For the Record...

May 2008 Obituaries

Mary M. Jensen
ST. MARIES, Id. - Mary M. "Mickey" Jensen, 76, died May 31, 2008 at her home in St. Maries, Id. She was born May 11, 1932 to Stanley and Josephine (Cote) Oliver of St. Ignatius, where she lived until she married Eugene Shepard of Ronan. They were married in Missoula in 1947.

Eugene's career took them to various places in the Northwest. After his death in 1968, she moved her children back to Harrison, Id. where she had her fondest memories with her husband and children.

She married Edward M. Jewett of St. Maries in 1969. She helped him run the Holsteins Bar until their divorce. In 1975, she married James Jensen of St. Maries, Id., where they made their home. She was baptized July 14, 1984 as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. Her greatest joy was knowing she had the hope of living in a paradise here on earth.

Mickey worked at the St. Maries Laundromat for Jim and Marcie Scheel for several years until they closed. She also did mending for several people in St. Maries. She went to work for her daughter as a secretary/receptionist for Granny's Transportation. She enjoyed many hobbies. Her first love was fishing and she also enjoyed hunting, four wheeling, crocheting, knitting and gardening.

She is survived by her husband Jim Jensen at the family home in St. Maries, Id; her mother Josephine Smith of St. Ignatius; her sons, Kenny Shepard of St. Maries, Id.; John (Jo Ann) Shepard of Coeur d' Alene, Id.; and Eward (Yvonne) Jewett of Norwalk, Ca.; stepson Michael Jensen of St. Maries, Id; daughters Diane (Jeff) Carpenter of St. Maries, Id.; Denniece Lockett of St. Ignatius; Renee Shepard and companion Debra Eldredge of Spokane, Wa.; Debra (Clinton) Croson of St. Maries, Id.; and stepdaughter Vicki Karber of St. Maries, Id; brothers Bob Oliver of Arlee; and Doug Oliver of Spokane, Wa; sisters Judy Davenport of Lolo; Barbra Oliver and Laura Oliver of St. Ignatius; Linda West of Hot Springs; and Jodie Fawcett of Orofino, Id.; numerous nieces and nephews; and 12 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

She was a wonderful mother and dear friend and will be greatly missed.

Grave side services will be held at 2 p.m. June 21 in Ronan. She was preceded in death by her father Stanley Oliver, her husband Eugene Shepard, son Steven Eugene Shepard and brothers Richard, Stanley and Tony Oliver.

Edna Mae Lefthand
ST. IGNATIUS — On May 20, 2008, at Community Hospital in Missoula, Edna peacefully left this world to join her family members who have gone on before her.

Edna was born on August 22, 1947 in St. Ignatius, to Alexander and Josephine Caye Lefthand. She attended grade school in Elmo and Pierre, South Dakota. Edna graduated from high school at Flandreau, South Dakota. She attended college in Los Angeles, CA, Flathead Valley Community College, and graduate from Salish Kootenai College with a degree in Native American Studies.

Edna lived most of her life in the Elmo and Polson areas. She enjoyed picking huckleberries, doing beadwork, sewing, ceramics, attending and participating in traditional activities and she always looked forward to the Elmo Powwow, especially when her favorite drum group, Northern Cree, was going to be there.

She also enjoyed family dinners, being with her children and grandchildren and visiting her family members and friends. Edna was a quiet gentle lady but she had a great sense of humor and remembered many funny stories about herself and her friends as they were growing up.

Preceding her in death are her parents, Alex and Josephine; her brothers, Richard and Patrick; her sister Rose Marie; and her dog, Brownie.

Edna has left behind her sons Wesley and Ryan, both of Polson and Newman Cuch Jr. of Vernall, Utah,; grandchildren: Trevor of Salt Lake City, Utah; Denzel and LeElla of Polson; her sisters Susie (Tom) Antiste of Big Arm; Patricia Hewankorn of Dayton; and Josephine Lefthand of Big Arm; her brothers Joey Squeque of Big Arm; Kenny Lefthand of Elmo; Wain (Cheryl), of Elmo; and her uncle, Albert Caye of Elmo.

Services were held Friday, May 23 at the Elmo Community Center with the burial in Dayton.

