Lillian Marie Lilja
MISSOULA - Lillian Marie Lilja died peacefully at her home on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004.Lil was born April 7, 1927, in Minneapolis to Edward and Anna Brass. She was the third of five children. Lil attended grade school in St. Louis Park, Minn., and high school in north Minneapolis.
When Lil was 13, she and her older sister traveled by rail to Washington and Oregon to visit relatives. During that trip she saw the Pacific Ocean, beautiful mountain gorges in Idaho and Montana, antelope racing beside the train, and old wooden oil derricks. After seeing those memorable sights, she vowed to one day return to Montana.
In 1966 Lil realized her dream of returning to Montana when the family moved to Missoula and began two Team Electronics stores, one of which was in Yakima, Wash. During their years with Team, she met many wonderful people and made lifelong friends. She also had the opportunity to see Norway, Sweden, Greece, Mexico, Hawaii and Alaska - places she never thought she would have the opportunity to see.
Throughout her life Lil loved sewing, and sewed clothes for her dolls, herself and her children. In 1988 when Lil and Kerm moved to Camano Island, Wash., she and her younger sister Joyce began creating and selling porcelain fashion art dolls.
For the next 15 years, Lil researched, designed and created elaborate period costumes, complete with hats, gloves, shoes, jewelry and undergarments. Her pattern designs gained her national recognition, and she became the sole costume designer for Colorific Porcelain of Seattle. She was also commissioned by the creator of the original Barbie doll to make a reproduction gown for Pepsi's anniversary promotion.
Lil loved Montana and its majestic mountains, and she loved being out in nature. In the company of animals, she found great peace and happiness and in recent years developed a joy of nature photography.
Surviving Lillian are her husband of 56 years, Kermit; son Kim (Jean) of Anchorage, Alaska; daughter Zoe (Mike Kelly) of Dayton; sister Ethel Busch of Minneapolis; sister Joyce Norman of Polson; and brother Richard of Missoula.
Lil was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Anna and her older brother Robert.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Missoula with the Rev. Aprille Jordan officiating. Her ashes will be scattered at a later date in a private ceremony in Dayton.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Partners in Home Care Hospice, 2687 Palmer St., Suite B, Missoula, MT 59808.
Dowling Funeral Home and Crematory in Hamilton is caring for the family.
Margaret 'Maggie' Bachman
STEVENSVILLE - Margaret "Maggie" Bachman, 80, of Stevensville, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, at the Bitterroot Valley Living Center.She was born on March 14, 1923, in Helena to Lenora and William Rimel. Maggie attended school in Glasgow as a young girl and worked at the Army hospital in Walla Walla, Wash., from 1944 to 1945.
On June 14, 1946, she married Karl Bachman. The couple lived in Kalispell, where Maggie worked for J.C. Penney in the late 1940s. After leaving Penney's, she stayed home to raise her family. When Karl retired, the couple enjoyed winters at their home in Yuma, Ariz., until Karl's passing in 1990.
Maggie enjoyed all aspects of homemaking, especially cooking, baking and sewing. She loved trout fishing on the Salmon River near Stanley, Idaho, in the summer months. She was a devoted wife and mother who centered her activities around her family. She will be remembered for her kind, gentle and loving ways.
Preceding her in death were her mother, father, half brother and husband.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Leslie Bachman of Florence; a grandson, Tanner Bachman of Missoula; two granddaughters, Shayna and Kaylee Bachman of Florence; a brother and sister-in-law, Cal and Midge Rimel of Greybull, Wyo.; stepdaughter Judy Dawn Sherman of Portland, Ore.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
No services are planned. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to a charity of the donor's choice.
Kasee Ilene Starkel
BALIKPAPAN, Indonesia - Kasee Ilene Starkel left this world to live eternally with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004. Kasee passed away in a tragic pool accident in Balikpapan, Indonesia, just three months shy of her fifth birthday.Kasee's parents are Tamara Ilene Rice Starkel and Chet Alan Starkel. Kasee's maternal grandparents are Mike and Pattie Rice of Canyon Lake, Calif., and paternal grandparents are Norm and Chris Starkel of Ronan.
Kasee was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on March 21, 1999, to the joy of her older brother, Austin Tyler, and the delight of her parents, Chet and Tamara. The Starkel family had recently transferred to Indonesia to live and work.
Kasee blessed her family and friends with her loving, inquisitive and adventurous nature. She was a beautiful child with a radiant, glowing and infectious smile.
Kasee expected to do anything and everything her older brother did. She looked up to Austin and loved him so much, always seeking Austin's approval and attention.
In spite of her devotion to Austin and her parents, Kasee had a free spirit and was very independent. She was very active and energetic requiring little sleep, always busy and anxious for her next adventure, living life to the fullest the short time she had on this earth. She was always a happy, loving child.
Kasee will be truly missed and in the hearts always of those who survive: her parents Chet and Tamara; her brother Austin; her great-grandparents, Walter Starkel, Rachel and Roy Olson, and Bobee Romstad; her grandparents, Mike and Pattie Rice and Norm and Chris Starkel; her aunts and uncles, Michelle and Darrin Zumstein, Ty and Deena Starkel, and Rikki and Anthony Patch; and cousins Amber and Daniel Zumstein. Kasee is also survived by many second cousins, aunts and uncles, great-aunts and great-uncles, as well as many close family friends.
