physician. He was fascinated by the West
and after working his way through school headed out to explore and fell
in love with Montana. He felt extremely lucky to have such a wonderful
medical practice in Missoula. He loved his patients and never tired of
helping them.
Rae had a true passion for Montana and all that it offered.
He loved to explore and was always interested in finding new places to
hunt, fish and hike with his dog, Remi. Some of his most memorable moments
were spent fly fishing the rivers of Western Montana, especially Rock Creek
and the Clark Fork. He loved the Rattlesnake and spent much of his time
hiking or snowshoeing the various trails. The Bob Marshall Wilderness was
also one of Rae’s favorite places. For 35 years, he and his wife horse-packed
with their children into the Bob. He was a true family man; devoted to
his wife and children. He loved his new grandson and was anxiously awaiting
the arrival of two more grandchildren. He was the rock of the family and
will be missed and loved every day.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Sept. 7, at
11 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Bancroft.
In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to the
Rock Creek Trust, in memory of Rae Johnston, P.O. Box 8953, Missoula, MT
59807, or to Shodair Hospital, Genetics Department, P.O. Box 5539, Helena,
MT 59604-5539, or Mission Valley Pheasants Forever, P.O. Box 162, Big Arm,
MT 59910.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cremation Society
of the Rockies.
Charlie Enis, 60, of Lincoln died Sept. 6, 2001,
at St. Peter’s Hospital in Helena.
Cremation has taken place. At this time, there are no
public services to take place.
Survivors include his wife, Dawn Enis of Helena; his
mother, Bertha Enis of Pontotoc, Miss.; brothers, Paul Enis of Pontotoc,
and James Enis of Senatoba, Miss; and sister Laura Frances Crestman of
Pontotoc.
Bonnie Lois Jepson
Bonnie Lois Jepson, 68, died of cancer Saturday, Sept.
8, 2001, at the Broadwater Health Center in Townsend.
Cremation has taken place. No services will be held.
Ed Mudd
Ed Mudd, 79, formerly of Bridger and Helena, died Sept.
8, 2001, at his home in Sunsites, Ariz.
Vigil will be held today at 7:30 p.m. at St. Jude Catholic
Church in Pearce-Sunsites with a funeral mass on Wednesday, Sept. 12, at
St. Jude Catholic Church. Burial will follow at the Pearce Cemetery in
Pearce, Ariz.
Memorials are suggested to the St. Jude Catholic Church,
Hwy. 191, Pearce, AZ 85625, or Charles W. Leighton Jr., Hospice, 319 W.
Grant, Willcox, AZ 86543. Westlawn Chapel & Mortuary is in care of
the arrangements.
Karen Christine Welch
Karen Christine (Nelson) Welch, 60, died Sept. 2, 2001,
at her residence in Indianapolis, Ind. She was born in Missoula on April
22, 1941, to Thomas C. and Gerta (Carlson) Nelson. Her parents preceded
her in death.
She married Marty Welch on March 24,1962. He survives.
Survivors include daughter, Kim Burton; two sons, Thomas M. and Craig R.
Welch, both of Indianapolis; two brothers, Mike and Donald Nelson, both
of Missoula; two sisters, Julie Williams of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Ruth
Jones of Helena; and seven grandchildren.
She was a graduate of Missoula High School. She was employed
for 23 years by National City Bank, retiring in 2000.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m., Sept. 22,
at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Bonner, Mont. Memorial contributions
may be directed to the Memorial Fund at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 445
E. Stop 11 Road, Indianapolis, IN 46227, or the American Cancer Society.
Roger K. Larsen
Montana Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sergeant
Roger K. Larsen, 53, of 230 Riverfront Lane, died Thursday at his home
of a probable heart attack.
Viewing is 8 to 10:30 a.m. today at O’Connor Funeral
Home in Great Falls. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. today at the MANG Headquarters
Building on Gore Hill, with burial in Highland Cemetery. A reception will
follow at MANG.
Surviving are his wife, Bonnie L. Larsen of Great Falls;
mother, Madge Larsen of Eugene, Ore.; daughter, Nicole Gardner of Great
Falls; son, Larry Gardner of Great Falls; sisters, Karen Peal of Eugene
and Marilyn Frederick of Canada; brother, Ron Larsen of Eugene; and one
grandchild.
An infant son, Derek, died in 1972.
Additional survivors are daughter-in-law, Kelli Gardner
of Great Falls; aunt and uncle, Shirley and Dale Larsen of Grant’s Pass,
Ore.; aunt, Eunice Larsen of Missoula; and 20 nieces and nephews.
Larsen was born Nov. 13, 1947, in Williston, N.D., and
graduated from Great Falls High School in 1965.
