Obituaries

Deborah Johnson

ST. IGNATIUS — Deborah Ann Johnson (Debbie), 60, of Missoula, passed away on Aug. 24, 2021, in the comfort of her home. Debbie was born in Ronan on June 30, 1961. She was a beautiful addition to the family of Bobbie and Joe Johnson (parents) and Curtis (brother).

Her family moved to Missoula in 1961, where she grew up a Montana girl - born and raised. Proud of her local roots, she was a graduate of Sentinel High School’s class of 1979.

Debbie enjoyed working in the customer service industry. Her work career included retail, convenience stores, and personal caretaker.

In her personal life, she was an avid Montana Grizzly football fan and was looking forward to this year’s season. She was passionate about NASCAR. She spent many cherished hours with her father watching the races. She was devoted to family and friends. Her phone calls could last for hours. She dedicated time to her hobby of capturing memories of family and friends in her amazing scrapbook.

Debbie was always willing to help family, friends, and even strangers in need. She was just a phone call away. She had friends everywhere and always stayed in touch.

Debbie was preceded in death by her father, Joe A. Johnson and some wellloved, four-legged devoted pets.

She is survived by her mother, Bobbie; her brother, Curtis (Rose); her aunt, Sharon Hill; her nephews, Joshua and Cody; her nieces, Becky, Ellie and Jessie; and her great-nephew and great-niece, cousins, family, and friends.

Services were held on Friday, Oct. 8, at the St. Ignatius Catholic Cemetery.

Deborah Johnson

Seniors

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St. Ignatius

By Irene Pritsak for the Valley Journal

ST. IGNATIUS — Once again, we would like to thank our dedicated volunteers and donors for making our yard sale and bake sale so successful. We will have another bake sale along with a craft sale right before the winter holidays, so stay tuned.

On our menu for the week: — Friday, Oct. 15: lunch - tuna casserole, veggies, fruit and banana zucchini muffins — Tuesday, Oct. 19: lunch - beef lasagna, salad, rolls, fruit, dessert — Wednesday, Oct. 20: dinner - roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy, veggies, fruit, dessert

Have a great week. vj

Evelyn McConn

RONAN — Evelyn Louise McConn (Conrad) passed away peacefully at home on Sept. 6, 2021, five weeks short of her 101st birthday. Evelyn was born in West Farmington, Ohio, on Oct. 13, 1920, to Orval Conrad and Katie Pierce. She was the youngest of five siblings, Lyle, Delta, Alton and Alta. She was preceded in death by her parents and siblings; her beloved husband, Glenn McConn; and her daughter, Linda McConn. Her lovely, sweet spirit and kind ways are missed by family and friends. Rest in peace, sweet lady.

Georgia Michel

CHARLO — Georgia “Beanie” was a heavenly-gifted, worldly, talented angel.

Beanie was born May 11, 1957, in Hanford, California, to John and Maxine Machado. She passed peacefully on Oct. 3, 2021, at St. Luke’s Community Hospital in Ronan. Her family relocated several times during childhood, making it second nature to make new friends and acquaintances. She attended Hanford High School.

She worked several jobs during her young adulthood and found her calling as a cook, starting at the 44 Cafe in 1997 when she moved to St. Ignatius. From there she went to Mountain View Care Center in Ronan. She spent her last three years serving as a cook at the Charlo Senior Center. She loved her service to elder community members, calling it her ministry.

A confirmed Catholic, she was active in youth ministry and the Cursillo movement. Beanie was also a licensed nail technician in the State of California. She met her husband, Gilbert Ray Michel, and moved Montana in July of 1997. They wed twice: married March 29, 1999 in Lake County and joined in the sacrament on May 30, 2007, at the St. Ignatius Catholic Mission.

Georgia is preceded in death by her father, mother and younger brother, David Machado.