A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at the Ronan First Baptist Church.
The family wishes to thank everyone for their prayers and continued support.
In lieu of flowers, a contribution to Kasee's memorial fund at Ronan State Bank (406-676-4600) will be much appreciated.
Lydia Vessey
ANACORTES, Wash. - Lydia Vessey, 86, died Dec. 30, 2003, of natural causes at her home in Anacortes.She was born March 11, 1917, in Norfork, Neb., to Peter and Christina (Kaiser) Starkel. Lydia had been a resident of Anacortes from 1989 to 2001 and returned in 2003. She was a certified seed-potato grader and a nurse's aide for 15 years in Montana, but had been retired for the past 35 years.
Lydia was an avid reader, primarily of the Bible and history books. She was active for 56 years as one of Jehovah's Witnesses, and shared God's purpose for the earth to be inhabited in true peace. She prayed for man's hope for the future; that was her dedication in life.
As a homemaker, Lydia loved her garden and was active in canning fruits and vegetables. These were her favorite activities besides reading.
She was preceded in death by her husband Russell M. Vessey in 1970 in Ronan; two sisters, Mary of California and Frieda of Montana; and seven brothers.
Lydia is survived by her son, Kenneth M. Vessey of Missoula; two daughters, Annette Vessey Garvin of Anacortes and June Vessey Johnson of Chewelah, Wash.; seven grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one step-great-grandchild; two step-great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Victor Starkel of Ronan and Walter Starkel of Polson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Anacortes.
Arrangements are in the care of Evans Funeral Chapel in Anacortes.
Harriett H. Barnes
POLSON - Harriett H. Barnes, 92, of Polson, died of natural causes Sunday, Jan. 4, 2004, at St. Luke Extended Care in Ronan.She was preceded in death by her husband Lawrence, four brothers and one sister.
Survivors include her daughter Charisle Ramsey of Globe, Ariz.; son Ralph Barnes and his wife Margaret of Polson; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and seven sisters.
No services are planned at this time. Cremation and arrangements are by Grogan Funeral Home and Crematory.
Betty Ann (Detten) Crandall
ROLLINS - Betty Ann (Detten) Crandall, 75, left her husband Art, family and friends to be with her Lord in heaven on Friday, Jan. 2, 2004.Betty was born Oct. 29, 1928, in St. Francis, Texas, to Robert and Eulalia (Berg) Detten. She graduated from St. Mary's High School in Amarillo, Texas, in 1947 and from St. Theresa College (now called Avila College) in Kansas City, Mo., in 1951. While in college she met the love of her life, Art Crandall, and they were married Sept. 8, 1951, in St. Francis.
She moved with Art around the country, living first in Florida, then Michigan, Texas, Montana and California before moving back to a home on Flathead Lake, where she lived until her death. They raised a family of eight children.
Betty loved her life as a busy mom, easily juggling all the aspects of caring for and teaching a large family of six girls and two boys. Her greatest joy throughout her life was gathering her large family around her from the early childhood days until her death. Her family included 21 grandchildren and one special great-grandchild.
She loved to celebrate life's many milestones with her family, including births, graduations, marriages, anniversaries and family reunions. In 2001 she joyously celebrated 50 years of marriage with Art.
She loved to can beans, salsa and applesauce for her family and her favorite pastime was a friendly card game - pitch with the family or bridge with the ladies. This was the only time she was known to be a little "feisty."
Ten years ago Betty and Art returned to the Flathead Valley to live their "life's dream" by building a home on Flathead Lake. It was a great place for family gatherings and she seemed to be the happiest when things were at their craziest.
She made many wonderful friends wherever she lived. Betty and Art traveled 120 miles for every University of Montana football game and frequently made it to some of the out-of-town games. They traveled around the country to visit their kids and did not hesitate to make a road trip for new babies, baptisms, first communions or anything important in the lives of their family.
Books were always Betty's passion. She loved to read and shared that love with everyone. This inspired her to help with the early organization and institution of the Lakeside library, now the Westshore Community Library. She volunteered many hours helping the Friends of the Library collect, sort and sell books. Betty loved her friends and especially enjoyed Wednesday morning coffee with her Lakeside lady friends.
Betty was preceded in death by her infant son Arthur Crandall, brothers Bob and Ray Detten and sister-in-law Judy Detten.
She is survived by her brother Dick Detten of Ponca City, Okla.; brothers Tom and Joe Detten and sister-in-law Eileen Detten of Amarillo; sister-in-law Mary Cecelia Detten of Springfield, Mo.; as well as her daughters, Michelle Dauenhauer and Roxanne Baker of Kalispell, Mimi Lampert of Puyallup, Wash., Beth Rotteveel of Dixon, Calif., Yvonne Petrunin of Wilsonville, Ore., and Arlynne Crandall of Davis, Calif.; her two sons, Bill Crandall of Missoula and Robert Crandall of Leonardtown, Md.; 21 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Johnson Mortuary in Kalispell with a parish vigil service at 7 p.m.