He attended Lane Community College in Eugene, University
of Montana and College of Great Falls. He graduated from the Air National
Guard NCO Academy in 1972, the U.S. Air Force Senior NCO course in 1982
and earned an associates degree in resource technology from the Community
College of the Air Force in 1987.
Larsen married Mary Sissons in 1970 at Lewistown; they
later divorced.
He enlisted in the Montana Air National Guard on June
21, 1965, as a data processing machine operator and graduated from the
U.S. Air Force basic military training in January of 1966. He continued
on as a traditional guardsman and was hired as a full-time personnel technician
in July of 1968 with the Montana Air National Guard. He became the personnel
systems manager in April of 1973 and personnel superintendent in July of
1981.
In March of 1995, he became the military personnel management
officer for the Montana Air National Guard. In April 1998, he became MANG’s
first Command Chief Master Sergeant. As CCM he was responsible for advising
the Adjutant General of Montana on all issues affecting the health, morale,
welfare and quality of life for the 120th Fighter Wing and the 219th Red
Horse Squadron’s enlisted personnel. He loved MANG and had over 36 years
of service to his country.
He held positions as the chairman of the Air Force Reserve
and Air National Guard Enlisted Policy Council. He was executive director
of Walleyes Unlimited for the State of Montana and was inducted into Walleyes
Unlimited’s Hall of Fame in March. He also was a member of Ducks Unlimited,
and was an active lobbyist for Walleyes Unlimited and MANG’s scholarship
fund.
During his 36-year service career he received numerous
awards and decorations including the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force
Commendation Medal with four oak leaf clusters, Air Force Achievement Medal
with one oak leaf cluster, the Humanitarian Service Medal and many others.
He was an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoyed fishing
and had a special love for walleye, bird hunting, big-game hunting, boating
and camping. On Nov. 4, 1978, he married his fishing partner, Bonnie L.
Gardner, at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.
Larsen had an unending love for MANG, family and friends.
His father Carmen Larsen preceded him in death.
Memorials are suggested to CCM Roger Larsen Scholarship
Fund at Russell Country Federal Credit Union, 810 1st Ave. S., Great Falls,
MT 59401.
Kolin Ray Kemmerer
Kolin Ray Kemmerer passed away peacefully at his home
on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, after a year and a half battle with cancer.
He was born on May 25, 1960, in Missoula to Charles Gail and Helen Davis
Kemmerer. His early childhood was spent in Great Falls and Libby. In 1970,
his family moved to Helena. He attended C.R. Anderson School and graduated
from Capital High School in 1978.
In 1980, Kolin married Vickie Lynn Knowles and their
life together has been an interesting and happy adventure. Wherever they
lived, from Anchorage, Alaska, to Harlem, and the Netherlands, they partook
in the sights and the activities of the areas. With Vickie by his side,
Kolin squeezed more living into his short life than most people twice his
age.
Kolin had so many interests. He loved to backpack, camp,
travel, mountain bike, sail, fly kites and his latest love, kayaking, which
he continued to pursue right up until the present.
From 1986 to 1989, while Vickie was completing her degree
in accounting, Kolin studied fish and wildlife management at Montana State
University in Bozeman. Then in 1997, after having several occupations,
Kolin graduated from Portland State University with a degree in elementary
education. While he and Vickie lived in the Netherlands, Kolin was delighted
to have an opportunity to teach at the International School in Amsterdam.
He was about to begin his teaching career in Portland, Ore., when he became
ill.
A year ago, Kolin and Vickie made the move back to Helena
so they could be near their families, especially Kolin’s brothers Kim and
Kern. Kim and Kern shared the same love of adventures, outdoor activities
and have supported him during this difficult period.
Kolin was a caring, patient and loving person who will
be terribly missed.
Kolin is survived by his beloved wife, Vickie; his parents,
Charles and Helen; grandmother Vera Hazemann; brothers Kim and Kern and
Kern’s wife Patty and son Joshua, all of Helena.
Services will be at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 511
N. Park Ave., Helena, on Friday, Sept. 14 at 11 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local Red Cross
in this time of crisis for our nation.
Albert M. Olsen
Albert Martin Olsen, age 79, of 8636 Green Meadow Drive,
Helena, died Monday evening Sept. 10, 2001, at the Veteran Medical Center
at Fort Harrison.
Viewing hours will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Sept.
14, at Retz Funeral Home. Funeral services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday
at the Retz Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will be at the Montana State
Veterans Cemetery.
Albert was born in Harrisburg, Neb., Jan. 1, 1922, to
Albert and Doris (Speze) Olsen. He entered the United States Marine Corps
in March 1942 and in September 1950, serving his country during World War
II and the Korean Conflict. Albert was honorably discharged from the Marine
Corps after both sessions of service time, the last being October 1951.
