Obituaries

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 and cashier; 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,...

RONAN — William “Bill” Emil Olson, 76, passed away Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at St. Luke Medical Center in Ronan. 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 s...

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH — Linda Marie Browne passed away on Nov. 7, 2021, in Salt Lake City, of complications during surgery. Linda grew up on Irvin Flats and attended school in Polson. She is survived by her son, Glade Jay Memmott of Salt Lake and her brother, Richard F. Browne of Missoula.  

ST. IGNATIUS — Charles O. “Chuck” Whitson, 88, peacefully passed away at his home in St. Ignatius on Dec. 29, 2021, surrounded by family. Chuck was born on April 9, 1933, to his parents Lewis and Willien Whitson. Chuck was the oldest of five children, spending his childhood in Seminole, Okl...

MISSOULA — Richard Wayne Bick, 63, died of heart failure on Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021, in Spokane, Washington.  He was born on March 31, 1958, in Ronan to Charles and Delores Bick. The fourth of six children, Rich was taught the value of love and hard work on a dairy farm while attending school ...

POLSON — Lionel E. “Sonny” Herreid, age 87, went to be with his wife of 60 years, Gail, on Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, at his home. He was born on May 17, 1934, to Ernest and Wilma Herreid in Polson. He was the second of four children, including Dorrene, Shirley, and Dale.  Sonny served...

RONAN — Norma Lee Dennis Knutson was born May 21, 1936, in Twin Falls, Idaho, to Charles Glen and Dorothy Hine Dennis, relocating to Charlo in 1947. Raised in a rustic cabin on 80 beautiful acres beneath Mount Harding, Norma, the eldest of four children, dreamed of life beyond the remote setting of the...

POLSON — Retired Air Force Major Lee Alderdice, age 96, quietly and peacefully left the constraints of his earthly body and was so looking forward to his personal homecoming with Jesus, on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021. He was born on June 14, 1925, in Akron, Ohio, to Athel and Dessie Alderdice. He joined a si...

ST. IGNATIUS — James “Jim” Cook passed away at his home on Dec. 18, 2021. He was born on June 15, 1945, in Borger, Texas. After graduating Crooked Oak High School in Oklahoma City, he broke and trained horses, and then entered the Army for a tour in the Vietnam War 1965-67. He returned t...

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 ...