Harold 'Bud' Lake
MISSOULA - Montana is a little less Western with the passing of Missoula icon Harold "Bud" Lake on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003.Bud's roots were firmly planted in the lifestyle and values of the Westerner, where a man is only as good as his word. This simple ideology served Bud well through his many successful business ventures and a life full of good friends, good times and a loving family.
Bud was born in Maywood, Mo., on June 4, 1913. The youngest of four children born to Bill and Alma Lake.
Bud worked for Safeway in the meat department after he finished school. This experience eventually led to Bud and some partners starting their own grocery store, the Economy Foods store in Hamilton. This business grew to include seven stores in Hamilton, Missoula, Ronan, Plains, Kalispell, Stevensville and Hungry Horse.
When Bud moved to Missoula to manage the store, he met Mary McConkey and they were married Sept. 30, 1939. Shortly, the young couple moved to Kalispell where they started their family and lived until 1950 when the Economy Foods partnership was dissolved.
While in Kalispell, Bud and partner Bob Rooker started a rodeo contracting business called the Hellgate Rodeo Co. When Bud moved back to Missoula, he became a partner with Oral Zumwalt in the Zumwalt and Lake Rodeo Co.
Rodeo was a love that Bud never outgrew. He enjoyed the sport whether he was producing one, working as the arena director or simply watching.
Bud was a true entrepreneur and his energy for doing business never tired. His businesses were varied and included an interest in the Missoula Livestock Auction, a livestock trucking company, the Bud Lake Truck Stop on Highway 10 West, the Clearwater Junction, a partnership in the Sammons Trucking Co. and along with his brother, Paul, he owned the Westerner, a western clothing store on Higgins Avenue in Missoula. There were car dealerships, restaurants, service stations and ranches from Nevada to Montana.
While Bud was involved in these businesses, he was buying and selling "dirt."
In the late '50s, he and a partner bought 700 acres in the lower Miller Creek area and were involved in the initial development along 39th Street. Bud and business partner, Jay McAfee, not only bought real estate in Montana, but also in Wickenburg and Sedona, Ariz.
While these ventures are the successful business accomplishments of Bud Lake, the thread of passion that defines the man was his horses. He always said, "I see a little good in them all." In his corrals you might find the most royally bred race horse next to a snorty bronc and he loved them equally. He had a great eye for a horse and there was nothing he enjoyed more.
The ranch at Frenchtown hosted horse sales where 100 head would be sold in an afternoon and Bud owned them all. When he got that bunch sold he would start over buying more at horse sales throughout the West. If he had too many horses he bought more land to put them on.
Bud was a busy man throughout his life, but he made time for the things that mattered most to him - family and friends.
He always had time to stop and shake a hand, visit or lend someone a helping hand. It was not uncommon for the phone to ring in the middle of the night and someone who needed gas or grocery money was not turned down.
He was involved in many organizations throughout the years and was one of the original members of the Goodfellows Club.
Survivors include his daughter, Lorraine Smith and her husband Ben of Camden, S.C.; sons, William Lake and his wife Carol of Phoenix, Robert Lake and his wife Julie and their children, Sean and Britt of Missoula and Daniel Lake of Billings; and sister, Dee Smaus of Hamilton.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary; a sister, Madeline Clark, of Maywood, Mo.; a brother, Paul Lake of Missoula; and an infant grandson, Patrick Justin of Missoula.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, at St. Francis Xavier Church, 420 W. Pine.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Goodfellows Club, P.O. Box 7369, Missoula, MT 59807; or Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60601-7633.
John Yochim
MISSOULA - John died peacefully in his sleep at his son's home Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003, after a brief illness.He was born Jan. 6, 1910, in Dickinson, N.D., to Elisabeth Stehler and stepfather Roumill Yochim.
He married Beverly J. Heyer at St. Anthony Parish in Missoula on Oct. 5, 1942. Beverly preceded him in death in 1983.
He is survived by his son, Dan, and wife, Kathy, both of Missoula.
He is also survived by his grandson, Kagan of Spokane, and nephews and nieces in Missoula and Portland, Ore. He outlived everyone else.
He moved from North Dakota to Hardin by horse-drawn wagon at a very early age and attended school there. He had little formal education because his stepfather had him work on the farm while his own children went to school.
By age 12, he was on his own, working for various other ranchers and became an expert at running a team of plow horses, planting sugar beets.
By age 19, he moved to Missoula. Again his reputation and willingness to work kept him employed. He planted the large sugar beet fields in the Orchard Homes and Daly Addition areas. Even in the worst of times had always had a new car and snappy suits.
