obituaries William Olson RONAN — William “Bill” Emil Olson, 76, passed away Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at St. Luke Medical Center in Bill Ronan. Olson His battle with cancer was fought with the same dignity with which he lived his life. Bill grew up in Missoula and graduated from Sentinel High School. He then spent many summers on his uncle’s cattle ranch outside of Hall, Montana. Bill graduated from the University of Montana in Business Finance. While in college, he pursued service deferment and the girl next door, Peggy. Advanced ROTC was the path in his college years and in 1968 he was commissioned in the Army Military Police Corps as a Second Lieutenant without much visibility to a career beyond staying alive for the next few years. Bill and Peggy married in 1965 and were stationed in Hawaii by a combination of luck and good choices before returning to Montana in the fall of 1971. Bill and Peggy were married for 56 years. Family was the ultimate priority for Bill. He led the family with grace 24 - January 19, 2022
and compassion. He and Peggy were devoted to their daughters, DeAnn and Patty, and four grandchildren. Bill was tenacious, wise, steadfast, and loyal. His optimism was contagious. Every task was thoroughly researched and planned. He was always witty, even during his last moments. He started working for the Ronan State Bank and Polson Community Bank, now known as Glacier Bank, and was heavily involved with the community through his career of 34 years. Bill enjoyed aviation, hiking, hunting, fishing, boating, researching genealogy and Montana history. Bill was on the Polson Flathead Lake Museum board and served as President for many years. His most recent endeavor is the ongoing Museum Renovation Project. Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Fern Olson. He is survived by his wife, Peggy; his two daughters, Patty Eckelman and DeAnn Fredrickson; his grandchildren, Ellen (Ruslan) Kolb, Sid Fredrickson, Dallas Eckelman, and Bailey Eckelman; his sister, Darlene (Al) Merritt; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to the Polson Flathead Lake Museum, 708 Main St., Polson, MT 59860.
A memorial service is scheduled for the beginning of summer. 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.
Sarah Owen JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA — Sarah Jean Owen (Drebes), 52, passed away on Jan. 4, 2022, in Jacksonville, Florida, as a result of COVID-related pneumonia. Prior to her passing, Sarah worked at Compass Group as a cook Sarah and caOwen shier; she was also employed as a certified nurse’s assistant for a very extended time. Sarah was born to Clarence and Gladyce Drebes on Oct. 2, 1969, in Polson. She attended schools in the Lake County School District and graduated from Ronan High School in 1988. She also attended classes at Salish Kootenai College in Pablo and at Florida State College in Jacksonville, Florida. Sarah loved going to the beach and swimming, as
well as her husband of 13 years, Albert. She also loved to cook and was passionate about baking pastries. She also loved all her pets, especially Peanut her horse, and her cats Maggie and Daisy. She was very compassionate and loved life itself. Sarah was pre-deceased by her mother, Gladyce Drebes of Pablo. She is survived by her husband, Albert. Also surviving are her father, Clarence, of Pablo; her brothers, Paul (Debi) Drebes, of Perris, California, and Bryon (Karen) Drebes of Rathdrum, Idaho; her cat, Daisy, of Jacksonville; her very “BFF,” Amy (Shaw) Gafford of Republic, Missouri; along with many friends and other relatives of the area. At her request, no funeral services will be held. Donations toward her medical costs and care can be sent to her husband Albert. Please call 1-904480-0068 for further assistance.
illness. Carla is survived by her husband, Jim Hurst; her son and his wife, Jonathan and Rhonda Buys; and four grandchildren, Savannah ( Jack) Belcher, Madeline Buys, Benjamin Buys, and Jacob Buys. Carla also leaves her former step-daughter-in-law, Kelly Kovarik, Kelly’s daughter Britney Buys, and Britney’s two children, Elena and Ryker, with whom she had a long and special relationship. There are no events planned, as she did not wish to have services. Carla loved the natural beauty of Montana and spending time with her pets. According to her faith in Christ, she is with Him in an eternal house in Heaven (2 Corinthians 5:1). We know that she has found peace as in Rev. 21:4, “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Carla Hurst
RONAN — Phyllis Lucille Sharbono (Van Ness) was born on April 8, 1940, in Ronan. Phyllis She Sharbono passed away on Jan. 5, 2022, at the age of 81. She was the third oldest and the first daughter
GREEN VALLEY, ARIZONA — Carla Sanford Hurst passed away at the age of 65 on Wednesday, Jan. Carla 5, 2022, Hurst after a prolonged
Valley Journal
Phyllis Sharbono
born in a family of eleven children. She was raised on a cattle/dairy farm where she helped with cooking and cleaning with extra chores during the branding season. She attended first through eighth grade in the Round Butte School and ninth through 12th grade in Ronan. She graduated in 1958. While in school she was involved in 4-H and won a purple ribbon on her homemade bread. For her graduation gift, her mother took her on a car trip with her brother George. They drove to Goodland, Kansas, on the prairie to see her mother’s family. She worked at St. Patrick Hospital in Missoula with her future motherin-law who introduced her to her future husband, Marvin Sharbono. They were married in 1960 and they had five children together. They were married for 50 years. He passed away in October of 2010. While married, they lived in Deer lodge, Florence, Missoula, Montana and Renton, Washington, before settling in Ronan in 1975. She worked numerous jobs. St. Pat’s Hospital, Woolworths, Hill Side Manor Rest Home in Missoula, numerous cafés, and the Ronan Police Department. The hobbies she loved were sewing, quilting, crocheting, and gardening. She
see page 25