Albert married Joline J. Ferris in Nebraska on May 14, 1958.
He worked for the Anaconda Company and retired from Union
Carbide. Albert loved his home and family. He also loved Mom’s home fried
chicken. Albert had a beautiful sense of humor; he had given nicknames
to all of his grandchildren.
He was a member of the VFW Post 10010, East Helena. His
pastime hobbies were attending rodeos, panning for gold and attending football
and baseball games.
He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers,
Sid, Bob and Red Olsen, and one sister Georgie. Albert is survived by his
wife Joline of Helena; sons Mike Olsen and his wife Gail of Concord, Calif;
Ron Simonds and his wife Debbie of Helena; Al Olsen and his wife Robyn
of Helena; daughters Sissy Wright and her husband Billy of Sacramento,
Calif; Joyce Hale of Butte; Michelle Linz of Nevada; and Cherrie Hale of
Sacramento; brothers Hank and Bill Olsen of Nebraska; sisters Mary Lewis,
Reva Spiller and Lois Stanfield all of Texas; 12 grandchildren and nine
great-grandchildren.
Memorials in Albert’s name are suggested to an organization
of the donor’s choice.
Flora Marie Bluhm
Flora Marie Bluhm, 73, of Helena, passed away at Cooney
Convalescent Home, Sept. 12, 2001, of natural causes.
Flora Marie, also affectionately known as FM, was born
March 26, 1928, to Albert and Rose Bluhm, in Bertha, Minn. She was the
youngest of six girls, and had an older as well as younger brother. FM
grew up in Bertha and graduated from Bertha High School, second in her
class, in 1946. While in high school, she enjoyed cheerleading and Friday
night roller-skating.
While roller-skating, she met her first husband, Mervin
Harris of Hewitt, Minn., and they were married in 1947. She had a daughter,
Jeane, in 1948 and a son, Michael, in 1949. The family lived in Grand Marais,
Minn. for two years, Wadena, Minn., for a few months, and then moved to
Cut Bank in the fall of 1950. Her first marriage ended in divorce in 1960.
In 1964, she married James Clark of Cut Bank and in 1969 they moved from
Cut Bank to Williston, N.D. They were divorced in 1979.
FM worked for Buttrey Foods in Cut Bank for four years,
starting in 1957. Then worked for the Montana Employment Service in Cut
Bank for seven and a half years. She began working for the North Dakota
Job Service in Williston in February 1969, and retired from there in March
1994.
In her adult life, FM was an active member of Assembly
of God churches in Cut Bank and Williston.
In addition to roller-skating, she enjoyed traveling,
bowling, camping, boating, water skiing, and motorcycling. She loved music,
played piano and organ, sang in the choir, and sang solos at church. She
also loved poodles and had several of them over the years.
FM was preceded in death by her parents, and three sisters,
Lorna Bluhm, Elizabeth Mathews and Glennice Paukert.
She is survived by daughter and son-in-law Jeane and
Ken Tschantz of Appleton, Wis.; son and daughter-in-law Michael and Grace
Gardipee Harris of Clancy; sister Alverna Bolles of San Lorenzo, Calif.;
brother Bill Bluhm of Minneapolis; brother-in-law Charles (Bob) Paukert
of Hayward, Calif.; sister and brother-in-law Doris and Edwin Watkins of
Minneapolis; brother and sister-in-law John and Joannie Bluhm of White
Bear Lake, Minn.; grandchildren Brian Tschantz and his wife Jennifer of
Neenah, Wis., Deann and Amber Tschantz of Appleton, and Tucker, Darby and
Boone Harris of Clancy; and one great grandchild, Taylor Tschantz of Neenah.
A memorial service will be held in Bertha, Minn., prior
to internment in the Zion Cemetery near Bertha. Memorials may be made to
the American Cancer Society, local Humane Society, or another charity of
choice. Retz Funeral Home is in care of local arrangements.
Curtis Gwin
Curtis Gwin, 84, of White Sulphur Springs, died Sept.
10, 2001, at Mountain View Medical Center of a myocardial infarction.
Curtis was born in Warm Springs, Va., April 1, 1917,
to Charles and Grace (Price) Gwin. Curtis was a ranch hand for over 30
years. He formerly worked for the Burlington Northern Railroad.
Survivors include his brother, Herbert Gwin Sr. of Coleburn,
Idaho, five nieces and one nephew.
Graveside services will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Sept.
15, at Mayn Cemetery, White Sulphur Springs. Twichel Funeral Home is in
care of the arrangements.