Eugene "Gene" Allard
RONAN - Eugene "Gene" Allard died on Dec. 8, 2002, at his home near Ronan. He was 97 years old.Eugene Lewis Allard was born on his family's ranch near Post Creek on Feb. 3, 1905, the fourth child of Joseph and Adaline Allard. Gene was a member of the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes.
As a sickly child, Gene learned sewing, knitting and cooking skills from his mother. He also had the opportunity to ride beside his father on the historic Allard Stagecoach that carried travelers up and down the valley.
On Nov. 27, 1937, Gene married Dorothy Jovin. The Allards had only one daughter, Diane, but fostered and helped raise many other children. Coming to the Allard Ranch for summer camp-outs was a highlight for his grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Watching Papa or Uncle Gene wind up the horse's tail or work magic when coins would come from behind one's ears were some of the attractions. At night, Gene would don a buffalo hide and tell bear stories as long as one would listen. Playing jokes at lunchtime with a "leaking" water glass added to the fun. He never forgot to ask Dorothy if she had pie, cake or cookies for dessert and usually she did.
In the late 1930s and 1940s Gene was busy operating threshing crews throughout the valley, using the first threshing machine on the reservation with rubber tires. Throughout the 40s and 50s Gene continued to build up his ranch near the Big Canal on Mollman Pass Trail. At this time the Allards raised both beef and dairy cattle. Gene and Dorothy had the distinction of operating a grade A dairy, the first owned by a Native American on the reservation.
In 1955, the Allards moved to their current ranch on the Pache' Allotment east of Ronan. This is where Gene and Dorothy have thrived for the past 47 years. Gene drove the farm equipment and oversaw the haying and calving operations well into his 80s.
Gene worked on many local roads, farms and Mission and Kerr Dams. In the 1950s he worked as a powder foreman in Alaska for various construction companies and built roadways at Illiama and King Salmon. Gene also helped build the docks at Anchorage.
Gene was active in his community as a 4-H supporter, Master of the Lake County Grange, serving on the Lake County Agriculture Stabilization Conservation Committee, the Northwest Cattle Marketing Association, the Tribal Advisory Committee on Agriculture, and he was a charter member of the Post Creek Indian Stockman's Association. For many years Gene Allard had dreamt of a community garden that would benefit the Salish and Kootenai people. His dream is now a reality.
Gene enjoyed traveling with Dorothy around the world. He was in the Ronan cheering section for all sports. Gene loved to fish, picnic and tell stories. He often marveled at the progress his community had made in his long lifetime.
Gene Allard was honored by the Ronan Booster Club, served as Grand Marshall of the Ronan Pioneer Days Parade, as a Lake County Fair Book Honoree, received an honorary degree from Salish Kootenai College and most recently was a recipient of the Outstanding Tribal Agricultural Producer's Award for the Flathead Reservation.
Being married at the age of 32, Gene never expected to be married for 50 years. On Nov. 27, 2002, Gene and Dorothy celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. The highlights of Gene's life were Dorothy, daughter Diane and her family.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Adaline Allard, brother Irving Allard, sister Odna and husband Swede Swanson, sister Gladys and husband Charles Bentley, brother Sidney and wife Georgian Allard, sister June Green, brother-in-law Albert Jovin, sister-in-law Eileen and husband Ralph Pittsenbarger, brother-in-law Bert Jovin, sister-in-law Carol and husband Chuck Brubaker and several nieces and nephews.
Gene is survived by his wife Dorothy of Ronan; daughter Diane and son-in-law Phil of Ronan; granddaughter Dawn and husband Romie Pedersen of Mariposa, Calif.; grandson Dana Grant of Seattle; grandsons Allison Grant and Joelfre' Grant of Ronan; great-granddaughters Scarlett Pedersen and Caroline Pedersen of Mariposa; brother-in-law Joe Green of Sun City, Ariz.; sister-in-law Edna Jovin of Missoula; sister-in-law Mona Carlson of Oconomowoc, Wis.; special friends, Mike Lee and Terry Tanner of Pablo; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation is scheduled from 4-7 p.m. Friday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Ronan, with a rosary at 7 p.m. Visitation will also be held from 9-11 a.m. Saturday. A Mass of the Resurrection is planned at 11 a.m., with interment at the Mountain View Cemetery in Ronan. A reception will follow at the parish hall.