James E. Brock
ST. IGNATIUS — James E. Brock, 86, of St. Ignatius died of natural causes May 22, 2008 at St. Luke Hospital in Ronan.

He was born January 1, 1922 in Kenvir, Harlan County, Kentucky. In 1934, his family, consisting of his parents and six children at that time, moved to a farmstead near St. Ignatius.

Following graduation from St. Ignatius High School and the start of World War II, Jim enlisted in the US Army, and served as an Intelligence Specialist during the war in Italy and later in Japan. He was awarded several ribbons and the Victory Medal for wartime service.

Following honorable discharge, Jim graduated with a degree in business from Washington State University, and was commissioned in the Air Force R.O.T.C. At the outbreak of the Korean Conflict, he was re-activated by the USAF, and served three more years. He was awarded the Korean, United Nations and National Defense Service Medals. Jim enjoyed aviation, and obtained his pilot’s license that he kept active for many years.

Following his military service, Jim worked for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle as a purchasing and procurement agent until his retirement in the 1970’s. He then moved back to St. Ignatius to his brother John’s ranch where he lived until his death.

Jim was always interested in learning something new, and in his sixties he taught himself woodcarving. He produced numerous one-of-a-kind carvings, which included very skillfully crafted eagles, mountain lions, dogs and many other subjects. Having mastered that, he went on to teach himself the art of wood lathe work, and again, produced a prolific number of turned pieces, many of which have made their way into the homes of family and friends through the years.

Jim was an enthusiast of healthy living, and he and his dog walked many miles each day in the mountains and fields on the ranch. When he was in his mid-seventies, he bought a 10-speed bike, and began riding that in the mountains and fields as well. He was still riding his bike and going for walks with his dog a week before his death at the age of 86.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, J.T. Brock and Ida Brock; sisters June Primeau and Helen Joyce Stratton; and a brother George Samuel Brock.

He is survived by his brother John Brock of St. Ignatius and sisters Glenrose O’Neil, Olympia WA; Syble Ginsberg of St. Ignatius; and Martha Sue Brandli, Spokane, WA; and numerous nieces and nephews. Cremation has taken place and a family memorial will be held at a later date.

Hazel Detert
ST. IGNATIUS — Mrs. Hazel Detert died Saturday of natural causes on May 31, 2008.

She was born at Hesper, ND to Martin and Hulda Johnson on Sept. 8, 1918. She graduated from Hillcrest Lutheran Brethren Christian Academy in 1934 and from Mayville Teachers College in 1936.

She taught in several schools in North Dakota and Montana. She ended her teaching career in St. Ignatius in 1969.

She married Herman Detert on June 27, 1948 in St. Ignatius at Zion Lutheran Church. They had three children.

Hazel loved writing and helped her husband publish two books. She also had several short stories published in various magazines. She enjoyed writing stories of family history.

Gardening was one of her favorite activities, and together with her husband had a magnificent garden.

She was a longtime active member of Zion Lutheran Church where she played the organ for many years. She enjoyed her weekly Bible study very much.

Her greatest joy was her family; and she was blessed with 13 grandchildren and many, many great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Arthur and George; sister Hilma Pederson; husband Herman; and two great-grandchildren.

Hazel is survived by her children: sons John (Jamie) and James; daughter Keela (Dave) Forthun; nephews David and Eric Johnson; niece Meg Jorgenson and great-nephews Jeff and Kevin Lensman.

A visitation will be held Thursday evening at the Foster & Durgeloh Funeral Chapel in St. Ignatius from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. with funeral services being held Friday at 10 am in the Zion Lutheran Church in St. Ignatius. Interment will follow in the Pleasant View Cemetery at St. Ignatius.

Robert "Bob" Alan Blush
BUTTE — Robert "Bob" Alan Blush passed away May 31, 2008 in Butte.

Bob was born Nov. 15, 1948 to Robert and Irene Blush in St. Ignatius. He was a graduate of St. Ignatius High School in 1967. Soon after graduating, he joined the US Air Force serving as a jet mechanic. He served in the Philippine islands at Clark Air Base, Taiwan, Danang and Thailand. He was also stationed in Germany. When he returned to the states, he finished his Air Force Career at Malstrom Air Base in Great Falls. After his military career he worked at the Champion Mill for ten years before eventually making his home in Butte.

