Luke Johnston

Luke Shannon Johnston, 32, of Columbia Falls, died in a motor vehicle accident Dec. 24, 2004.

Luke was born Oct. 8, 1972, to Lewis Johnston and Kathleen Moran Johnston in Townsend. He was raised in White Sulphur Springs and graduated from high school there in 1991. Shortly after, Luke moved to Missoula, where he attended college for a time and started his career in construction.

His many ties to White Sulphur Springs brought him back often, and it was there that he began his life with his wife of seven years, Kami (Burns) Johnston. They were married Aug. 2, 1997, and made their home and started a family in Columbia Falls. After working as a contractor in the Flathead Valley for several years, Luke established his own business in 2003, Wood Duck Construction.

Whether working or playing, Luke was often outdoors, surrounded by family and friends, hunting, fishing, snowcatting, guiding and camping. His competitive nature kept him busy playing basketball and softball, refereeing, and attending football games with his family in Missoula.

He is preceded in death by his grandfathers James Johnston and Barney Moran, as well as close family member and friend Donnie Johnston.

Luke is survived by his wife, Kami, and his two daughters Kyla, 3 and Cheyanne, 1; his father Lewis Johnston, of White Sulphur Springs, and mother Kathleen Moran Johnston, of Boise, Idaho; sisters Erica Johnston, of Three Forks, and her children Candice, Makayla and Braeden, and Grace Johnston, of Havre, and her children Trevor and Olivia; grandmothers Neva Lou Johnston, of White Sulphur Springs, and Hazel Moran, of St. Ignatius.

Funeral services were held Dec. 29, 2004, at the White Sulphur Springs High School, with graveside services immediately following at Mayn Cemetery.

Trust funds for Luke's daughters have been established at the Bank of the Rockies in White Sulphur Springs and First Citizens Bank in Columbia Falls.

Lenora Knapton

Lenora Knapton, 91, a longtime Columbia Falls resident, passed away on New Year's Day at the Immanuel Lutheran Home in Kalispell.

She was born on Sept. 1, 1913, in Bagley, Minn. (outside Bemidji), to Ludvig and Sarah Amundson. She graduated from Bemidji High School in 1932 and married William (Bill) Knapton in Bemidji on June 5, 1934. They had three sons there: Dick, Jim, and Doug.

The family moved to Columbia Falls when Plum Creek relocated following World War II. Lenora supported her sons in all their various activities while they were growing up and volunteered for many of them. She was a Cub Scout den mother, junior and senior Luther League advisor and a regular at school plays, band concerts, and football and basketball games.

Lenora was a member of Our Savior's Lutheran Church for more than 50 years, where she worked on different committees and belonged to the Morning Circle for many years. Lenora also volunteered for several years at the Columbia Falls Senior Center. She especially enjoyed working in the kitchen. Her family and church were very important parts of her life.

She became her husband's care giver after Bill suffered a stroke. She always enjoyed hearing what her sons, grandchildren and great grandchildren were doing. She also enjoyed seeing them whenever they came to visit. Lenora traveled to several states to help when grandchildren arrived.

Lenora was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, two sisters and a brother.

She is survived by her sons, Dick (Sandy), of Houston, Texas, Jim, of Conrad, and Doug (Janice), of Columbia Falls; seven grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren.

Lenora will be missed by all the people she touched along the way.

A memorial service will be held at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Columbia Falls at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 6, 2005. Pastor Tom Gopp will officiate.

Memorials suggested are for Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Home, or charities of choice.

Delbert Owens

Delbert Harry Owens, 78, died in his sleep on Dec. 29, 2004, at his home in Columbia Falls.

He was born Sept. 6, 1926, in Kalispell to Alice and Harry Owens. He graduated from high school in Eureka. He served in the Air Force in 1945 as an airplane and engine mechanic in the Philippines. He attended college in Missoula, worked at his dad's creamery in Eureka, delivered butter in Plains and worked building highway between Eureka and Canada. He also worked building the bridge across the Kootenai River and at the Kennedy and Stevens sawmill. He was a Fuller Brush salesman and worked at the Columbia Falls aluminum plant.

Delbert was a good, honest, hard-working man, a great father and a wonderful husband. In the last few weeks before lung cancer took him, he was lovingly and gently cared for by his children, his granddaughter, and Hospice. His family members ask that all donations please be sent to Hospice as it is a wonderful program.

Delbert was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Betty June Owens, his father, Harry Morgan Owens, and his mother, Alice Marie Douglas Owens.

He is survived by his two daughters, Sue Norman and husband Tom, of Lewistown, and Debra Owens, of Kalispell; two sons, David Owens, of Columbia Falls, and Robert Owens and wife, Cynthia, of Columbia Falls; 13 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; two brothers, Keith and Jack Owens; and two sisters, Ginger Owens and Mary Alice Rein.

Cremation took place at the Columbia Mortuary in Columbia Falls.

There will be a non-formal potluck memorial luncheon for family and friends in the basement of the Eagles Club across from Mike's Conoco on U.S. Highway 2 in Columbia Falls on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2005 at 1 p.m.