The family suggests memorials to the Sacred Heart Catholic Parish in Ronan.
Arrangements are under the direction of Shrider's Mortuary in Ronan.
John Paul Dratz
MISSOULA - The trout in Montana will be breathing a little easier with the passing of John Paul Dratz, who died in Missoula on Dec. 7, 2002, at the age of 82.
John was an avid fly fisherman and was particularly fond of fishing Sperry Grade and the North Fork of the Blackfoot River. John learned to fish, hunt and swim at Placid Lake where he and his family had a cabin since his early childhood. In his later years, the silhouette of John casting a fly into Placid Lake off the dock at sunset was a familiar sight to lake residents.
John was born on Oct. 28, 1920, in a small house on Connell Avenue, to Grace Mark Dratz and Dr. Ferdinand Dratz, a Missoula dentist. John, his sister Mary Helen, his brother, Bill and his parents later moved to a more stately home on Stephens Avenue.
John attended and, as he later stated, "survived" Roosevelt grade school. He moved on to Missoula County High School where he matured into a star center for the football team. After high school, John attended the University of Montana and achieved a double major in history and physical education. He was a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. John's love for football continued and he played center for the Grizzlies and was an honorable mention All-American. It was at the University where he met the love of his life, Betty, who was the daughter of Mary Rodes Leaphart and Charles William Leaphart, the dean of the law school.
In August 1943, along with most of the ROTC group from the University of Montana, John was called up for service in the Army. He received the Purple Heart after being wounded in Germany in World War II. While recuperating from his war wounds, he and Betty's relationship blossomed and they were married on Dec. 15, 1945.
After receiving an honorable discharge from the Army in January 1946, John started his teaching career at Missoula County High School. While teaching high school, John took time off to earn a master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Iowa.
Eventually, John and Betty and their three children, John Jr., Peter and Mary moved to Monticello, Ark., where John accepted a position as head of the physical education department. While in Arkansas, John and some enterprising students built the track for the track team. After two years in Arkansas, John and the family moved to Tulsa, Okla., where he took the position of head of the health and physical education department at the University of Tulsa, a position which he held for 25 years. A second daughter, Grace Elizabeth was born in Tulsa. John was an inspiration to hundreds of students, many of whom remained in touch after his retirement from the university. While at the University of Tulsa, John also served as president of the Missouri Valley Conference and was on the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness.
In 1986, John retired and he and Betty moved back to John's mother's home on Daly in Missoula. He became active in Rotary and was a Grizzly sports enthusiast.
John's Family is planning a celebration of John's life at Placid Lake this summer.
Friends of the family wishing to make a gift in his memory are asked to consider Hospice of Missoula, 800 Kensington Suite 209, Missoula, MT 59801; and AIDS Research Alliance, 621-A San Vincente Blvd., West Hollywood, CA 90069.
John is survived by his wife Betty; a son, John in Los Angeles; a son, Peter, his wife Cristy and daughters Katie and Ana, in Hong Kong; a daughter, Mary Dratz in Oklahoma City, Okla.; and a daughter, Grace Hasler, husband Mike and two daughters, Haley and Jessica in Tulsa, Okla.
Esther Alles Holland
MISSOULA - Esther Alles Holland was the fourth of 11 children born to Anna Marie Luft and Jacob Alles. She was delivered in the family home in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 17, 1913. Esther was 3 years old when the family moved to Montana. In 1918, when her mother died, she was five years old.