He began work for the NP Railroad as a machinist's helper in the 1930s until he was drafted into the Army Air Force in March 1942, making him one of the oldest draftees at the time. He served as a military policeman at Maxwell Field, Ala., and was honorably discharged in October 1945, when he returned to Missoula and went back to work for the NP.
His son, Dan, was born in 1952.
While still working for the NP, he established the Yochim Cigar Store in the Oxford, which he operated for many years. In the early '60s he began operating contract mail routes between the old post office and the train depot and later began hauling airmail to the airports in both Missoula and Helena.
In 1972, he and his son established Yochim and Yochim Transport which provided mail delivery services throughout most of Montana. They purchased and operated the Seeley Lake Stage Co. for many years. Until John was nearly 90 years old, he continued to work in the trucking business in various capacities.
He lived on his own at the family home on Pine Grove Lane until this last September when he was finally convinced to move to the Missoula Manor so he wouldn't have to drive to town several times a day to eat. There are many waitpersons in Missoula who readily recognized him. He always loved to kid with them.
Of all his accomplishments, he is among the few to have lived through the wars and the Great Depression. He goes to his grave knowing that he never spent one day of his life on relief or unemployment. He never once took a handout.
He was a lifetime member of the Elks and Loyal Order of the Moose and for years was the sole surviving original supporter of the Loyola Roundtable Sideliners.
The family wishes to thank Hospice of Missoula for helping us bring him home for his final days. It was such a privilege and honor to be able to do this and they made it easy for us.
Memorials in John's name may be made to the John Yochim Homeless Animal Fund in care of the Missoula Humane Society or to Hospice of Missoula.
Graveside services with military honors will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at the Old St. Mary's Cemetery. Memorial services will then be held at 3 p.m. at the Cremation and Burial Society of the Rockies chapel at the corner of Spurgin Road and Reserve Street, with a reception to follow.
Helen Elizabeth Chesmore Lebert
FAIRBANKS, Alaska - Helen Elizabeth Chesmore Lebert, 84, passed away Oct. 28, 2003, in Fairbanks, Alaska.She was born June 29, 1919, in Ucross, Wyo., to Floyd and Attie West Wolfe Chesmore.
She moved with her family to western Montana in 1935. Helen graduated as valedictorian from St. Ignatius High School.
She worked for Western Union from 1943 through 1948 in Farragut, Wallace and Kellogg, Idaho.
She married Elder W. Lebert in January 1950 in Missoula. They were divorced in 1973.
Helen was the postmaster at Maxville from 1951 to 1963 and was co-owner of a ceramic shop in Stevensville from 1971 through 1992. She also worked for H&R Block for 25 years.
She moved to Fairbanks in 1994 to be with her son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by a son, her parents, a brother and two sisters.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Kimberly Lebert and granddaughter Victoria Lebert, all of Fairbanks; one brother, Earl Wolfe of Corvallis; sister, Mary Johnson of Sheridan, Wyo.; sister and brother-in-law, Lena and Ernest Wolff of Missoula; and sister, Emily Lanier of Stevensville.
She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews and great-great-nieces and nephews; and many very special friends.
At her request, no services will be held.
Arrangements are by Chapel of Chimes Funeral Home.
Ralph William Carr
ROCHESTER, Minn. - Ralph William "Billy" Carr, died Sunday, Nov. 2, 2003, of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident.He was born June 8, 1956, in Libby.
Survivors include his fiancee, Laurie P. Risley of Denver; parents, Jim and Susan Lee of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho; sisters, Cindy Carlson and Martha Scott, both of Butte, and Teri Noble of Libby; and brothers, Brian Lee and Kelly Carr, both of Washington.
Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Libby.
Local arrangements are under the direction of Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
George Alford Marshall
STEVENSVILLE - George Alford Marshall, 86, a longtime resident of Stevensville, passed away in the morning Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2003, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula due to natural causes.Born in Yakima, Wash., on Friday, Aug. 10, 1917, he was the son of the late John and Etta (Dil) Washington.
He married Maye Garlick on June 14, 1979, in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.
He loved camping, fishing and gardening in his early years.
He worked for the River Terminal Co. in Vancouver, Wash., and he was advanced from the position of barge loader to terminal superintendent in 1945 and served in that position until his retirement in 1956.
After his first retirement, he did carpentry work for many years. From 1980 to 1984, he and his wife operated the Bison Inn Restaurant in Ravalli, till poor health and a heart attack caused him to retire in 1994.