Georgia is survived by her husband, Gilbert; her only son, Tommy (Rebecca) Stephens; and her daughter in-law, Jennifer Cozzi; her brother, John (Nora) Machado; her sisters, Cindy, Marcia (Dave) Allen and Kimberly; granddaughters, Sasha, Mishaelynn, and Sierra Stephens, Taryn and Brenda Michel; nephews, Dustin, Tanner, Pace, and Sammy, and her long-time friend and cooking buddy, Deb Nelson. She is dearly missed by all.

Services have been held.

Georgia Michel

Gladys Disney

HOT SPRINGS — Former Missoula and Polson resident, 99-year-old Gladys Marie McDonald Disney “Glady,” passed away on Sunday, Oct. 3, at the Hot Springs Health and Rehab Center. Gladys was the oldest living member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes.

Glady had to give up independent living several years ago due to health issues and lived in an assisted living center in Missoula for one year and then a Ronan supportive living center for two years. For the last year of her life, she lived in the Hot Springs Health and Rehab Center. The family wishes to express our gratitude for the Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes Elderly Service and

Tribal Health Department whose services and support enabled Gladys to live independently as long as she was able. She was a fiercely independent woman. Gladys was born and raised on the Flathead Reservation. She was one of 13 children born to Lydia (Ludington) and John McDonald. Glady attended school in Dixon until she was 14 years old, then attended Flandreau Indian Boarding School in South Dakota. Following graduation, she went to Minneapolis to work and eventually moved to Seattle to work in the shipyards during World War II. It was there where she met her first husband, Larry Lynde, Sr., a career Navy non-commissioned Gladys Disney officer. They lived the typical Navy life, moving many times. The couple had two children, Larry Lynde, Jr., and Kim Marie. They eventually divorced, and Gladys with Larry Jr. and Kim in tow, moved back to the reservation and eventually to Missoula, where she worked in a variety of restaurants until returning to the Flathead

see page 27

Thank You...

On behalf of the family of Violet Harris, we would like to thank everyone for the love and support we have received during this time of grief. Thank you, Herb, Josh, and Stacy

from page 26

Reservation in the mid1980s. She lived in Polson with her husband, Don Disney.

Gladys continued to work in a variety of restaurants, Tribal Elderly Services and Early Childhood Services until retiring at 85 years of age. Gladys enjoyed being in the company of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and in the waning years of life, her great-great grandchildren. In Polson her great-grandchildren, Jasmine and Robert James (aka RJ), would visit her daily after school and in the summer. They all had a special bond to each other.

Gladys is survived by her daughter, Kim (Bernie) Azure; granddaughter, LaNada Delores Azure-Hamann; great-grandson, Ben Azure-DeFrance; greatgreat grandson, Kellan; great-grand daughter, Aurora Aggie-Jo Azure; great great-granddaughters, Evelyn Skye and Esme Vera Moon; great-granddaughter, Jasmine Hamann; and great-grandson, Robert James (RJ) Hamann; granddaughter, Casey Michel (Jason Pierre) Azure; great-granddaughter, Natasha LaNada McLeod; great great-grandsons, Carter Jason and Anthony James; great-grandson, Jace Scott Bear Pierre; and grandsons, Mitchel Joe-Bear Azure and Augustus Skye Azure. She also leaves behind her brother, Wyman (Thelma) McDonald, and numerous nieces, nephews and numerous other relatives.

Gladys was preceded in death by her parents; her son, Larry Lynde, Jr.; and her husbands, Larry Lynde Sr., and Don Disney; and siblings, Lona Olson, Evelyn McDonald, Mabel Felsman, Alma Branson, Mary Lou Howlett, Betty McDonald Lester, Jack McDonald, Donald “Boots” McDonald, Dan McDonald, Tom “Satch” McDonald, and two siblings who died in infancy.

Services have been held.

Josephine Therriault

RONAN — Josephine Therriault, 97, passed away Monday, Oct. 4, 2021, at St. Luke Extended Care in Ronan.

