Obituaries

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.”  After Loyola High School and the U.S. Army, adventures and exploits included: railroader with Northern Pacific; commercial fisherman in Kodiak, Alaska; cross-country private plane ferry pilot; sawyer and horse logger. In 1981, he built his residence in the Schley area and created a magical retreat dedicated to appreciation for the natural world and a simpler lifestyle of coexist...

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. ...

RONAN — Grace W. Seines Sager of Ronan passed away on Nov. 6, 2019. She was born in Polson on Dec. 3, 1926, to Gladys and John Seines. The family lived in Irvine Flats and the Ronan area.  Following graduation from Ronan High School Grace went to work at Northern Pacific Hospital in Missoula, w...

POLSON — Patsy Joan Rettig Eastman was born in La Habra, California, the first child of Bernie and Effie (Siebe) Rettig. Patsy passed away July 6, 2020, at her home in Polson. She attended grade school in La Habra, and then high school in Fullerton. She met Ormand Eastman in 1949, and they married in D...