She started school in Rapids (Park City), Montana. She also attended school at Anderson, Howard, Worden, Osborne, and Huntley through the fifth grade. Esther came to Missoula with the family around 1923 and a short time later was sent to Park City to stay with relatives of her father's first wife. It was a very unhappy experience for a 15-year-old girl and her appeal for rescue from mistreatment and loneliness was answered by her sister Bertha.
At 16 years of age she went to Lincoln, Neb., to live with Bertha and her family. She went to work for Gillian and Bonnie Candy Co. and remained there for six years. Although Lincoln became her home, she missed her father and returned to Missoula in 1935. She remained at the family home in Missoula and worked at the Sunshine Ice Cream Parlor.
She took care of her father after he became ill in May 1937. After his death, she worked for John Bisenni Candy Co. in Missoula and briefly at the Florence Laundry.
Esther met her future husband on July 30, 1937. Rupert was a good friend of her brother-in-law, Chic Hepler and they met through him. Rupert was holding her niece, Audrey, on his lap when he and Chic drove up in front of the house. Esther came out and asked to hold her; Rupert refused to give her up. Esther told him what she thought of him and he spent the next two years trying to change her mind. They were married on Feb. 3, 1939, in the rectory of the Holy Spirit Church by the Rev. Bennett. Hilda and J.B. Hepler were the witnesses.
Rupert served 22 years in the U.S. Army. Esther traveled with him whenever possible and they made their home in many places including Anchorage, Alaska; Tacoma, Wash.; Columbus, Ga.; and Germany. Esther and Rupert were married for 37 years. They divorced in 1975. Rupert preceded her in death.
During her marriage, Esther worked at Bee Bee's Bakery and was a wonderful baby-sitter for several working mothers for many years. She and Frances Waylett co-managed the Good Will Store in Missoula. She was very active in the United Methodist Church and was involved in church committees, projects and charities throughout her life.
She was instrumental in re-establishing orphanages in the American sector of West Germany after World War II. She was in the first group of American dependents in Germany at the end of the war. She survived a shipwreck off the West Coast and kept everyone spellbound with stories of her traveling adventures.
Her lifelong interests included gardening, ceramics, Home-makers Club, sewing and establishing herself with the reputation of "Master Quilter" with many of her hand-sewn quilts being sold throughout the United States. She was a spectacular cook and lived for holidays (made-up or real) to show off her new theme ideas.
She loved politics and never quite recovered from McGovern's defeat. She was compassionate, caring and tolerant. Her great passions were family, education and religion. She passed away on Dec. 8, 2002, at St. Patrick Hospital, with her children, grandchildren and friends surrounding her.
She is survived by her two daughters; Brenda Holland and Lenda (Norman) Cotterman, both of Missoula; two grandchildren, Mary Ellen (Joe) Stubb of Missoula and Michael (Tammy) Hallgren of Webberville, Mich.; eight great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; her sister, Hilda Hepler of Missoula; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her siblings, George Alles, Jack Alles, Emanuel Alles, Lydia Wittman, Bertha George, Lydia George, Ruth Badke, Madge Fischer and Rae Miller.
Her faith, humor and wisdom have touched us all.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Grace United Methodist Church. Interment will follow at the Missoula City Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until service time Saturday. A reception will be held at the church following the interment.
Memorials are preferred to the Grace United Methodist Church.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cremation and Burial Society of the Rockies.
Clara Frances Barney
MISSOULA - Clara Frances Barney, 94, passed away at a local nursing home of natural causes on Nov. 18, 2002.
She was born Dec. 1, 1907, in Chadron, Neb., to Frank H. and Clara White Allen. Clara was proud of her English heritage that dated to the 1600s in Massachusetts.
A precocious student, Frances graduated from high school at age 16, earned an A.B. degree at Chadron State College and was teaching high school English and Spanish at 19. She loved the piano and played music for the silent movies.
In 1930 she met and married A.J. Barney in Fort Collins, Colo., following his graduation from Colorado State University. They moved to their lifelong home in Montana, initially in Anaconda where A.J. taught industrial arts. After moves to Poplar and Philipsburg, they returned to Anaconda during World War II with their three young sons. In 1949, the family settled in Missoula.