While in Great Falls he married Sandy Doctor. They had a daughter (Lara). They later divorced. He then met Kathy Bell and had a son (Dustin).

Bob was a gifted natural athlete excelling in basketball, football and baseball. He also loved to hunt and fish.

He is survived by his son Dustin of Polson and daughter Lara of Spokane; his mother Irene of Polson; brothers Ken (Dana) of Polson and Jim (Brenda) of St. Ignatius and sister Peggy (Dave) Freshour of Gillette, WY; two grandchildren Jascel and Jayden of Spokane; nephews Jim Udall of Portland, Or.; and Randall Freshour of Sheridan, WY; and nieces Carly Blush of St. Ignatius and Kimberly Charlo of Wasilla, AK.

A graveside service will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. in the Pleasant View Cemetery in St. Ignatius where military honors will be presented.

David Jay Lutton
RONAN — David Jay Lutton, 48, passed away from natural causes on Friday, May 16, 2008 at St. Luke Extended Care Facility. David was born on September 7, 1959 to David W. and Dorothy Lutton at St. Ignatius.

David spent his school years in Portland, OR. He moved back to the Flathead Valley in 1982.

He enjoyed fishing. He served as an apprentice technician at Don Aadsen Ford until health reasons caused him to resign.

His mother Dorothy Kroshus, stepsisters Shirley Brown of Chelan, WA, Janet Hankins of Kent, WA and many cousins survive David.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Thursday, May 22, 2008 at 2 p.m. at Lakeview Cemetery in Polson. A reception will follow the services at the Flathead Lake Senior Citizens Center, 701 1st Street East, Polson.

Arrangements are under the direction of Grogan Funeral Home.

Hazel Viola Matt Keniston
PABLO - Hazel Viola Matt Keniston was born June 4, 1921, to Catherine (Dubay) Matt and Alfred 'Mattie' Matt at the family home site near Pablo Reservoir, and went to be with the Heavenly Father on Sunday, May 4, 2008 at the Village Health Care Center in Missoula, with close family member by her side.

Hazel attended the Ursuline Convent Boarding School in 1938 and in 1941, and the age of 16, moved to Portland, Oregon where she later met and married Harold Clifford Keniston. Hazel worked at the Bess Kaiser Hospital in Portland before moving back home to Pablo in 1967. Harold passed away in 1992.

Hazel enjoyed gardening, picnics by the lake, and being with family and friends. Hazel especially loved the Oregon coast where she spent many memorable vacations. Hazel loved to read, travel, fish, listen to music, knit, play checkers, socialize at the Senior Center, and dine at nice restaurants. Hazel loved her home in Pablo, which she shared with her beloved cat "Friesty", and where she could look out at the beautiful mountains.

Hazel was preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Carl Alloyius Matt, John Earl Marple Matt and Elvin James Matt, and sisters Eva Matilda Case and Rosemary "Bun" Leaverton.

Hazel is surivived by her sister Violet (Richard 'Dick') Hardy and family of Pablo;, and her loving children, Patricia Elberson of Beaverton, Oregon; Wynnette Rosemarie Johnson; Gerald Clifford (Betty) Keniston; Catherine Olive Anderson and her friend Dave; and Kenny Keniston and his friend Bevra all of Finley Point; and Pamela Viola Holman and her friend Art of Portland, Oregon. Hazel also is surivived by her grandchildren, Catherine, Susan, David, Don, Jason, Sarah, Eric, Susan V., Heather, Misty, Kienan and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews and many close friends who faithfully visited her. All will dearly miss Hazel, who was always there when you needed her.

Hazel was a proud member of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Her grandmother was Mary Bisson and her great-grandparents were Raphael Bisson and Mary Lucy Finley.

Fun loving and "genuinely colorful" until the end, Hazel fought a long and courageous battle with cancer. Hazel leaves behind many good friends at the Village Health Care Center in Missoula, where she was well cared for.

Vigil services will be held on Thursday May 8, 2008 at 7 p.m. in the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday May 9, 2008 at 10:30 am in the church with Father James Connor officiating. Interment will follow at Lake View Cemetery. Condolences to the family at www.groganfuneralhome.com