Barbara Ann Besel, 59,
of Bigfork, died Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at Kalispell Regional Medical Center in Kalispell.
She was born on July 12, 1947, in Havre, to Everett and Maymie (Julkowski) Swisher. She was raised in Havre, where she attended schools. Barbara was married to Gordon Besel on July 18, 1992, in Missoula. She had worked for Tomlinson Black Realty of Spokane, Wash., for many years. After moving to the Flathead Valley, she went to work for Flathead Bank in Kalispell as a loan officer.
Her interests included her friends, family, gardening, her dog and golf. She is survived by her husband, Gordon Besel, of Kalispell; daughter Teri Szombathy of Sun Valley, Idaho; sister Patti Best of Spokane; grandchildren Alexa and Olivia Szombathy of Sun Valley, nephew Brian Best and niece Brandy Best, both of Spokane.
A celebration of Barbara’s life will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 26, at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork, with the Rev. Tom Gopp officiating. Urn burial will be at C.E. Conrad Cemetery. A reception will be held at 2 p.m. at the Besel home, 39 Gray Hawk Court in Bigfork. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the Humane Society of Northwest Montana, 3499 U.S. 93 North, Kalispell, MT 59901. Buffalo Hill Funeral Home is caring for the family.
Montgomery James “Monty” Huntington, 47,
died Friday, May 18, 2007, as a result of an industrial accident while at work.
Monty was born on Nov. 29, 1959, in Waconia, Minn., to David and Karen (Kroeger) Huntington. He was raised in Excelsior, Minn., and graduated from Minnetonka High School in 1978. After high school he attended the University of Minnesota at Duluth.
He worked for a few years as a lift operator in Colorado, but had worked for most of his life as a black-topper. He loved his job, which allowed him time to be able to do things during the off-season.
Monty married Debbie Harris on Aug. 1, 1992, in Prior Lake, Minn. They moved to the Flathead Valley on July 2, 1999, where he went to work for T-Bend Construction as a black-topper. Monty loved the outdoors and his hobbies showed it; he loved hockey and played hockey in a league in Whitefish. He was an avid bird hunter; he loved being a telemark skier, and was a member of the Lost Prairie Skydivers. Monty was a very thoughtful person who loved his family and had many friends. He is going to be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his wife, Debbie Huntington, three children, Jasmine and her husband Carson Conn, Jonathan and David Quist, his parents David and Karen Huntington, and two twin grandchildren, Audriella and Victoria Quist, a brother but especially his best friend David Huntington, and his sister Staci Howren.
A celebration of Monty’s life was held May 22 at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home. Buffalo Funeral Home is caring for the family.