Obituaries
Melvin Sather
Our beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, Melvin Sather, passed away July 7, 2004 in Sandy, Utah, of congestive heart failure.
He was born March 26, 1916, in Moorhead, Minn., to Ove and Oline Borde Sather. Mel married Iris Weimer in Havre on Jan. 28,
1939. Mel married Ida Skordal in Chattanooga, Tenn., Sept. 29,1993.
Mel worked for Eddy's Bakery for over 30 years in Bismarck N.D., Havre, Great Falls, Superior, Wis., and Pocatello, Idaho. After retiring from Eddy's he was an insurance agent for New York Life.
Mel had an outgoing, quick-witted personality. He loved good humor and was always quick to smile and joke. He enjoyed golf, especially with his boys, food and watching Wheel Of Fortune. We will miss the twinkle in your eyes, warm smile and contagious laugh.
His is survived by his wife Ida, of Port Angeles, Wash.; sons, Melvin Richard, Inman, S.C.; Edward (Georgia), Bismarck, N.D.; James (JoAnne), Spring, Texas; daughter, DeAnn (Paul) Kleinman, Midvale, Utah; nine grandchildren, April, Jack, Reonda, Jason, Rae, Ronn, Brent, Seth, and Todd; seven great- grandchildren; sister Helen (Emil) Klies; and brothers Orville (LaVon) Sather and James (Aileen) Sather.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Iris; daughter Jeanne; grandson Melvin Richard, Jr; his parents and brother Arnold.
Following his wishes, Melvin was cremated and his ashes will be interred in the Highland Cemetery, Havre. Graveside services will be held July 23 at 11 a.m. Holland & Bonine Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Luanne M. (Burch) VanArtsdale
Luanne M. (Burch) VanArtsdale, 71, passed away Sunday, July 11, 2004, at Colonial Manor Care Center in Whitefish after a long battle with lung cancer.
She was born July 30, 1932, in Kalispell, to Arthur and Carrie (Anderson) Burch. She attended school in Kalispell and graduated from Flathead High School in 1950. As a child, she spent summers in Many Glacier, where her family owned and operated Glacier Park Boat Company. She loved Glacier Park and explored most of it on foot or horseback.
Luanne married Eugene VanArtsdale in 1954 and they settled in Libby, where she owned and operated Vimy Ridge Recreation Sports. The summer months were spent at Two Medicine and Lake McDonald operating boat concessions. Upon retirement, Luanne and Van moved to Bigfork and another retail venture was undertaken — Forget-Me-Not Gifts, and was located on Electric Avenue until 1991.
Van passed away in 1996 and Luanne moved to Kalispell, where she was active with Friends of the Library, Kalispell Repertory Theatre, antiques and auctions.
She was preceded in death by her husband; and infant son, David; and her parents.
Survivors include her son, Mark VanArtsdale, and his wife Denise, of Kalispell; two daughters, Carrie Wick and her husband David, and Gena Wilson and her husband Mitch, all of Whitefish; a brother, Art Burch and his wife Billy Ann; numerous nieces and nephews; and her six grandchildren, whom she dearly loved, Maggie, Erin, Alexander, McKenzie, Murphy and Dawson. We will all miss her.
A celebration of life open house will be held at Luanne's home, 14 Buffalo Circle in Riverview Greens (off Whitefish Stage) from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday (today).
Arrangements are under the direction of Johnson Mortuary and Crematory.
Larry E. Baker
Larry E. Baker was called home to glory by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on July 9, 2004.
He was born on August 9, 1942, in Kalispell. He graduated from Flathead High School in 1961 and spent his career of 31 1/2 years working with Stoltze Lumber mill in Columbia Falls. He was an active member of the Central Christian Church in Kalispell and previous to his membership there, he was very active in the First Christian Church in Columbia Falls. He served as a volunteer firefighter with the Badrock Fire Department for 23 years. Larry was a very honorable, loving, and kind man who was a friend to everyone. He shared his life with and is survived by his wife of 30 years, Linda Johnson Baker, of Columbia Falls. They shared in everything life had to offer, including a personal walk with God, and lived faithfully and loyal to each other.
Larry most of all enjoyed his family, spoiling his grandchildren, and spending time with his wife. He enjoyed flower gardening, working on cars, boating.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Everett Baker and Clara Naethe Baker. Survivors include a daughter, Nicole Gray and husband Jim of Columbia Falls, a son, Jason Baker and wife Holly of Columbia Falls; five wonderful grandchildren, Kaylee and Meghan Gray and Ashlynn, Zachary, and Hannah Baker, whom he loved very much. He is also survived by his brothers, Leroy Baker of Libby, Martin Baker of Las Vegas, David Baker of Columbia Falls, and a sister, Sylvia Hatten of Columbia Falls.
A funeral service was held at the Central Christian Church on July 13, with a graveside committal service at Fairview Cemetery near Columbia Falls. The Rev. Jan Van der Pol of the Central Christian Church presided, assisted by the Rev. Kent Morrison of the First Baptist Church in Whitefish.
The family suggests memorials to the Central Christian Church, 248 2nd Ave. E., Kalispell, MT 59901 or to the Badrock Volunteer Fire Department, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.
Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls was in charge of arrangements.