Funeral Mass for Betty Crandall will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Matthew's Catholic Church in Kalispell with the Rev. Robert Noonan as celebrant. Burial will follow at C.E. Conrad Memorial Cemetery.
The family suggests memorials to the Westshore Community Library, P.O. Box 107, Lakeside, MT 59922.
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
John W. 'Jack' Swiger
TROY - John W. "Jack" Swiger, 72, of Troy, died Dec. 30, 2003, at St. John Lutheran Hospital in Libby.He was born Aug. 21, 1931, in Pendleton, Ore. He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1952 and served during the Korean War.
His wife Joyce died in 1994.
Survivors include his son Dean Swiger of Troy; daughters Debbie Wallace of Kalispell, Connie Gibbons of Eureka and Sandy Swiger of High Rolls, N.M.; eight grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
A service will be 1 p.m. Saturday at the Kootenai Senior Citizens Center in Troy.
Arrangements are by the Nelson & Vial Funeral Home.
Franklin D. Umphrey
MISSOULA - Franklin D. Umphrey, 82, of Missoula, died at home on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, after a two-year battle with cancer.He was born Jan. 7, 1921, in Moran, Kan., to Harry E. and Yvonne Alexne Marie Lumineau Umphrey.
In 1942 he moved to San Diego and went to work for an aircraft company.
He married Frances Boggioni on Jan. 15, 1950. They had one son, David, in 1953.
Frank worked for Mayfair Markets for over 30 years before retiring in 1980. He was a proud member of the Retail Clerks Union for over 54 years. The couple moved to Missoula in 1993.
He is survived by his wife Frances, son and daughter-in-law David and Edwina Umphrey and grandchildren Evan and Yvette Umphrey, all of Missoula.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Yvette Umphrey.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 10, at Sunset Funeral Home, 7405 Mullan Road.
In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to Partners in Home Care Hospice, 2687 Palmer St., Suite 201, Missoula, MT 59808.
Kenneth E. Fortney
DARBY - Kenneth E. Fortney, 85, of Darby, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula.He was born June 20, 1918, to Roger and Ida (Bowman) Fortney in Farmersville, Ohio, where he was raised and educated.
Ken was in the U.S. Army from 1942 to 1963 and served in World War II and the Korean War. While in the Army, he worked on guided missile systems.
His experience with electronics in the military led to a career in television repair. Ken owned and operated his own shop in Darby from 1965 until his retirement in the early 1990s. After his retirement, Ken earned an electronics degree from the DeVry Institute of Technology.
Ken was involved in many organizations. He was a member of the Eagles, a life member of VFW Post 6697, a life member of the Bitterroot Cross Country Ski Club, Disabled American Veterans, Korean War Veterans Association, Darby Silver Tops Senior Citizens, AAR, and the former Darby Volunteer Fire Department. He was a former Darby Town councilman and the founder of the Bitterroot Community Federal Credit Union.
His hobbies included cross country skiing, outdoor photography, snowmobiling, riding his ATV and hiking.
He was preceded in death by his stepson Orville Brown, a sister and a brother.
Survivors include his daughter, Andrea Schnackel of Dayton, Ohio; his son, Father Kenneth E. Fortney Jr. of Thompson Falls; grandchildren Ryan Schnackel and his wife Courtney, and Christina Schnackel; and three step-grandchildren, Kenny, Donny and Debbie Brown.
Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at St. Philip Benizi Mission in Darby with Father Fortney officiating. Interment will be at Lone Pine Cemetery. A reception will follow at the church.
The family suggests memorials to the Kenneth Fortney Scholarship Fund, c/o Bitterroot Community Federal Credit Union, P.O. Box 467, Darby, MT 59829.
Arrangements are under the care of Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory in Missoula.
Mike Romine
KALISPELL - Mike Romine, 58, died Saturday, Jan. 3, 2004, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.He was born in Portland, Ore., on March 19, 1945, to Clell and Mildred (Rutan) Romine. He lived most of his life in the Flathead Valley.
Survivors include six children, Matthew, Michael, Ann Marie, Clell, Dennis and Craig; his mother, Mildred Romine of Bend, Ore.; three sisters, Pat Benson and Sue Taff of Bend and Julie Smith of Jamesville, N.C.; and brother Dave Romine of Kalispell.
No services are scheduled. Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
Joan Patricia Wirtz
KALISPELL - Joan Patricia Wirtz, 77, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2004, at the Brendan House.She was born May 25, 1926, in Romford, Essex, England, to Charles Kingston and Edith (Hayhoe) Kingston.
In 1946 she came to the United States aboard the Queen Mary after marrying Douglas McLean. They had five children: Michael, David, Douglas Jr., Catherine and Nancy. They later divorced. On July 4, 1962, she married LeRoy Wirtz. He preceded her in death in 1996.
A memorial service will be held for family and friends this summer in Bigfork.
Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is in charge of arrangements.
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