Frances was a secretary/receptionist in the laboratory, served as a substitute teacher and was a devoted wife and mother. Following A.J.'s death, she became interested in bowling and organized the Seniors League at Liberty Lanes, serving as secretary for 12 years. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star for over 50 years and a member of the Mount Sentinel Women's Club. With her gregarious nature, generosity and humor, she made many friends during her varied activities, and could usually recount a racy story. Cats, particularly Siamese, were her special companions for many years.
She was preceded in death by her two sisters, a brother and her parents.
Surviving are three sons, Donald (Marge) of Coos Bay, Ore., Everett "Al" (Velma) of Lake Havasu, Ariz., and Dr. Philip (Sandy) of Missoula; grandchildren Daniel (Sylvana) Barney of Reseda, Calif., Lisa (Boyd) Dart of Eatonville, Wash., Jason Barney of Spokane and David Barney of Missoula; and three great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place under the direction of Garden City Funeral Home. A memorial service will occur at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Community Medical Center Foundation or Partners in Home Care Hospice.
Harvey A. McDonald Jr.
FRENCHTOWN - Harvey Arthur McDonald Jr., 45, of Frenchtown, passed away Monday, Dec. 9, 2002, at St. Patrick Hospital of a heart ailment.
Harvey was born March 1, 1957, in Missoula, the son of Harvey and Anna Vicain McDonald.
He was an outstanding athlete at Frenchtown High School and Western Montana College in Dillon. While in high school, he was a three-year letterman in football, basketball and track. In football he was All Conference and All State in 1974 and played in the East West Shrine Game in 1975. He was All Conference 1974-1975 in basketball and in track he still holds the Frenchtown High School shot put record of 53 feet 8 Þ inches. While in college, he was a four-year starter at defensive tackle, was three-year All Conference and his senior year was an NAIA All American.
Harvey was preceded in death by his father and a brother, Bob.
He is survived by his wife Debra of Frenchtown; his stepchildren, Ken Oliver and his wife Rebecca of Missoula and Michael Oliver of Frenchtown; and a granddaughter, Kira Lin Oliver of Missoula.
Also surviving are his mother Anna McDonald of Missoula; two sisters, Nancy Wall and her husband Dwaine of Lustre and Marcia Cline and her husband Ray of Fernadina Beach, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Deb McDonald of Frenchtown; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at the Frenchtown Community Church. A potluck reception will be held at 5 p.m. at the Alcan Bar in Frenchtown.
Sunset Memorial Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in Harvey's name to the charity of the donor's choice.
Martha Victoria Fabey
MISSOULA - Martha Victoria Fabey, 84, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2002, at the Hillside Manor.
Martha was born on July 29, 1918, in New York City, to Victor and Carolyn Mazur. She received her schooling in New York City and attended Hunter's College, where she received her accounting degree.
She married Joseph Paul Fabey in 1942 in New York City. She taught school at Havre de Grace School in Aberdeen, Md., and later for the Aberdeen Proving Ground for five years. She was a volunteer at the Holy Cross Hospital in Silver Springs, Md., for 20 years, where she crocheted caps for the babies in the nursery. She enjoyed sewing and crocheting.
Martha is survived is survived by her son, Paul (Barbara) Fabey of Missoula; her grandsons, Joseph (Jacqueline) Fabey of Colorado Springs, Colo., Rev. Robert (Amy) Fabey of Billings and William (Alana) Fabey of Mechanicsville, Md.; and her great-grandchildren, Hannah and J.P. Fabey of Billings.
She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph in 1965; her son, Robert in 1992; her brother, Sigmond Mazur; and her sister, Adel Mazur.
Memorial services will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday at the Church of the Nazarene, 2339 26th Ave., Missoula.
Memorials are preferred to the Partners Hospice and Palliative Care Services, 500 N. Higgins, Ste 201, Missoula, MT 59802.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cremation and Burial Society of the Rockies.
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