Obituaries

POLSON — Helen Breitmayer Rettig, age 83, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2020, at Polson Health & Rehab. Helen arrived in this world on Sept. 26, 1936, and joined her brother, Bill, and her parents Vern and Helen Breitmayer in Jackson, Michigan.   Her early years were spent between Jackson and Ann Arbor, attending schools in the latter. In 1957, Helen graduated from the University of Michigan, then spent three years teaching third and fourth grade students before moving to California with her family. After attending San Francisco State College for certification teaching blind students, Helen taught blind students in Redwood City, California. While there in 1963, she met ...

James Edward Laurence Schultz, “Jim,” 78, headed out on his final journey, walking beside God on July 23, 2020. Jim was born to Gerald B. L. Schultz and Virginia (Gin) Ober Schultz on Jan. 3rd, 1942, in Polson, Montana. He often quipped, “I was born so long ago the part of the hospital I wa...

OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON — Jesse M. Cote, Sr., a long-time resident of Olympia, Washington, passed away on Aug. 23, 2020, at the age of 75. Jesse was born on Dec. 5, 1945, in St. Ignatius, and was the youngest of his siblings. Jesse served the military from 1963-1969 and was discharged with a rank of SP5 E5...

JOLIET — Martha L Haverkamp, 87, died of natural causes on Sept. 9, 2020, at her home in Joliet. She was born on June 5, 1933, in Ronan, to Alice (Grund) and Louis LeBrun. She was married to Peter Haverkamp Jr. for 44 years. He predeceased her in 1995. Pete’s job led the family to live in many pl...

RONAN — On Friday, Aug. 21, 2020, Charles Willis Swope took his last breath and reunited with his parents, Fredric and Ellen Swope; sisters, Fern Merritt, Bertha Goethlich, Kathleen Jacobson and Evelyn Fulton; plus, his brother, Clarence.   Chuck was born on Sept. 2, 1934, in Miles City. He is ...

POLSON — Kenneth George Avison, “Ken,” died on Aug. 26, 2020, due to complications from cancer. Ken was born in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada, to Frances McDougal and George Avison on June 5, 1945.  When Ken was 8 years-old he found his love for the art of magic and performed 100s of ...

RONAN — Harold Andrew Smith, 86, of Ronan, went to see Jesus on Aug. 17, 2020. Daddy was born on March 9, 1934, in Mountain Grove, Missouri. His family moved shortly after to Benson County, North Dakota, where he spent his childhood. He shared memories of walking to school in sub-zero temperatures uphi...

BIGFORK — James Merwin Pearson, 81, passed away quietly at home surrounded by his family Aug. 15, 2020 after a trying battle with Mesothelioma. He fought that battle courageously and faithfully, culminating in a peaceful transition to his new home with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jim was a bu...

CHARLO — Robert “Bert” L. Todd III, passed at the age of 86, on Aug. 5, 2020, at St. Luke Hospital in Ronan. Born on Nov. 26, 1933, in Bozeman, son of the late Robert L. Todd and Sarah Schaffer. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen “Cookie” Todd, of Anaconda; his three ...

RONAN — Vicki Lynn Rogers, a passionate Beatles fanatic, went to her “Strawberry Fields Forever” surrounded by family as well as “The Fab Four,” on Friday, July 31. As she took her broken wings and learned to fly, she was accompanied on her journey by a band of angels that inclu...