He was preceded in death by two brothers; one son; and four sisters, all of Yakima.
Survivors include his wife, Maye Marshall of Stevensville; two daughters, Betty Chennault and Sherry Yoeger of Yakima; and two stepchildren, William Garlick of Sparks, Nev., and Tammie Dexter of Huson.
Several grandchildren and great- grandchildren survive him.
Cremation has taken place at the Dowling crematory in Hamilton.
At the request of George Marshall, there will be no memorial service. A private family inurnment will take place at the Riverside Cemetery in Stevensville.
Dowling Funeral Home and Crematory of Hamilton is caring for the family.
Pearl E. Badger
HAMILTON - Pearl E. Badger, 82, of Hamilton, passed into the arms of her Lord on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003, at Marcus Daly Memorial Hospital after having suffered a stroke.Pearl Ellen was born March 25, 1921, in Gillette, Wyo., to the late James and Mary Sims Morehouse.
She married Otto Badger on June 16, 1941, in Morehead. They ranched in Wyoming before coming to Montana where they bought the Pine Knot Ranch at Sula. It was the original old Gellogy Ranch. They were there until 1988, when they moved to Grantsdale on a small ranch.
Pearl worked for the Forest Service at the Sula Ranger Station from 1963 to 1983. Later she worked at the Assembly of God Christian School in Hamilton from 1987 to 1993. She was known by the children as "Gramma Pearl."
She loved them and they loved her. She truly was one of God's pearls he placed on this earth as a treasure to many.
Pearl is survived by her stepson, Roy and his wife Nancy Badger of Casper, Wyo.; their daughter, Sandy and husband Eric Swenson and their two children, Drew and Erica; her sister, Thelma Cherry; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Otto "Ott" on Aug. 9, 1997; brother, Francis; and sister, Marie.
A service to celebrate her life will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 9, at the Daly-Leach Chapel in Hamilton with Pastor Alice Peterson officiating. Urn placement will take place in the spring at the Mount Pisqah Cemetery in Gillette.
It was Pearl's wish that memorials be given to MDM-Hospice Endowment Fund or Hamilton High School Scholarship Fund or to the Bitter Root Humane Association.
Helen M. Tremper
MISSOULA - Helen M. Tremper, a well-known state golf legend of Missoula, passed away at her home Oct. 29, 2003, of natural causes.Helen was born Sept. 24, 1930, in Dodge, N.D., the daughter of Fred and Dorothy Schroeder.
She graduated from Dodge High School in 1948 where she was valedictorian. She graduated from Dickinson State Teachers College in 1950 and the University of Montana in 1955 with a B.A. and 1961 with an M.S.
Helen taught school in Reeder, N.D., for three years; Beulah, N.D., for one year; and Lewis and Clark Grade School in Missoula for five years, where she taught seventh and eighth grade English and P.E.
She was united in marriage on Aug. 2, 1958, to Robert E. Tremper.
Helen was a life member of the Missoula Country Club. Her love for the game of golf was well-known.
Helen's athletic victories spanned 45 years. She was the Montana State Women's Amateur Golf Champion 16 times, Idaho champion twice and Montana State Open Champion three times. At the Missoula Country Club, she was the club champion 28 consecutive times.
She also won numerous Elks tournaments, Grand Slam and various club and senior championships. She set many course records throughout the state. At the age of 69, she set the course record at Polson. She became the University of Montana Athlete of the Year in 1966 and its first Hall of Fame inductee.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents and her husband.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Anne Moseley and husband Rob of Salt Lake City; and her grandson, Nathan Lowery, the light of her life.
Also surviving are her brothers, Leo L. Schroeder and wife Myrtle and Daniel F. Schroeder and wife Shirley; and a niece, Centhia Schroeder.
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. Interment will follow at the Old St. Mary's Cemetery.
Arrangements are with the Montana Cremation and Memorial Society.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in Helen's name to the St. Anthony's Building Fund or the American Cancer Society.
Joseph A. Douglass
TROY - Joseph A. Douglass, 55, of Troy, died Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2003, at St. John's Lutheran Hospital from natural causes.He was born Aug. 8, 1948, in Portland, Maine, to Joseph and Kathryn McPhee Douglass.
In July 1967, he entered the Marine Corps, serving three tours in Vietnam.
Survivors include two sons, Kevin Douglass of Portland, Maine, and Zachary Douglass of Pasadumkeag, Maine; two brothers; and two sisters.
Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at the Troy Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1-5 p.m. Sunday.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nelson & Vial Funeral Home in Libby.
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