Obituaries

Gina Johnson

RONAN — On Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021, Gina Teresa Johnson, loving mother, sister, grandmother, auntie, cousin, and friend, passed away at age 63. Gina was born on Jan. 29, 1958, in Ronan, to Adam Grant Kirsch and Bonnie Jean (Hoyt) Kirsch.

Gina grew up in Ronan on the family ranch and graduated from Ronan High school in 1976.

After high school she married Doug Starkel and had two children, Josh and Jake. They later divorced.

Gina worked at the Lake County Court House in the Clerk of Court office where she met Wes Johnson, a handsome and charismatic highway patrol officer. The two were wed on Sept. 14, 1985. Together they raised three sons, Shon, Josh and Jake, and a daughter, Tammy.

In 1993, Wes retired from the Montana Highway Patrol, and he and Gina started S & S Sports in an old calving shed on their property. Together they grew the business successfully. In 2011 Wes passed away unexpectedly. Gina continued to grow S & S Sports, and with the help of her children, the business has prospered.

Gina had a passion for her family, friends and dusty old things. She was a lover of animals. She combined her favorite hobbies and creative talent into extraordinary art and decoration. She had and incredible green thumb. Consequently, her gardens and flowers were always the envy of us all. She was known for her quick wit, her infectious smile, and her kind and compassionate spirit. Gina’s love of great music took her to many live shows. She was fearless and always up for a great adventure and good times followed her wherever she went. Most notably her wild motorcycle rides on her Spyder to Sturgis with the Wild Gofers. Gina was cherished by so many.

Gina is preceded in death by her husband Wes; father, Adam; mother, Bonnie; and her niece, Kaetlyn.

She is survived by four children, Tammy Barr (Wes), Shon Johnson (Cathy), Josh Starkel (Tara), Jake Starkel (Tyanna); her beloved brother, Kevin Kirsch (Dana); 10 grandchildren; two nieces and two nephews; many cousins, friends and her loving partner, Fred Reimers.

A Memorial Celebration is being planned for the late summer/early fall of next year. Details will be announced. Memories and condolences may be sent to the family at: www.shriderthompson.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Shrider – Thompson Funeral Home.

Gina Johnson

Linda Pulse

POLSON — Linda Diane Dupuis Pulse was born on Oct. 4, 1942, and raised in Montana and was an enrolled member of the Pend d’Oreille Tribe. She passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones in Polson on Nov. 22, 2021. Linda was a proud mother, wife, sister, auntie, and cookie grandma.

Linda’s life was spent having great times with friends, family barbecues, feeding her birds and squirrels, and talking on the phone. She was a hip lady with a glamorous style, a great taste in music, and she loved her hats. She was often known as “Pink’s Oldest Fan” and she could make anyone laugh with her

amazing sense of humor. She loved her grandkids and great-grandkids and was a big part of all their lives. Linda is preceded in death by her parents; her sister, Shirley Dupuis; her brother, Patrick Dupuis; and her husband, Jay Pulse. She is survived by many. Not only by her family and friends, but by anyone fortunate enough to know her beautiful soul. A Celebration of Linda’s amazing life will be held at the Polson Senior Citizen Center on Wednesday, Dec. 15, from 3-6 p.m. Anyone who knew Linda is encouraged to attend and wear bright colors, crazy hats, and blue eyeshadow. Please bring a favorite dish or dessert and let’s celebrate a life well lived. Linda Pulse 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.

Marshall Thompson

BUTTE — Marshall “Papa” Hart Thompson, age 80, of Butte, passed away at St. James Hospital after a short battle with COVID on Dec. 8, 2021. Marshall was born in Dillon, on May 18, 1941, to Rayburn Edmund and Barbara Alicia (Gray) Thompson. Rayburn and Barbara were both teachers and passed their love and passion of teaching and coaching onto Marshall and his older brother Russ. Marshall attended school in Dillon, Hobson and Moccasin. Marshall graduated from Beaverhead High School and then enlisted into the United States Navy, serving active duty from Jan 1961 to Jan 1965 and Naval Reserves from October 1982 to December 2000. Marshall graduated from Western Montana with a teaching certificate and taught at St. Ignatius High School from 1976 to 2000. Marshall met the love of his life, Karen Sue (Moran) Thompson, and they were wed on March 7, 1980, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. Marshall and Karen, along with Karen’s son Steve, built a life in St. Ignatius. Marshall was passionate about teaching, coaching and attending the Catholic church. Marshall lost Karen in February of 2016 and moved to Havre, shortly afterwards to be closer to his grandson Andy. Papa and Andy had a very special bond; he loved Andy more like a son than a grandson. Due to declining health issues, Andy moved Marshall to Butte, where Jackie (daughter in-law) took care of him for the last two years of his life. Marshall touched many people’s lives and will be dearly missed by all who called him a friend. Marshall is survived by his brother and sister in-law Russ and Jeanne Thompson and their children, Kim Thompson, Terri Rowan, Karolee Jones, Brian Thompson, Tom Thompson and Lisa Modler; his stepson Stephen Gray and daughter in-law, Jackie Assel; his grandchildren, Andrew Seccomb, Matthew (Allyson) Gray, Marcus (DeLayne) Gray and Skye (Madison) Mollner; his great-grandchildren, Lukas, Avery and Emery Gray, Trissity and Hazel Seccomb, and Amelia Mollner. Memorial Services will be held at a later time. Please visit: www.buttefuneralhome.com to offer a condolence or share a memory of Marshall.

Axelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been privileged to care for Marshall and his family.

Marshall Thompson

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Russell Wagner

SAINT IGNATIUS — Russell Owen Wagner (Russ), 70, of Saint Ignatius, passed away on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, in the Benefis Health System Hospital in Great Falls, of COVID. He was born on July 5, 1951, in Browning, the son of Keith (Bob) and Mary (Billie) Wagner. He attended high school in Hood River, Oregon, graduating in 1969. He learned to fly at an early age, as his father was a pilot and owned Agri-Aviation in Hood River. He worked for his father doing crop dusting and eventually ventured into other types of aviation. His last flying position was as an Air Ambulance Pilot for Guardian Flight and was based out of Ely, Nevada. Flying was his passion. Russ was also a talented musician and played electric guitar and bass in rock bands, and also played for church groups. He is survived by his wife, Debbie Wagner, of Saint Ignatius; three children, Ryan Inslee of Stevenson, Washington, Matthew Wagner of Saint Ignatius, and Casey Wagner of Seattle, Washington. He is also survived by one grandchild, Violet Wagner and one grandchild on the way.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Keith and Mary Wagner, and his sister, Candace Chambers. Russ was a Christian and loved the Lord. Please keep his family in your prayers as they grieve his loss.

Russell Wagner

Sheri Evans

CHARLO — Sheri Rae (Lee) Evans was born on April 26, 1954, in Missoula to John “Jack” and Berniece (Reynolds) Lee, the sixth of eight children. Sheri passed away Dec. 5, 2021. As a child, she rescued every stray cat, dog, or other living creature she found, and would carefully nurse them back to health. This compassion for all living things would become the foundation of her personality, and she both adopted and healed everyone and everything she ever met who needed her.

Sheri started school in Seeley Lake and graduated from high school in Stevensville in 1971. Nursing was more than her occupation, it was her vocation, and she earned her nursing degree from St. Patrick’s School of Nursing in 1974. She delighted in it for the next 46.5 years, working at St. Luke’s Nursing Home, as a Public Health Nurse for Lake County, Charlo School Nurse, and finally at the Montana State Prison in Deer Lodge.

Sheri married Kenny Evans on June 21, 1975. They spent the next several years raising their beloved daughters, Jessica and Jamie. Shortly after dividing their homes, Jenna was added to their family, and together they raised the girls in love. They remained the best of friends, and upon Kenny’s death Sheri became passionate about raising awareness of AIDS. In her typically unselfish way, she dedicated herself to saving lives through AIDS education throughout the State of Montana and was Blanketed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes for her dedication to AIDS awareness and in recognition of her tireless dedication to saving lives.

When she married Gerry Clark his children, Pat, Holly, and Ben, became her children. Sheri’s heart was too big not to share her love with others and she delighted in the addition of Jasmine, Winter, Isaac, Studebaker and Zoie to her family, her heart growing through love with the addition of each of her children.

In more recent years, that love expanded as grandchildren and a great-grandchild were added, and she ensured that each of them knew how adored they were, making cookies with and for them to celebrate every milestone and mend every broken heart. Literally and figuratively, she adopted everyone she ever met into her family, and it grew to include her true soulmate, Ray Vencill. Her joys were spending time with him, her family, her friends, breeding dogs, and gardening.

Sheri is preceded in death by her late husband, Kenny Evan; her parents, Jack and Berniece Lee; sisters, Gayle Franklin, Beverly Steele, and Tami Armijo; brother, Morgan Lee; grandparents, Oscar and Mary Lee and Curtis and Ida Reynolds; honorary parents, Bob and Deloris Woodruff; parentsin-law, Ray and Marie Evans, Wiletta Bocksnick; along with many special people she cared for during the past 46 years. Each one became a member of her extended family.

She is survived by her children, Jessica Nordwick (Quinn), Jamie Bauer (Nathan), Jenna Corcoran (Corey), Pat Clark, Holly Fox, Ben Clark, Jasmine Clark (Matt), Winter Clark, Isaac Clark, Zoie Morgan, Studebaker Hunter; her soulmate, Ray Vencill; her grandchildren, Zane, Alyssa, Talon, Paije, Sidney, Londyn Brystol, Cash, Cruz, Diamond, Cannon, Henley; her great-grandson, Oakley, with whom she was delighted to share a birthday; as well as her brothers, David (Joanne) and Harris; her sister, Teri (Gary); her sisters-in-law, Wanda (Dave) Fike and Gail Sinclai; and her closest friend, Marie (Clay) Hopper.

