Obituaries

POLSON — Peter Gordon McGowan passed away peacefully on Aug. 2, 2020, after a four-year battle with cancer. He was born in Merced, California, on Dec. 29, 1951, to Peter Scott and Lorene Verne (Malino) McGowan. He was an adventurous man who loved hiking in the woods, logging with his Clydesdale horses and flying. He was a first-class boiler operator and engineer and worked on large power plants all over the country. He was baptized in the year of 1973 as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.  He is survived by his two sisters and one brother: Linda, Larry, and Cathy; along with his three children: Ivy, Holly, and Peter and nine grandchildren who loved him dearly. Memorial se...

RONAN — On July 10, 2020, Darlene passed on at St. Luke’s Hospital due to a long known, (but rarely shared), heart condition with damage to the heart muscle on the right side of her heart. She was as mentally vibrant, as she had always been, right up to the end. She was born on July 20, 1928, ...

ARLEE — Gary Ledeau, (77), long-time resident of Arlee, left this world to begin his next adventure on July 28. Born to Damien and Valerie Bisson Ledeau on Feb. 9, 1943, Gary was raised within the heritage of the French settlers of the Missoula/Grass Valley area before it was “discovered.”&...

POLSON — Connie Rae Wilson went to be with the Lord on July 26, 2020, at St. Luke Hospital in Ronan surrounded by her children. Connie was born on April 25, 1937, in Kalispell to Lucille and Ford Peckham.   She attended and graduated from Flathead County High School, where she was a member of t...

RONAN — Jerry Wallace Akers, 88, went home to his Lord Jesus, July 18, 2020, at St. Luke’s Hospital, after a tiring battle with cancer. Jerry was born on May 27, 1932, in Hillsboro, North Dakota, the only son to Donald and Artea (Mildred) Akers.  His family later moved and settled in M...

KALISPELL — James “Jim” Edward Laurence Schultz, 78, passed away on July 23, 2020, at Kalispell Regional Hospital due to complications with COVID-19. A memorial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, family asks that people wear masks in public places.

HOT SPRINGS — Danny Vance passed away on July 15, 2020, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center at the age of 71.  He was born in Polson to Harold and Vivian Vance and grew up in the peaceful Ronan countryside.  After graduating from high school, he attended a semester of college at MSU, B...

RONAN — Sharon Laketa McDonald, (Grandma Sherri), passed away peacefully at her home Tuesday, July 13, 2020. She was surrounded by her loving family that cared for her during her illness. Sherri was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, on Feb. 15, 1932. She was 88 years old. She was born into a loving Norw...

CHARLO — Wiletta Ellene Bocksnick, 66, passed away on July 10, 2020, surrounded by her family at her home in Charlo, after a long battle with cancer. She was born in Ronan, on Feb. 10, 1954, to Elmer and Christeva Daugherty.  Wiletta was raised on a dairy west of Charlo. That was the beginning ...

BILLINGS — Doreen Constance Hennesay, age 93, passed away July 3, 2020, with family nearby. She was born April 4, 1927, in Los Angeles, California, to William Antone Kranzer and Emily Anne Kranzer. Growing up in Los Angeles, Doreen was quite athletic as a child, participating in multiple sports. ...