Obituaries

JUDITH GAP — Geoffrey Paul Smith was born in Havre, on July 22, 1959, to the Reverend Warren Paul Smith and Marjorie S. (Smith) Smith. He passed away at his home in Judith Gap on July 31, 2021. Geoff attended Western Montana College in Dillon, earned a teaching degree, and taught from 1986 through 2019 with 22 of those years at Judith Gap. He was a well-known area teacher, coach and bus driver. A full obituary will be posted at: www.perkinsfuneralandcremation.com A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2021, at 11 a.m. at the Judith Gap United Methodist Church. His remains will be laid to rest in a graveside service at noon the following day, Aug. 29, at the Mounta...

ST. IGNATUS — Ryan Paul O’Brien, “Ta Mahpiya Magazu” (His Rain Cloud), left this world to be with his creator, family, and friends on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. Ryan was born on March 1, 1984, in Williston, North Dakota, to Shannon O’Brien Murphy. Ryan loved life but more than a...

RONAN — Allen W. Swalling, 84, passed away Aug. 8, 2021, at St. Patrick Hospital, following a long battle with kidney failure and multiple other medical issues. His daughter and son-in-law were at his side. He was born on Dec. 20, 1936, to Oscar and Verna Engle Swalling in Charlo. He graduated as sa...

RONAN — It is with mixed emotions, in one sense great sorrow and in another, relief, that the family of Merle Jore announce his passing on Aug. 11. Sorrow because we have lost a patriarch and a good man … relief because his last year was lived in too much discomfort. Merle was born, he always us...

RONAN — Carol Joann Nelson Tiernan was born on Nov. 7, 1937, in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and passed away on July 7, 2021, in Ronan, due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease.  Carol’s father, Dr. Robert V. Nelson, was an officer in the U.S. Army Dental Corps. Carol’s fami...

POLSON — Our Joni was born at the Fort Belknap Agency in Harlem, Montana on May 4, 1983. At the young age of 38, our beloved Joni left our world on Aug. 7, 2021, in Benefis Hospital, Great Falls. Born to parents Glen Johnny Buckman and Jolene Shorte Shortman, Joni Lynn Buckman was the youngest of th...

HAVRE — Alice Kay (Blackie) Preeshl, 76, of Havre, peacefully passed away on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, after a seven month battle with encephomalacia, where her family was continuously by her side.  Alice was born on Aug. 12, 1944, to Oswald and Dorothy Teigen. Her childhood started out in Eureka, ...

GREAT FALLS — Joni Buckman passed away at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls on Friday, Aug. 7, 2021. Services are pending. Contact Lake Funeral Home at: lakefuneralhomeandcremation.com for service details. A full obituary will appear in next week’s paper.  

POLSON — A celebration of life for Doug Stam will be held at the Presbyterian Church in Polson on Aug. 21 at 11 a.m.  Doug passed away on Feb. 2, 2021.    

ELMO — Ryan Patrick Nicholas Lefthand, 35, passed away on Friday, May 28, 2021. He was born on Nov. 14, 1985, in Kalispell to parents, Edna Mae Lefthand and Wilbert Lee Michel.  Ryan attended Two Eagle River School and was a collector of Star Notes and Mario Coins. He was also known for his hac...