Sheri’s unending generosity of spirit was reflected in the family’s decision to give the gift of organs to those in need. The family wishes to support LifeCenter Northwest, the organ donation organization, through contributions in her name for those who wish to honor her in that manner at: LifeCenter Northwest, 3650 131st Ave. SE, Ste 200, Bellevue, Washington 98006. Please include your name, address, and “In Memory of Sheri Evans.”

Services have been held. 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.

Sheri Evans

Suzanne Bahny

HELENA — On Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021, Suzanne Bahny acquired her angel wings. She fought a very long and hard battle with cancer. She was born on Sept. 12, 1951, in Ronan to Norman and Barbara (Lindblöm) Knudson, and was the oldest of three adventurous girls, who spent their childhood fearless on the backs of horses in the mountains of the Mission Valley.

Suzanne graduated High School in 1969, and

shortly after married Kenneth Snyder and together they had three children, Charlotte, Jason and Staci. During this time, she worked at St Luke Hospital in Ronan alongside her mother in the Radiology Department and became an accomplished X-Ray Tech, and eventually the head of the department. After they divorced, she met and married Greg Bahny in Kalispell, and went on to become an accomplished Ultrasound and C/T Technologist at North Valley Hospital in Whitefish. They moved to Helena to begin a new chapter in their lives, where they got horses and wagons and enjoyed wagon trains and back country adventures in the mountains of Montana and Wyoming. Together they purchased the UPS Store Franchise and Suzanne used her management skills to build that business. They eventually traded the wagon in for a motorhome and began their travels. They spent fall seasons along the Oregon coast and winters in the southwest. She especially loved Yuma, Arizona, and the many new friends she met along the way. She cherished every one of her grandchildren and made each and every one feel special. Suzanne Bahny The holidays were her favorite, particularly Christmas, where she would spend days decorating and cooking and

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Obituaries

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always made arrangements with Santa to stop by and visit during the family gathering. Every child and grandchild looked forward to that annual event.

She acquired the nickname of “Martha” from her children and friends because of her elaborate decorations and parties she loved to host, whether beside a mountain stream or in her home, or helping her husband with special real estate events.

There was a time when they packed in to the Bob Marshall Wilderness, and one of the meals planned by her took an extra pack animal to make that meal and presentation memorable for all. One of the group members even packed in ice cream to compliment her meal.

Suzanne was selfless and had a huge loving heart. She was unforgettable and beautiful in so many ways. She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her husband, Greg Bahny; her children, Charlotte Snyder (Mike Liedle), Jason Snyder (Korrie Shourds), Staci Martin ( Steve), Russ Bahny, and Lisa Andersen (Matt); as well as grandchildren, Wyatt and Travis Robertson, Trevor, Zachary and Brandon Snyder, Jaden and Brittney McNair, Kaitlyn, Shelbi and Hayleigh Bahny, Dylan and Sawyer Andersen; and great-grandchild, Beau Bahny Meyers.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Ann Croft.

Services have been held.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society or a donor of your choice. Please visit: www.aswfuneralhome. com to offer a condolence to the family or to share a memory of Suzanne.

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News from the office of Matt Rosendale

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Rosendale introduced the Fixing Announcements for Intermittent Remapping and Notification Expectations to Stop Surprises (FAIRNESS) in Flood Insurance Act of 2021 to prevent surprise financial burdens at the end of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) remapping process.

This legislation would direct the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator to notify affected property owners at three stages of the remapping process: 15 days prior to the beginning of remapping that could affect their property, 30 days before the start of the appeals process, and within 15 days of the conclusion of that process.

Representative Rosendale heard numerous concerns from constituents who were mapped into a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) and required to purchase flood insurance without receiving sufficient notice of opportunities to dispute or appeal the map. This bill would ensure all property owners receive letters from the FEMA Administrator through the remapping process if their property could be affected.

“Nobody should be hearing about additional flood insurance expenses when it’s already too late to do anything about it. It’s just common sense to make sure people know about changes that affect their property,” Representative Rosendale said. “My bill would ensure folks are aware of when remapping may affect them and make sure they have the opportunity to appeal FEMA’s proposed map revision.”

MT Internet Crimes against Children Task Force receives $300K+ in support

News from the office of

Senator Daines

U.S. SENATE — U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced that $337,516 will be awarded to the Montana Department of Justice to support the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

“I’m glad to see the Montana Department of Justice receive this support for the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which is critical for keeping Montana children safe and protecting them from internet-related crimes and predators,” Daines said.

Daines voted for this funding in December 2020.

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