Josephine was born May 2, 1924, in Burmis, Alberta, Canada. She was the eighth of nine children born to Polish immigrants, Michael and Anna Michalsky. After recovering from polio at age 5, she attended schools in Burmis and Blairmore. She attended teachers’ college in Edmonton, Alberta, and then taught at a country school near Pincher Creek, Alberta.

While teaching, she boarded with Albert and Dora Therriault and met Eli Therriault when he came to visit his brother. She and Eli were married July 29, 1949, in Pincher Creek. After they were married, they lived in Big Delta, Alaska, until 1955, when they moved to Charlo, Montana.

Josephine was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, the Mission View Garden Club, and was a volunteer at St. Luke Extended Care for several years. She liked to sew, crochet, and knit. In later years she learned how to make rosaries and has made many rosaries for family and friends as well as sending many away to various missions. She also knitted many baby hats for newborns at St. Luke Hospital. She was a substitute teacher at the Charlo School and was also the bookkeeper for the Charlo Water District for many years.

Josephine was preceded in death by her husband, Eli, in 1983; her parents, Michael and Anna; three brothers, and five sisters.

She is survived by four children: Bernice (Al) Hawkaluk of Charlo, Alvin (Margaret) of Philispburg, Larry (Mary) of Guernsey, Wyoming, and Annette (Scott) Elverud of Chester. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great grandsons; one sister-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

Services have been held. Memorials can be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church or the American Cancer Society.

Messages of condolences may be shared with the family online at: www.shriderthompson. com. Arrangements are under the care of Shrider-Thompson Funeral Home.

Josephine Therriault

Michael Scott Weaver

RAVALLI — Michael Scott Weaver, 65, passed away Oct. 1 in Missoula. Arrangements are pending with Foster Funeral Home & Crematory of St. Ignatius.

Patricia S. Krantz

ST. IGNATIUS — Patricia S. Krantz, 68, passed away in Missoula at the Village. A funeral will be held on Saturday, Oct. 16, at 10:30 a.m. in the Mission Valley Methodist Church. Burial will follow in the Krantz Cemetery.

Warren Harding

POLSON — Warren Greg Harding (Greg), 69, of Polson, passed away on Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

He was born on Nov. 7, 1951, in Billings, the son of Warren G. and Ethel Marie (Israel) Harding. He moved to Polson with his parents at a young age and attended Polson schools graduating in 1970. He then attended Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho, for a time. He married Kim Reimer on June 29, 1975, in Whitefish, and they lived in Anchorage, Alaska, for two years, after which, they moved to Pablo and later to Ronan in 1983.

Greg owned Mission Valley Concrete and Harding Redi Mix. He was a man of great character who operated his businesses with honesty and integrity. Raising cattle was, also, an important and enjoyable part of his life. He enjoyed big game hunting, riding horses in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, playing pinochle and cribbage, but the joy of his life was his family, to whom he was deeply devoted.

Greg was a faithful active member of the Pablo Church of the Nazarene and was a proud supporter of the Ronan High School Booster Club, where his kids all attended school.

He is survived by his wife, Kim Harding, of Polson; four children, Jayme Lenker (Keegan) of Gig Harbor, Washington, Tyler Harding (Katie) of Nampa, Idaho, Jenna Harding of Moses Lake, Washington, and Trenton Harding (Katie) of Pablo. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Joncee, Kaizlee, Tatum, Colton, Hudson, Daniel, Warren and Hendrix.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Warren and Ethel Harding; his sister, Lana Clare Harding; and by his infant son, Ryan Greg Harding.

Services have been held.

The family would like to suggest donations in his honor by donating to Nazarene Compassion International (Economic Development in world countries): https:// give.nazarene.org/donate/f/123887.

Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at: www.lakefuneralhomandcremation.com.

Arrangements are under the care of The Lake Funeral Home and Crematory.

Warren Harding

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