obituaries James Violette POLSON — James ( Jim) Glenn Violette, age 84, died peacefully at home on Friday, July 8, 2022, after a short illness. He was born Jan. 17, 1938, in Missoula, to Sherman and James Violette Josephine (Arpan) Violette. The family moved to Polson after Sherman’s passing, where Jim loved playing basketball with big brother Don and where he met the love of his life, Sharron (Sadie) Thompson. He graduated from Montana State College in Bozeman in August of 1963 with a Bachelor of
Science in Earth Science, and he an Sharron married on Oct. 19, 1963. Jim had an amazing military career, with two years in the US Navy stationed on the USS Randolph and over 18 years in the US Air Force. He flew 100 missions as a Wild Weasel in North Vietnam as an F-105 Electronic Warfare Officer. He also flew in F-4s and B-52s. Together Jim and Sharron traveled the world raising their family on military bases in Texas, California, Nevada, North Dakota, Florida, and Virginia, and overseas in Japan, Okinawa, and the Philippines. Jim retired as a Lieutenant Colonel and the family returned to Polson in 1982. He worked the family potato farm with his stepfather Paul Fleming, brother Don and son
Jim Jr. until his second retirement in 1993. He enjoyed eating out, visiting with friends and family, working on computer projects, and keeping up on the news. Jim is survived by brother, Paul Fleming Jr.; daughter, Mandy Melgaard ( John); son, Jim Jr.; four grandchildren, (Lacey, Brittany, Alyssa, and Sherman); and seven great-grandchildren. In heaven, Jim joins his beloved wife, Sharron; brother, Don; uncle, Ed Violette; his parents; and many other beloved relatives and friends who preceded him in death. The family extends its heartfelt thanks to St. Joseph Hospital in Polson, Logan Health in Kalispell, St. Patrick Hospital and Foundation in Missoula, and Partners in Home
Care (Hospice), for great care and support during his battle with esophageal cancer. There will be a private burial and a public memorial service honoring both Jim and Sharron. Arrangements are underway and will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Gary Sinise Foundation or Shriner’s Hospitals for Children or the charity of your choice. Messages of condolences may be shared with the family online at: www. lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com. Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.
Patrick Devlin POLSON — Friends
and family will celebrate the life of Patrick Dale Devlin, 66, on Saturday, Aug. 13, at 2 p.m. at Boettcher Park in Polson. Pat, a beautiful and fun-loving soul with an infectious laugh that could be slow to build but lasted long, passed away at his home of natural causes on Jan. 16, 2022. He entered the world on March 25, 1955, in Polson, the fifth of eight children born to Polson schoolteachers Ward and LaVere (Thompson) Devlin. He grew up in a home filled with music, art and - with eight kids and, often, their friends and cousins underfoot - more than a little chaos! Pat married Deborah Diane Ross in 1977. The couple moved to Denver, where their two children, Katie Michele and Brian
Patrick, were born. In 1986 the family returned to Polson. Pat worked as a shipping and receiving manager for Jore Corporation in Ronan for more than 10 years. A cherished father and grandfather, “Papa D” was an artist and avid sports fan who loved horses and liked fish (if they were biting). Pat never met a stranger and his heart was as big as all Montana. He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Karen, Tom and Greg. Pat is survived by his daughter, Katie; son, Brian (Andrea); grandchildren, Wyatt Ross and Marlee Mae; siblings, Charles Jeffrey, JeNeil and Kathy and a plethora of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Food will be provided at Pat’s celebration of life.
Governor Gianforte promotes launch of Montana 988 Lifeline Montana 988 will support suicide prevention and mental health crisis News from the office of Governor Gianforte
HELENA — Governor Greg Gianforte joined Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) officials, mental health and crisis lifeline experts, and Montana State University (MSU) officials on July 14 to promote the launch of the Montana 988 Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline. 20 - July 20, 2022
“As we all know, Montana faces a tragic epidemic of suicide, devastating far too many families and communities,” Governor Gianforte said. “... this new 988 Lifeline number will help save lives. To any Montanan who might be struggling, know that you are not alone, and you can find folks ready to help by dialing 988.” Montana 988 is part of the National 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline network of over 200 local, independent crisis centers equipped to help people in mental health related distress or experiencing a suicidal crisis 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, across the U.S. The 988 Lifeline will launch Saturday, July 16, 2022. Veterans who dial 988 will be given a prompt to dial “1” to be routed to the Veteran Crisis Line. Calls made to 988 in Montana are routed to one of three independent crisis call centers: Voices of Hope in Great Falls, The Help Center in Bozeman, and the Western Montana Mental Health Lifeline Call Center in Missoula. “Together, these crisis call centers provide coverage to every county in Montana,” DPHHS Valley Journal
Director Adam Meier said. “It’s important for people to know that when they call 988, more than 90% of the time, they will be connected to a trained mental health and crisis counselor who works in one of the Montana call centers.” Over the past three years, the Montana crisis call centers have averaged about 10,000 calls per year. More than 90 percent of the calls made in Montana are answered in Montana, with fewer than ten percent sent to another call center in the national network backup system. To help further bolster call
center capacity, DPHHS will use a nearly $400,000 grant to maintain staffing levels to manage call capacity at more than 90 percent with the transition to 988. Speaking to the importance of those calling 988 being connected to fellow Montanans, Matt Kuntz, of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI-MT), said, “This is important because these individuals are very familiar with the local community mental health resources. When an individual, friend, or family member places that important call to the see page 21
